Continuous-Flow Electrochemical Microreactor with Three-Dimensional Micro-Structured Electrodes Promoting Bioalcohol Upgrading Coupled with Hydrogen Production

Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with electrocatalytic bioalcohol oxidation offers an attractive route toward energy-saving hydrogen production and biomass upgrading. Notably, the commercialization of this process relies on the development of a cost-effective continuous-flow reactor. Electrochemical microreactors emerge as a promising contender for continuous-flow electrocatalytic processes due to their efficient mass transfer and high modularity. However, the use of a two-dimensional planar electrode with low specific surface areas and electrocatalytic activity constrains the application of microreactors in electrocatalytic reactions. In this work, we develop a continuous-flow electrochemical microreactor incorporating three-dimensional micro-structured electrodes. The three-dimensional micro-structure engineering of the electrode surface endows it with abundant active sites and high electrocatalytic activity, enabling high conversion efficiency and low energy consumption for biomass-derived isobutyl alcohol electrocatalytic oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution reaction. This work provides valuable insights for the design of electrochemical reactors in distributed application scenarios.