Acid-Stable Ru Atom Array for Converting Methanol to Methyl Formate at Commercially Viable Current Densities

Abstract

Replacingthe oxidation of water with the electrocatalytic oxidationof methanol is an attractive route to level the cost of H-2 production with value-added chemicals; however, this reaction hasbeen notoriously known for quickly poisoning electrocatalysts and/orsliding into complete oxidation, thereby producing CO2.Here, we report an acid-stable Ru metal atom array that is supportedby MnO2 nanofibers (Ru-MAC/MnO2) for the electrocatalyticvalorization of methanol to methyl formate (MF). The productivityof MF is 10 to 100 times higher than those reported in thermal- andphotocatalytic processes at commercially viable current densities.Our experimental and simulation results demonstrate that the atomarray possesses long-term electrochemical stability and prefers theMF pathway without generating *CO intermediates. The synergistic intersitemetal-metal and metal-support electronic interactionsendow Ru-MAC/MnO2 with outstanding structural stabilitytoward large-current-density methanol electrolysis.