Steering benzyl alcohol electrooxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution via hetero‐interface construction

Abstract It is still a challenge to develop electrocatalyst for the efficient adsorption and conversion of organic molecule in aqueous media. Herein, a hetero‐interface structure based on CuO@Ni(OH) 2 is rationally designed to enhance the performance of benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzoic acid. A high Faradaic efficiency of 99% and the yield of 3.09 mmol cm −2 h −1 are achieved at 1.70 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, outperforming the previously reported electrocatalysts. Furthermore, a membrane‐free flow electrolyzer was assembled based on CuO@Ni(OH) 2 hetero‐interface, exhibiting a much high yielding of benzoic acid (6.73 mmol cm −2 h −1 ) and hydrogen (0.35 L cm −2 h −1 ) with excellent stability. Both experimental data and density functional theory calculations verify that the electron is tend to accumulate at the hetero‐interface, thus accelerating the adsorption of reactant and intermediate and reducing the energy barrier of the conversion of benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid.