The production of high-value-added organics by the glycerol
oxidation
reaction (GOR) holds significant research importance for addressing
the surplus production of glycerol and mitigating the energy crisis.
In this study, we report a vacancy optimized coordination on nickel
oxide for the selective electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol. Using
in situ Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the
formation of vacancies was traced during the cationic leaching process.
Subsequently, in situ attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced
IR absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations
revealed a significantly enhanced adsorption capacity and optimized
co-adsorption process of OH– and organics. Consequently,
NiCrO with vacancies (NiCrO-VCr,O) exhibited GOR performance
with conversion, formic acid selectivity, and faradaic efficiency
values of 99%, 98%, and 96%, respectively. Notably, the conversion
and selectivity in the flow electrolyzer remained above 90% during
long-time continuous electrolysis, highlighting its industrial applicability.
This study provides constructive guidance for the design of electrocatalysts,
the optimization of the catalyst ligand environment, and the development
of high-performance, metal-based catalysts for glycerol electro-oxidation.