WO3-based materials for photoelectrocatalytic glycerol upgrading into glyceraldehyde: Unravelling the synergistic photo- and electro-catalytic effects

The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) glycerol oxidation has emerged as a promising technology for the simultaneous valorization of this biomass waste and hydrogen production. Herein, we report the enhancement of the photo-catalytic (PC) activity and stability of a monoclinic WO(3 )catalyst, by means of an external bias, for the selective generation of value-added C(3 )products under near-neutral conditions. Glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone production were increased up to 4.5 and 11.5 times, respectively, while maintaining a liquid selectivity of these C3s above 87% and a stable faradaic efficiency above 50% of the additional holes generated, in a wide potential range (0.5-2.0 V vs. RHE). Indeed, the photo-and electro-catalytic contributing effects are unravelled for the first time herein. The photoelectrocatalytic mechanisms on WO3 and WO3/TiO2 are discussed, as well as the key role of the sub-stoichiometric WO3-x content and the oxygen vacancies, which confer advantageous properties for the selective PEC valorization of glycerol.

Automated summary

Photoelectrocatalytic glycerol oxidation is a promising technology for simultaneous biomass waste utilization and hydrogen production. By applying an external bias, the photo-catalytic activity and stability of monoclinic WO3 catalyst have been enhanced for the selective generation of value-added products under near-neutral conditions.