Self-supported nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide for efficient primary amine electrooxidation and decoupled water electrolysis

The hybrid water electrolysis affords a green route for the generation of fine chemicals accompanied with hydrogen production relying on the rapid development of anodic electrocatalysts. Herein, a nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide (Ni-Co LDH) modified nickel foam, prepared at room temperature via simple soaking pro-cesses, could effectively catalyze the dehydrogenation oxidation of primary amines to generate aromatic and aliphatic nitriles with good yields. Further expanding the application of the easily available electrode, the Ni-Co LDH electrode could function as the electron reservoir to realize the decoupled water electrolysis with 100% coulombic efficiency in the membrane-free electrolytic cell.

Automated summary

Hybrid water electrolysis provides a green route for producing fine chemicals and hydrogen, relying on the development of anodic electrocatalysts. A nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide (Ni-Co LDH) modified nickel foam was prepared at room temperature and effectively catalyzed the dehydrogenation oxidation of primary amines to produce aromatic and aliphatic nitriles with high yields. Additionally, the Ni-Co LDH electrode served as an electron reservoir for decoupled water electrolysis with 100% coulombic efficiency in a membrane-free cell.