Efficient electroreduction of carbonyl compounds to alcohols over Fe/Fe₂O₃ interfaces

Catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds is widely used in chemical manufacturing and biomass refining, but current thermocatalytic processes require elevated temperatures, high-pressure H₂ and expensive catalysts. Here we demonstrate an electroreduction of carbonyl compounds over Fe/Fe₂O₃ interfaces in Fe/Fe₂O₃ nanoarrays (Fe/Fe₂O₃ NAs), where Fe and Fe₂O₃ species synergistically accelerate the kinetics of acetone hydrogenation by promoting acetone adsorption and H* formation. With acetone as the probe molecule, an isopropanol partial current density of 1.6 A cm⁻² and ~100% selectivity are achieved in 1 M KOH aqueous solution. Even in a large-scale, two-electrode electrolyser, Fe/Fe₂O₃ NAs stably deliver an acetone conversion of >99%, an isopropanol selectivity of 100%, and an isopropanol production rate of 21.6 g g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 0.2 A cm⁻² over a 1,000-h operation. Moreover, Fe/Fe₂O₃ NAs were applied in the electrochemical hydrogenation of various carbonyl compounds to corresponding alcohols with high conversion rates and selectivities. (Figure presented.)