Preparation of layered nanoporous Ti/TiO2/Ni–W–B electrode for electrocatalytic reduction of coal

Abstract Layered nanoporous Ti/TiO 2 /Ni–W–B electrode is prepared through electrochemical anodization and electrodeposition for electrocatalytic reduction of coal. Extensive characterizations of the layered nanoporous Ti/TiO 2 /Ni–W–B electrode have been performed using techniques including scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and linear sweep voltammetry. The results indicate that the electrode, which presents layered nanoporous surface network, exhibits high activity for the reduction of coal. In an organic electrolyte system, a liquefaction yield of 51.8% is obtained after electrolysis of coal on the prepared electrode for 24 h at −1.7 V. The electroreduction mechanism of coal is also investigated. IR and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance results show that active hydrogen (H ∗ ) reacts with functional groups in the coal such as C O, C O and C C, leading to the reduction of unsaturated bonds and the breakage of bridge bonds and part of aromatic rings during the electroreduction of coal.