Anodic electrocatalytic conversion of carboxylic acids on thin films of RuO2, IrO2, and Pt

Abstract The electrocatalytic upgrading of carboxylic acids, abundant biomass-derived molecules, remains a challenging task. Herein, we report an electrocatalytic decarboxylation (ECDX) approach for the conversion of carboxylic acids into paraffins, olefins, and alcohols via (non-)Kolbe electrolysis. The ECDX rate, product selectivity, and current efficiency were potential and electrode dependent. For example, the ECDX activity of RuO2-TF was similar to that of Pt foil, but the selectivity to Kolbe products was lower. RuO2-TF showed about five times higher rates for the oxygen evolution reaction than Pt foil, which resulted in lower current efficiency for the former. The activity of IrO2-TF for ECDX and the oxygen evolution reaction also were potential dependent but were selective to non-Kolbe products with low current efficiency (