Recently, Li Junshan, the distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Chengdu University (CDU), published the latest research results entitled ''Electrochemical reforming of ethanol with acetate Co-Production on nickel cobalt selenide nanoparticles'' in Chemical Engineering Journal, a top journal in the field of chemical engineering, with CDU as the first affiliation.

Working with University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, etc., Dr. Li Junshan produced a series of NixCoySe2 nanoparticles, which were used for ethanol conversion into acetate and hydrogen. By adjusting the Ni/Co ratio, the electrocatalytic activity for the production of acetate from ethanol was optimized. The density function theory revealed that the Co substitution can effectively enhance the ethanol adsorption and decrease the energy barrier for its first step dehydrogenation during its conversion to acetate. This research put forward an electrochemical reforming method for the selective oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid with high Faradaic efficiency.

The Chemical Engineering Journal is one of the top three most influential journals in the field of engineering technology and chemical engineering. It is also among the top journals in the Q1 of engineering technology, chemistry and environment division by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), with an impact factor of 13.273. The above scientific research achievements have been funded by CDU Talent Start-up Funding, European Regional Development Fund, and other programs.

Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.135817