Tuning the Product Selectivity of C₂H₆ Electrolysis Using a Core-Shell-Structured Ni@NiO-Modified Anode in a Ceramic Electrochemical Reactor

The electrocatalytic oxidation dehydrogenation of ethane in ceramic reactors is considered to achieve efficient conversion of clean energy and high-value-added products. Herein, an anode material consisting of an in situ exsolution of core-shell-structured Ni@NiO nanoparticles (Sr₃Fe_1.4Ni_0.1Ti_0.5O_7−δ-Ni@NiO, SFNTO-Ni@NiO) is designed and utilized as the ceramic electrochemical reactor anode. The designed interface architecture at the nanoscale of the electrode reveals an obvious enhancement that the supplement of oxygen species and gas adsorption dehydrogenation process of ethane at the anodes and NiO with reduced oxygen activity on the surface of Ni@NiO nanoparticles prevent ethylene reoxidation, realizing the highest ethane conversion of 44.3% with ethylene selectivity 92.7% at 1.8 V at atmospheric pressure and 800 °C. As such, the proposed electrochemical dehydrogenation process and material structural design strategy look highly promising when developing conversion of fuels in a clean energy mode.