As most countries turn their backs on fossil fuels and switch to electricity, a more valuable energy source, the list of work to be done goes beyond just the electric car. The global production network that produces everything from our batteries to our fertilizers must also make the transition.
A new method for stimulating chemical reactions
A study by chemists at the University of Chicago has discovered a method by which electricity can stimulate a type of chemical reaction often used in the synthesis of new drug candidates.
This research, published in Nature Catalysis, represents one Progression in the field of electrochemistry and shows a way to design and control reactions more sustainably.
“We want to understand what happens at the electrode interface at a fundamental level and use this to predict and design more efficient chemical reactions,” says Anna Wuttig, a professor at the University of Chicago and lead author of the paper. “This is a step toward that ultimate goal.” »
Chemical Complexity and Electrochemistry
In some chemical reactions, electricity can increase the yield. And because the electricity needed can come from renewable sources, this could help make the global chemical industry more environmentally friendly.
Electrochemistry, as this field is called, is particularly complex. There are a lot of scientists who don't know anything about molecular interactions, especially because you have to introduce a conductive solid (an electrode) into the mixture to provide the electricity. The molecules then interact with this electrode as well as with each other.
For a scientist trying to figure out what roles each molecule plays and in what order, this makes an already complicated process even more complex.
Catalytic change
In addition, the team was able to use special imaging techniques to observe reactions that occur at the molecular level. “You can see that the presence of the modulator has a profound influence on the interface structure,” said Anna Wuttig. “It allows us to visualize and understand what is happening rather than viewing it as a black box. »
This is a crucial step, the researcher added, as it provides a way to not only use the electrode in chemistry, but also predict and control its effects.
From left: Study authors Qiu-Cheng Chen, Anna Wuttig and Sarah Kress in Wuttig's laboratory at the Gordon Center for Integrative Sciences at the University of Chicago.
synthetic
Research led by the University of Chicago has discovered a new way to use electricity to stimulate chemical reactions – a major advance in the field of electrochemistry.
For better understanding
What is Electrochemistry?
Electrochemistry is a field of chemistry that studies chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons.
In some chemical reactions, electricity can increase yield by providing the energy needed to start the reaction.
What impact does this discovery have on the chemical industry?
This discovery could help make the global chemical industry greener and more sustainable by enabling the use of electricity from renewable sources.
What are the challenges of electrochemistry?
Electrochemistry is a complex field due to the many molecular interactions that occur in chemical reactions.
What is the next step after this discovery?
The next step is to predict and control the electrode's effects on chemical reactions.
References
Photo Caption: A study by chemists at the University of Chicago has found a way to use electricity to stimulate a type of chemical reaction often used to synthesize new drug candidates.
Article: “Interfacial tuning of electrocatalytic Ag surfaces for fragment-based electrophile coupling” – DOI: 10.1038/s41929-023-01073-5
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