Enhanced Electrochemical C–N Coupling for Glycine Synthesis via an Active Hydrogen Pump Article

Liu, J, Wang, H, Wu, Z et al. (2026). Enhanced Electrochemical C–N Coupling for Glycine Synthesis via an Active Hydrogen Pump . ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 10.1002/anie.2390339

cited authors

  • Liu, J; Wang, H; Wu, Z; Song, Z; Ling, Z; Zhou, S; Yu, S; Gao, M; Wang, Y; Ma, X; Fang, D; Xing, X; Kang, X; Han, B

authors

abstract

  • Direct electrochemical C–N coupling of abundant carbon and nitrogen feedstocks offers a sustainable route to glycine synthesis, yet achieving high efficiency remains challenging. Here, we develop an In–Bi catalyst by incorporating oxophilic indium (In) into a bismuth (Bi) matrix. During the co-reduction of oxalic acid and NO3−, the In–Bi catalyst delivers an exceptional Faradaic efficiency toward glycine (FEGlycine) of 83.3% with an industrial-level current density of 361.3 mA cm−2, together with a glycine production rate of 4.3 mol h−1 gcat.−1. It outperforms pristine Bi and previously reported state-of-the-art catalysts. Large-scale glycine electrosynthesis is further demonstrated over a 10 cm2 In–Bi electrode, achieving a total current of 1.5 A with FEGlycine of 68.5% and yielding 1.4 g of glycine in 6 h. Mechanistically, oxalic acid and NO3− first form glyoxylic acid oxime (GAO). Subsequently, In sites act as an “active hydrogen pump” to accelerate H2O dissociation, providing abundant surface-active hydrogen (*H) for efficient GAO hydrogenation to glycine. Meanwhile, the incorporation of In modulates the electronic structure of the Bi matrix, enhancing GAO adsorption and electron transfer. The synergistic regulation of *H supply and electronic structure accelerates the conversion of GAO to glycine, resulting in superior performance of In–Bi.

publication date

  • January 1, 2026

published in

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