Synergistic effect of PtNi alloy and N-doped carbon on selective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone

Cyclohexanone is an essential intermediate in nylon production and serves as an effective solvent for resins. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of phenol, a lignin derivative, provides a green and efficient route to cyclohexanone. However, developing catalysts that simultaneously achieve high selectivity, yield, and Faradaic efficiency for cyclohexanone remains a challenge. Here, we report an N-doped, hydrophilic carbon-supported PtNi alloy catalyst (PtNi/NC), which achieves 98% phenol conversion within 75 min, 93.8% cyclohexanone selectivity, and a Faradaic efficiency of 52.1% under mild conditions, and shows a low apparent activation energy of 31.6 kJ mol^-1. The superior catalytic activity and high selectivity are attributed to the synergistic effects of the PtNi alloy structure, N-doping carbon matrix, and improved hydrophilicity of the support. This work presents a rational design strategy for developing efficient electrocatalysts for the selective production of cyclohexanone and the valorization of lignin-derived phenolic compounds.