# Controlled Synthesis of Mesoporous Solid Polymer Electrolyte Au(Pt)NiCe/C Membrane Electrode for Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation

## TL;DR

A gold-based membrane electrode was developed to improve hydrogenation reactions, offering higher efficiency and selectivity compared to platinum-based alternatives.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel Au-based membrane electrode with coordinated nanoscale structure and electronic state engineering for enhanced catalytic performance.

## Key findings

- The Au-based electrode achieved a 277% increase in cyclohexane yield during hydrogenation.
- The electrode showed a 215% increase in specific surface area and enhanced electrochemical active surface area.
- XPS analysis revealed electronic structure changes that promote hydrogen adsorption and reaction efficiency.

## Abstract

This study presents a structurally tunable Au-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane electrode with significantly enhanced performance in organic hydrogenation reactions. Compared to a Pt-based counterpart, the Au-based electrode achieved a 277% increase in cyclohexane yield and a 4.8% reduction in hydrogen evolution during cyclohexene hydrogenation, demonstrating superior catalytic selectivity and energy efficiency. The improved performance is attributed to synergistic optimization of the electrode’s nanostructure and electronic properties. The Au-based electrode exhibited a 215% increase in specific surface area (SSA) relative to its initial state, along with a markedly enhanced electrochemical active surface area (ECSA). These enhancements stem from its mesoporous architecture, lattice contraction, and high density of zero-dimensional defects. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed a negative shift in Au4f binding energy, a positive shift in Ni0 peaks, and an increased concentration of oxygen vacancies (Ov), indicating favorable modulation of the surface electronic structure. This reconstruction promotes H* adsorption and accelerates the hydrogenation reaction, serving as a key mechanism for catalytic enhancement. The core innovation of this work lies in the coordinated engineering of nanoscale structure and surface electronic states, enabling concurrent improvements in reaction rate, selectivity, and energy efficiency. These findings offer valuable guidance for designing noble metal-based membrane electrodes in advanced hydrogen energy conversion and storage systems.