From Corrosion to Creation: Interfacial De-Electronation Drives Hydrogenation-Energy Symbiosis.

Abstract

Metal corrosion, conventionally perceived as a destructive phenomenon driven by de-electronation, imposes significant economic burdens and safety hazards. To repurpose corrosion into a valuable resource, we demonstrate a macroscopic corrosion battery concept that harnesses galvanic corrosion to drive the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), high-value chemicals, and energy generation, challenging conventional corrosion mitigation paradigms. By spatially segregating the corrosion process, the system couples anodic metal de-electronation with MOF deposition while integrating diverse cathodic reactions, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction, electrocatalytic hydrogenation, and hydrogen peroxide reduction with remarkable accelerated kinetics, thereby achieving universal MOFs and chemical synthesis with high electron and atom utilization efficiencies. The prototype system demonstrates concurrent production of p-aminophenol (14.3 mg cm^-2 h^-1) and zinc oxalate (86.9 mg cm^-2 h^-1) while generating 34.2 mW cm^-2 of electrical power. Techno-economic analysis establishes the inaugural empirical validation of economic feasibility for corrosion-driven energy-matter symbiosis, highlighting its high gross profit. Transcending conventional corrosion engineering boundaries for inorganic synthesis, this methodology mechanistically deciphers MOF growth kinetics and advanced system design. By broadening the scope of corrosion utilization, this work enables a paradigm shift from damage mitigation to value creation, providing a blueprint for sustainable chemical-energy ecosystems.