Ag/Pt co-modified FeCoNiOx spinel oxides enhancing interface water dissociation to boost selective ethanol electrooxidation to acetate

Electrochemical catalysis offers a promising approach for biomass valorization, enabling the production of value-added chemicals. Acetate (CH₃COOH), regarded as a fundamental and versatile chemical, holds significant marker potential. The electrooxidation of ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) can generate valuable acetate while coupling with the cathodic reaction to produce green hydrogen, thus enhancing the electron efficiency and atom economy of the entire system. However, most electrocatalysts typically operate at low current densities and suffer from poor stability, which are unsuitable for industrial-scale applications. Therefore, we have designed and synthesized the FeCoNiO_x spinel oxides complexed with Pt and Ag (FeCoNiO_x-PtAg). The FeCoNiO_x-PtAg catalyst can achieve the maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.1% under 100 mA cm⁻², the maximum partial current density of 291.2 mA cm⁻² and superior stability over 100 h. Besides, we have also conducted in-situ attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy to study the reaction pathway, which can demonstrate the regulation of water dissociation for moderate *OH generation and inhibit the *OH to *O through compounding of Pt and Ag. Furthermore, technoeconomic analysis confirms that this paired system is a cost-effective and low-carbon route for the production of acetate and green hydrogen.