Synergistic Integration of Thermocatalysis and Electrocatalysis for Isopropanol Dehydrogenation Toward Efficient Hydrogen Production

ABSTRACT

Isopropanol dehydrogenation represents a pivotal step in the liquid organic hydrogen carrier cycle. Conventional thermocatalytic routes require high temperatures and entail substantial energy penalties, while low‐temperature electrocatalytic processes suffer from sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, we report an integrated thermo‐electrocatalytic strategy within a high‐temperature proton exchange membrane electrolyzer (HT‐PEME), enabling highly efficient isopropanol dehydrogenation. A RuIr bimetallic catalyst was designed, wherein Ru sites effectively promote the cleavage of both O─H and C─H bonds in isopropanol, while the incorporation of Ir optimizes the adsorption behavior of reaction intermediates, thereby mitigating Ru site poisoning and significantly enhancing catalytic stability. At 200°C and 0.5 V, the integrated system delivers an exceptional anodic acetone production rate of 1336.36 mmol g ⁻¹ h ⁻¹ , coupled with a cathodic H ₂ evolution rate of 1451.31 mmol g ⁻¹ h ⁻¹ . This synergistic approach provides a robust and broadly applicable pathway for efficient H ₂ production.