The electrocatalytic upgrading of carboxylic acids, abundant biomass-derived molecules, remains a challenging task. Herein, we report an electrocatalytic decarboxylation (ECDX) approach for the conversion of carboxylic acids into paraffins, olefins, and alcohols via (non-)Kolbe electrolysis. The ECDX rate, product selectivity, and current efficiency were potential and electrode dependent. For example, the ECDX activity of RuO₂-TF was similar to that of Pt foil, but the selectivity to Kolbe products was lower. RuO₂-TF showed about five times higher rates for the oxygen evolution reaction than Pt foil, which resulted in lower current efficiency for the former. The activity of IrO₂-TF for ECDX and the oxygen evolution reaction also were potential dependent but were selective to non-Kolbe products with low current efficiency (<10%). This work highlights the performance of TF material as an alternative to bulk metals as anodes for oxidative upgrading of carboxylic acids.

羧酸（丰富的生物质衍生分子）的电催化升级仍然是一项艰巨的任务。在本文中，我们报告了一种电催化脱羧（ECDX）方法，用于通过（非）Kolbe电解将羧酸转化为链烷烃，烯烃和醇。ECDX速率，产物选择性和电流效率取决于电势和电极。例如，RuO ₂ -TF的ECDX活性类似于Pt箔，但是对Kolbe产品的选择性较低。RuO ₂ -TF的氧气逸出反应速率是Pt箔的大约5倍，这导致前者的电流效率较低。IrO ₂的活性ECDX的-TF和氧释放反应也与电位有关，但对非Kolbe产品具有选择性，电流效率低（<10％）。这项工作突出了TF材料作为大块金属的替代品的性能，该材料可作为羧酸氧化升级的阳极。