Electrocatalytic performance of self-supporting CNTs/SMF-Ni hybrid electrodes for the aerobic oxidation of p-MT to p-MBA

A promising macroscopic carbon nanotube (CNT) system was developed by catalytic chemical vapor deposition through CNT growth on a three-dimensional network of sinter-locked conductive metal microfibers (i.e., SMF-Ni using 8 μm nickel fibers and SMF-SS using 8 μm SS316L fibers). The electrocatalytic performance of CNTs/SMF-Ni[CNTs: 50% (w)] and CNTs/SMF-SS[CNTs: 40% (w)] hybrids were examined as electrodes in the aerobic oxidation of p-anisaldehyde (p-MT) to p-cresol methyl ether (p-MBA). An excellent conversion of 95.4% and a target product selectivity of 96.5% can be obtained with a very high electric current efficiency of >80% in the presence of air at a current density of 16 mA·c m^-2 in a methanol/p-MT/KF electrolyte using SMF-SS and CNTs/SMF-Ni as an anode and a cathode, respectively.