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Understanding the reaction mechanism of Kolbe electrolysis on Pt anodes

Kolbe electrolysis has been proposed an efficient electrooxidation process to synthesize (un)symmetrical dimers from biomass-based carboxylic acids. However, the reaction mechanism of Kolbe electrolysis remains controversial. In this work, we develop a DFT- based microkinetic model to study the reaction mechanism of Kolbe electrolysis of acetic acid (CH3COOH) on both pristine and partially oxidized Pt anodes. We show that the shift in the rate-determining step of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on Pt(111)@α-PtO2 surface from OH* formation to H2O adsorption gives rise to the large Tafel slopes, i.e., the inflection zones, observed at high anodic potentials in experiments on Pt anodes. The activity passivation as a result of the inflection zone is further exacerbated in the presence of Kolbe species (i.e., CH3COO* and CH3*). Our simulations find the CH3COO* decarboxylation and CH3* dimerization steps determine the activity of Kolbe reaction during inflection zone. In contrast to the Pt(111)@α-PtO2 surface, Pt(111) shows no activity towards Kolbe products as the CH3COO* decarboxylation step is limiting throughout the considered potential range. This work resolves major controversies in the mechanistic analyses of Kolbe electrolysis on Pt anodes: the origin of the inflection zone, and the identity of the rate limiting step.