Integrating CO ₂ electroreduction with phenol hydrogenation on an oxygen-affinity tailored catalyst

Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction (ECR) to formic acid faces challenges in separating and purifying a formate-electrolyte mixture. In situ utilization of this mixture presents a promising yet underexplored solution. Here, we report the synthesis of Bi x Pd 1− x Te nanocrystals (NCs) via a microwave-assisted cation topological exchange approach, enabling the precise tuning of surface oxygen affinities to simultaneously optimize the ECR and catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of phenol. Optimized Bi 0.1 Pd 0.9 Te NCs achieve a 92% formate Faradaic efficiency at −0.9 volts versus reversible hydrogen electrode and a production rate of 860 millimoles per hour per gram of catalyst at 100 milliamperes per square centimeter. This formate-electrolyte mixture serves as an effective hydrogen donor, enabling 98% selectivity toward cyclohexanone in phenol hydrogenation. Mechanistic studies show uniformly dispersed Bi sites create an oxygen affinity gradient, enhancing *OCHO adsorption for formate production and promoting noncoplanar phenol adsorption for selective cyclohexanone formation. This work pioneers synergistic ECR-CTH integration, establishing an innovative CO 2 valorization and biomass upgrading strategy.