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Abstract Electrochemistry represents unique approaches for the promotion and mechanistic study of chemical reactions and has garnered increasing attention in different areas of chemistry. This expansion necessitates the enhancement of the traditional electrochemical cells that are intrinsically constrained by mass transport limitations. Herein, we present an approach for designing an electrochemical cell by limiting the reaction chamber to a thin layer of solution, comparable to the thickness of the diffusion layer. This thin layer electrode (TLE) provides a modular platform to bypass the constraints of traditional electrolysis cells and perform electrolysis reactions in the timescale of electroanalytical techniques. The utility of the TLE for electrosynthetic applications benchmarked using NHPI‐mediated electrochemical C−H functionalization. The application of microscale electrolysis for the study of drug metabolites was showcased by elucidating the oxidation pathways of the paracetamol drug. Moreover, hosting a microelectrode in the TLE, was shown to enable real‐time probing of the profiles of redox‐active components of these rapid electrosynthesis reactions.
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Electrolysis in thin layer: A technique for electroanalytical and electrosynthetic applications
Thin-layer electrochemistry deals with electrochemical reactions in a confined solution comparable to the thickness of the diffusion layer. It gives immediate access to the electrode surface for performing rapid electrolysis reactions. The aim of this article is to highlight the seminal studies and some recent updates on thin-layer electrochemistry in three sub-sections: a) batch-type thin-layer electrodes (TLEs) and their principles, b) optically transparent TLEs for in situ spectral observation of the electrode reaction, and c) thin layer flow microreactors focusing on paired electrochemical reactions.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2154700
- PAR ID:
- 10502563
- Editor(s):
- Compton Richard G
- Publisher / Repository:
- Elsevier
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Current Opinion in Electrochemistry
- Volume:
- 44
- Issue:
- C
- ISSN:
- 2451-9103
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 101445
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Electrochemistry, Thin Layer Cell, Electrosynthesis
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2024.101445
