Recently, a research team headed by Professor Gao Minrui from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has achieved a notable breakthrough in the realm of green, electricity - powered electrochemical conversion of carbon monoxide into n - propanol. The pertinent research results were published in the internationally acclaimed academic journal, the 'Journal of the American Chemical Society', with the title 'Selective CO Conversion to Multicarbon Alcohols via Balancing Adsorbate Configurations'.

n - Propanol, an essential organic solvent and chemical raw material, finds extensive applications in coatings, pharmaceuticals, printing inks, and fuel additives. Traditional synthesis methods hinge on ethylene hydroformylation, a process that is not only expensive but also results in high carbon emissions. By fine - tuning the adsorption configuration of carbon monoxide on the catalyst surface, the research team utilized a silver - modified oxide - derived copper catalyst and introduced pulse electrolysis technology. This enabled them to successfully attain a 75.7% selectivity for multicarbon alcohols during the electroreduction of carbon monoxide. Notably, the selectivity for n - propanol reached an impressive 48.8%, and the system maintained stable operation for 116 hours in a continuous - flow electrolyzer. This progress offers a fresh approach for the efficient and sustainable synthesis of high - value alcohols.