Ni-Based Porous Transport Layers for Enhanced Glucose-Assisted Electrolysis: From Pristine to Nanostructured

The electrification of chemical industry and the transition to green hydrogen (H2) require energy-efficient processes that also valorise renewable feedstocks. A major limitation of conventional water electrolysis is the high overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which increases energy demand and H2 production costs. Replacing OER with the glucose electro-oxidation reaction (GOR), can lower cell voltage while co-producing value-added chemicals. However, this strategy is limited by catalyst instability, poor selectivity, and limited understanding of the role of porous transport layers (PTLs). Here, we evaluate commercially available Ni-based alloy PTLs toward GOR across different pH values and glucose concentrations. We demonstrate that the presence of Fe in PTLs enhances OER but suppresses GOR. Guided by these insights, Ni PTL was nanostructured via a scalable thermochemical-treatment, increasing current density by ∼3-fold. The resulting electrode exhibits improved performance and a broad potential window in which GOR dominates, enabling membrane-less biomass-assisted electrolysis.