Metal–carbon electrode optimization for efficient electrochemical regeneration of 1,4-NADH: a new approach for sustainable biochemical synthesis

Abstract

Efficient regeneration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), a key coenzyme in biocatalytic redox reactions, is essential for achieving sustainable chemical synthesis. However, existing 1,4-NADH regeneration methods generally suffer from high costs and poor stability, which limit their potential for industrial-scale applications. We propose an innovative green electrochemical catalytic system for efficient regeneration of 1,4-NADH, achieving a coenzyme conversion rate exceeding 99.0% through the optimization of electrode materials and reaction conditions. In this study, cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the effective potentials of multiple metal electrodes in the NAD⁺ reduction process, and the key factors affecting the NAD⁺ reduction efficiency were thoroughly analyzed, revealing the complex mechanisms underlying the roles of different electrode materials in the electron transfer and protonation processes. It was found that the introduction of foam metal and carbon nanoparticles could significantly enhance the electron transfer efficiency and increase the conversion of 1,4-NADH to 99.3%. In addition, the metal–carbon composite electrode prepared by a sintering technique further enhanced electron transfer efficiency and had excellent stability. This study provides a new idea for the recycling of 1,4-NADH and contributes important insights into the efficiency improvement of electrochemical catalytic systems. Through material innovation and reaction optimization, this study demonstrates the key pathways to achieving sustainable chemical processes and opens new directions for green chemical synthesis. In addition, it has the potential to advance biocatalytic technology in industrial applications and shows promising applications in biocatalysis and energy conversion.