Secondary electrons

Bond cleavage

Quantum mechanics

Catalysis

Engineering

Hydrogenolysis

Photochemistry

Materials science

Cleavage (geology)

Alkyl

Chemical engineering

Physics

Organic chemistry

Polyethylene

Chemical bond

Composite material

Fracture (geology)

Chemistry

Electron

ChemCatChem

Catalytic hydrogenolysis of polyethylene to liquid alkanes has drawn particular attention. However, it remains not very clear about the factors influencing the positions (internal C secondary −C secondary and terminal C secondary −C primary bonds) of C−C bond cleavage. Here, we clarify the influence of Ru chemical state on the positions of C−C bond cleavage by designing two Ru/CeO 2 catalysts with different Ru chemical states tuned by the metal‐support interaction. It is found that the positively charged Ru species favor the hydrogenolysis of the internal C secondary −C secondary bond, inhibiting methane production, because these Ru δ+ species enable the selective bonding with the internal C secondary containing higher electron density through the electron‐donating effect of adjacent alkyl species instead of the terminal C primary . Furthermore, a simple Ru/CeO 2 −I catalyst with plenty of Ru δ+ species was designed and was efficient for the hydrogenolysis of real waste polyethylene plastics. This work would guide catalyst design to enhance the selective production of liquid alkanes.

Enhanced Production of Liquid Alkanes from Waste Polyethylene via the Electronic Effect‐Favored C<sub>secondary</sub>−C<sub>secondary</sub> Bond Cleavage

Enhanced Production of Liquid Alkanes from Waste Polyethylene via the Electronic Effect‐Favored Csecondary−Csecondary Bond Cleavage

Enhanced Production of Liquid Alkanes from Waste Polyethylene via the Electronic Effect‐Favored C_secondary−C_secondary Bond Cleavage