Electrochemically assisted ethylene (co-)polymerization with a vanadium-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst

• The activity of VOCl3 was improved with the electrochemical application.
• Oxidation state of VOCl3 could be controlled by electrochemical method.
• The polymerization mechanism does not change with the application of potential.

A facile and efficient electrochemically assisted ethylene polymerization and ethylene-propylene copolymerization with the widely used VOCl3/ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC) catalyst system was demonstrated. The low-activity and/or inactive low-valence-state V species present in the catalyst were oxidized to high-valence-state V through electrochemical methodology. Thus, the catalytic activity of the VOCl3/EASC catalyst system was significantly improved. The effects of electrochemical application on the resultant polymer structure and properties were investigated. This work provides a new strategy to improve the performance of Ziegler-Natta catalysts.

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