Electro-oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by a catalyst containing copper nanoparticles and single copper atoms

DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2024.100041

Authors: Yongfang Zhou (South China University of Technology) , Yi Shen (South China University of Technology; Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation of Food Nutrition and Human Health; China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute) , Hongying Li (Institute of High-Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Materials Today Catalysis , VOL 12

State: Published (Approved)
Published: January 2024
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 23723 , 17198

Abstract: Atomic-site electrocatalysts are being considered as potential alternative catalysts due to their exceptionally high atom utilization efficiencies, well-defined active sites and high selectivities. However, the presence of nanoparticles in the single-atom catalysts may affect the catalytic performance. Herein, single-copper-atoms and copper nanoparticles co-embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (CuNPs@Cu/NCNSs) were synthesized and used for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electro-oxidation. Single copper atoms supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (Cu/NCNSs) and copper nanoparticles supported on carbon (CuNPs/C) were also synthesized for comparison. The CuNPs/C exhibited high efficiency in electro-oxidation of HMF to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) at a low potential of 1.42 V. However, the CuNPs@Cu/NCNSs showed a high 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA) selectivity of 86.7%. Oxalic acid (OA) treatment experiments showed that single copper atoms significantly influence the oxidation of HMF to FFCA. Cu(OH)2 active species generated by electrochemical oxidation were demonstrated as the primary catalytic sites for HMF oxidation on the CuNPs/C. In-situ Raman spectra results demonstrated that HMF oxidation on the CuNPs/C followed the path to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HFCA), while on the CuNPs@Cu/NCNSs and Cu/NCNSs, HMF was oxidized along the 5-diformylfuran (DFF) pathway.

Journal Keywords: HMF conversion; single-copper-atom electrocatalyst; biomass conversion; operando electrochemical Raman spectra

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Materials

Diamond Offline Facilities: Electron Physical Sciences Imaging Centre (ePSIC)
Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS , E01-JEM ARM 200CF

Added On: 29/01/2024 08:51

Documents:
1-s2.0-S2949754X24000036-main.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Physical Chemistry Catalysis Chemistry Materials Science Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags:

Microscopy Spectroscopy Electron Microscopy (EM) X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)