Biomass upgrading coupled with H2 production via a nonprecious and versatile Cu-doped nickel nanotube electrocatalyst. Issue 18 (12th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Lingxia; Zhao, Yijian; Xu, Penghui; Lv, Zhuoqing; Shi, Xiaowei; Zheng, Huajun
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 18(2022)
• Page Start: 10181
• Page End: 10191
• Publication Date: 2022-04-12
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ta00579d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : An earth-abundant alloy catalyst, NiCu NTs, is facilely prepared and can be used as a bifunctional catalyst toward biomass upgrading coupled with energy-saving H2 production. Abstract : Coupling oxidative biomass valorization with H2 production in a hybrid water splitting configuration is of significant importance to yield sustainable and value-added carbon products. Herein, we report an earth-abundant alloy catalyst, Cu-doped Ni nanotubes (NiCu NTs), through a simple electrodeposition-dealloying route, which acts as a competent catalyst for the electrocatalytic oxidation (ECO) of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) at the anode and simultaneous cathodic H2 evolution. The cell potential required to deliver a benchmark current density of 100 mA cm −2 is greatly decreased by 350 mV with respect to the conventional overall water splitting, demonstrating a better energy consumption efficiency. When being employed as an anodic catalyst, the NiCu NTs catalyst enables ∼100% conversion of HMF and ∼99% yield of 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with 20 mM HMF in 1.0 M KOH, and a good-to-excellent product yield can be obtained at an increased HMF concentration from 35 to 100 mM. The potential-dependent Raman results reveal that the electrogenerated Ni 3+ OOH species are the intermediates to promote HMF oxidation. Moreover, the catalyst also delivers almost ∼100% conversion and selectivity to the corresponding acid products when extending the organic substrates to other small alcohols/aldehydes, demonstrating its splendid versatility.