Boosting The Electrochemical 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural Oxidation by Balancing The Competitive Adsorption of Organic And OH− Over Controllable Reconstructed Ni3S2/NiOx

Abstract

AbstractThe electrocatalytic oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising method for the efficient production of biomass‐derived high‐value‐added chemicals. However, its practical application is limited by 1) low activity and selectivity caused by the competitive adsorption of HMF and OH− and 2) low operational stability caused by the uncontrollable reconstruction of the catalyst. To overcome these limitations, a series of Ni3S2/NiOx‐n catalysts with controllable compositions and well‐defined structures were synthesized using a novel in‐situ controlled surface reconstruction strategy. The adsorption behavior of HMF and OH− could be continuously adjusted by varying the ratio of NiOx to Ni3S2 on the catalysts surface, as indicated by in‐situ characterizations, contact angle analysis and theoretical simulations. Owing to the balanced competitive adsorption of HMF and OH−, the optimized Ni3S2/NiOx‐15 catalyst exhibited remarkable HMF electrocatalytic oxidation performance, with the current density reaching 366 mA cm−2 at 1.5 VRHE and the Faradaic efficiency of the product, 2,5‐furanedicarboxylic acid, reaching 98%. Moreover, Ni3S2/NiOx‐15 exhibited excellent durability, with its activity and structure remaining stable for over 100 h of operation. This study provides a new route for the design and construction of catalysts for value‐added biomass conversion and offers new insights into enhancing catalytic performance by balancing competitive adsorption.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved