Construction of core–shell Co@CuCo/Al2O3 catalyst to boost the low‐temperature hydrogenation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural

Abstract

AbstractReducing catalyst costs and reaction energy consumption is a potent way to advance biorefinery energy from fundamental research to industrial implementation. Herein, we developed a series of low‐cost CuCo/Al2O3 catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural to biofuel 2,5‐dimethylfuran (DMF). Combined characterizations showed CuCo alloy and Co@CuCo core–shell structures were successfully constructed by reducing layered double hydroxides (LDHs) at different temperatures. Detailed catalytic performance studies found that Co@CuCo catalyst achieved a decent DMF yield of 91.7% under 130°C and 1 MPa H2, which is milder than most literatures. While the CuCo alloy catalyst only gave 23.2% yield. H2‐TPD and in situ‐IR indicated the CuCo‐alloy shell can prevent oxidation of Co core, so that maintain its high H2 dissociation capacity. Moreover, the electronic structure changes in the Cu–Co alloy promote the hydrolysis of CO bond. Hence, the local atomic arrangement and corresponding electronic structure in the Co@CuCo structure jointly strengthened the low‐temperature reactivity.