Platinum–Copper Dual‐Atom Catalyst Enables the Selective Electro‐Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic Acid

Abstract

ABSTRACT The electrochemical hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) has emerged as a sustainable strategy for producing high‐value chemicals, yet achieving high product selectivity remains a key challenge. Herein, we report the electrochemical conversion of HMF into 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) under alkaline conditions over a catalyst with a high density of Pt–Cu dual‐atom sites supported on N,S‐doped carbon nanosheets (Pt–Cu high /NSC). At a low Pt loading of 0.74 wt.%, the Pt–Cu high /NSC catalyst demonstrates excellent HMFOR activity in 0.1 M KOH, including a low activation potential (0.98 V), high current output (1006.4 mA mg − 1 at 1.42 V), excellent FDCA selectivity (97.4%), high Faradaic efficiency (97.6%), and long‐term operational stability. These metrics surpass most previously reported catalyst systems. In comparison, a monometallic catalyst with only Cu single atom sites (Cu/NSC) showed low selectivity towards FDCA during HMFOR, instead favouring the production of 5‐formyl‐2‐furancarboxylic (FFCA, 81.6% yield). A Pt/NSC catalyst showed negligible activity for HMFOR. Experimental data and theoretical calculations for Pt–Cu high /NSC reveal that Pt sites facilitate OH − adsorption, which in turn promotes deeper oxidation of FFCA on adjacent Cu sites. This study encourages the wider pursuit of dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) for the HMFOR and other challenging electrochemical syntheses.

Affiliated Institutions

• University of Auckland NZ
• Innovation Team (China) HK
• South China University of Technology CN

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