Cooperative Rh-O5/Ni(Fe) Site for Efficient Biomass Upgrading Coupled with H2 Production

Lingyou Zeng, Yanju Chen, Mingzi Sun, Qizheng Huang, Kaian Sun, Jingyuan Ma, Jiong Li, Hao Tan, Menggang Li, Yuan Pan, Yunqi Liu, Mingchuan Luo, Bolong Huang, Shaojun Guo

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Designing efficient and durable bifunctional catalysts for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation reaction (HMFOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is desirable for the co-production of biomass-upgraded chemicals and sustainable hydrogen, which is limited by the competitive adsorption of hydroxyl species (OHads) and HMF molecules. Here, we report a class of Rh-O5/Ni(Fe) atomic site on nanoporous mesh-type layered double hydroxides with atomic-scale cooperative adsorption centers for highly active and stable alkaline HMFOR and HER catalysis. A low cell voltage of 1.48 V is required to achieve 100 mA cm-2 in an integrated electrolysis system along with excellent stability (>100 h). Operando infrared and X-ray absorption spectroscopic probes unveil that HMF molecules are selectively adsorbed and activated over the single-atom Rh sites and oxidized by in situ-formed electrophilic OHads species on neighboring Ni sites. Theoretical studies further demonstrate that the strong d-d orbital coupling interactions between atomic-level Rh and surrounding Ni atoms in the special Rh-O5/Ni(Fe) structure can greatly facilitate surface electronic exchange-and-transfer capabilities with the adsorbates (OHads and HMF molecules) and intermediates for efficient HMFOR and HER. We also reveal that the Fe sites in Rh-O5/Ni(Fe) structure can promote the electrocatalytic stability of the catalyst. Our findings provide new insights into catalyst design for complex reactions involving competitive adsorptions of multiple intermediates.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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