Selective Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of 5-Hydroxymethyl-furfural to 2,5-Dihydroxymethylfuran on Bimetallic PdCu Alloy

2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF), obtained from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) by electrochemical method, is a promising building block for polymers. However, one challenge of this process is to reduce initial potential and improve catalytic selectivity. In this work, the PdCu bimetallic catalyst is prepared with an onset potential of -0.05 V-RHE and a selectivity of 99%. Compared with the single Cu electrocatalyst, the adsorption of HMF and proton is improved by introducing of Pd, which is demonstrated by the electrochemical results and hydrogen production rate. This work provides an effective strategy to improve the selectivity of Cu-based electrocatalyst and builds a relationship between the adsorption capacity and the electrocatalytic performance.

Automated summary

This study successfully improved the selectivity and adsorption performance of Cu-based electrocatalysts by introducing Pd metal, providing an effective strategy for enhancing the selectivity in the production of DHMF.