Boosting nucleophilic attack to realize high current density biomass valorization on a tunable Prussian blue analogue

Electrochemical biomass valorization provides a promising approach to generating value-added chemicals. Herein, we have creatively utilized a Prussian blue analogue as a structure template of the anodic catalyst and improved its catalyst capacity by adjusting its electronic structure. The nickel-based Prussian blue analogue/Ni foam (NiFe-PBA/NF) exhibits excellent performance for methanol (MeOH) oxidation and achieves almost 94.1% FE of formic acid at a high current density of 500 mA cm-2. Apart from formic acid, NiFe-PBA/NF also has good catalytic ability for ethanol, glycerol, glucose, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). In short, this work has developed a promising class of catalysts for biomass valorization. A Prussian blue analogue was chosen as an anode catalyst to catalyze biomass valorization assisted by the HER. NiFe-PBA can achieve FEs of the corresponding value-added products over 60% and even up to almost 100% for some of them.

Automated summary

Electrochemical biomass valorization using a Prussian blue analogue catalyst shows promise in generating value-added chemicals. The NiFe-PBA/NF catalyst exhibits excellent performance in oxidizing various substrates, achieving almost 94.1% FE for formic acid. This work has developed a promising class of catalysts for biomass valorization.