MoO-Decorated Co-Based Catalysts toward the Hydrodeoxygenation Reaction of Biomass-Derived Platform Molecules

Catalytic conversion of a biomass derivative (levulinic acid, LA) to a high value-added product (γ-valerolactone, GVL) has attracted much attention, in which the control of catalytic selectivity plays an important role. Herein, a stepwise method was developed to prepare Co-MoO catalysts via topological transformation (calcination reduction) from layered double hydroxide (Mo/CoAl-LDH) precursors. X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction demonstrate the formation of MoO-decorated Co structures of Co-MoO samples. Remarkably, the sample that is reduced at 500 °C is featured with the most abundant interfacial Co^δ (denoted as Co-MoO-500), which exhibits an excellent catalytic performance toward the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction of several biomass-derived platform molecules (furfural, FAL; succinic acid, SA; 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural, HMF; and levulinic acid, LA). Especially, this optimal catalyst displays a high yield (99%) toward the HDO reaction of LA to GVL, which stands at the highest level among non-noble metal catalysts. The combination of in situ FT-IR characterization and theoretical calculation further confirms that interfacial Co^δ sites in Co-MoO-500 act as adsorption active sites for the polarization of a C═O bond in an LA molecule, which simultaneously promotes C═O hydrogenation and C-O cleavage. Moreover, the MoO overlayer suppresses the formation of byproducts by covering the Co⁰ sites. This work offers a cost-effective and efficient catalyst, which can be potentially applied in catalytic conversion of biomass-derived platform molecules.