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Steering Selectivity in Electrocatalytic Furfural Reduction via Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Modification.

Kaiyue Ji¹, Yuanbo Liu¹, Ye Wang¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|April 16, 2024

Summary

Modifying copper electrocatalysts with BTAB steers selectivity in furfural reduction. This electrode-electrolyte interface engineering enables efficient production of furfuryl alcohol or 2-methylfuran from biomass.

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Area of Science:

Electrochemistry
Catalysis
Renewable Energy

Background:

Biomass-derived furfural electrocatalytic reduction is a sustainable pathway to valuable chemicals.
Controlling selectivity between furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran remains a significant challenge.
Developing methods for tunable selectivity is crucial for efficient biomass valorization.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an electrode-electrolyte interface modification strategy for steering selectivity in furfural electroreduction.
To investigate the mechanism by which selectivity is controlled.
To demonstrate the potential for engineering interfaces in electrocatalysis.

Main Methods:

Modification of copper electrocatalysts with butyl trimethylammonium bromide (BTAB).
Electrocatalytic reduction of furfural under varying conditions.
Analysis of product selectivity and Faradaic efficiency.
Investigation of the electrical double layer structure and proton transfer mechanisms.

Main Results:

BTAB modification shifted selectivity from furfuryl alcohol (83.8%) to 2-methylfuran (80.1%).
Faradaic efficiency for furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran production was significantly improved.
BTAB adsorption modulated the electrical double layer, suppressing hydrogen atom transfer for furfuryl alcohol formation.
2-methylfuran formation was less affected by the BTAB modification.

Conclusions:

Electrode-electrolyte interface engineering offers a powerful approach for controlling selectivity in electrocatalysis.
BTAB modification of copper electrocatalysts provides a method for tunable furfural reduction.
Understanding interfacial phenomena is key to designing efficient catalytic systems for biomass conversion.