Interface-engineered Co_5.47N-W₅N₄ heterostructure catalyst with synergistic dual-site hydrogen bonding and electronic...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electrooxidation (HMFOR) offers value-added production under mild conditions.
• Sluggish reaction kinetics currently limit the catalytic efficiency of HMFOR.
• Optimizing reactant adsorption and activation is key to improving HMFOR performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a Co5.47N-W5N4 heterostructure catalyst for efficient HMFOR.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of the heterogeneous interface on adsorption and activation.
• To enhance the catalytic efficiency of the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electrooxidation reaction.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a Co5.47N-W5N4 heterostructure catalyst.
• Characterization of the catalyst's electronic structure and surface properties.
• Electrochemical evaluation of the catalyst's performance in HMFOR.

Main Results:

• The Co5.47N-W5N4 interface synergistically enhances substrate adsorption and activation via electronic modulation and hydrogen bonding.
• Interfacial electron transfer promotes high-valent cobalt species crucial for activating functional groups.
• The catalyst exhibits a 5.80-fold increase in the rate constant for the rate-determining step in HMFOR.

Conclusions:

• The Co5.47N-W5N4 heterostructure effectively improves HMFOR efficiency.
• Optimizing adsorption and activation through heterogeneous interfaces is a viable strategy for catalyst development.
• This approach provides a pathway for designing advanced catalysts for HMFOR and similar reactions.