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

The 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electrooxidation reaction (HMFOR) stands out due to the value-added production and mild conditions. However, its catalytic efficiency is hampered by sluggish kinetics. Herein, with a focus on optimizing the adsorption and activation of reaction molecules, a Co_5.47N-W₅N₄ heterostructure catalyst is constructed for efficient HMFOR. The heterogeneous interface formed between Co_5.47N and W₅N₄ synergistically enhances the adsorption and activation of substrate molecules through electronic structure modulation and dual-site hydrogen bonding interactions. Meanwhile, the interfacial electron transfer from Co_5.47N to W₅N₄ facilitates the formation of high-valent cobalt species (Co³⁺/Co⁴⁺), which is critical for activating formyl and hydroxymethyl groups. Furthermore, the hierarchical nanoparticle-nanosheet architecture provides abundant active sites while promoting efficient mass transport. These combined effects render Co_5.47N-W₅N₄ with enhanced HMFOR performance, along with a 5.80-fold increase in the rate constant for the rate-determining step. This work puts forward an approach for developing efficient HMFOR catalysts by promoting the adsorption and activation of reaction molecules.