Inverse decoration of TiO_x to NiSn alloy nanoparticles for efficient hydrodeoxygenation of m-cresol

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of phenolics is crucial for lignin-to-fuel production via fast pyrolysis. The reaction under atmospheric H₂ pressure offers compatibility with pyrolysis conditions, high aromatic selectivity and low H₂ consumption, but suffers from coking-induced catalyst deactivation. In this work, we report a TiO_x-decorated NiSn/SiO₂ catalyst (Ti-NiSn/SiO₂), achieving 100% deoxygenation selectivity and enhanced stability in m-cresol HDO. The superior performance stems from: (i) the interfacial synergy between TiO_x and NiSn alloy that facilitates C-O bond cleavage with a reduced energy barrier; (ii) the geometric isolation and electron-donating properties of Sn, which suppress undesirable side reactions and mitigate coke formation; and (iii) the inverse TiO_x decoration strategy, which enables effective interface chemistry while minimizing acidic sites that could otherwise accelerate coking. This study presents a design strategy for constructing inverse oxide-alloy interface catalysts, offering multi-faceted advantages for HDO and other complex catalytic transformations.