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Electron-Delocalized Cu-S-Fe on High-Conductivity Lignin Carbon Fiber Enables Efficient HMF Conversion
Yi Qi1,2,3, Yutao Pan1, Xueqing Qiu1,2,3
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 21, 2026
Summary
We developed a lignin-based strategy to create advanced electrocatalysts for biomass upgrading. This method enhances metal dispersion and charge transfer, leading to efficient conversion of HMF to FDCA with high selectivity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Electrocatalyst design for biomass valorization faces challenges with poor metal dispersion and slow charge transfer.
- Developing efficient and stable electrocatalysts is crucial for sustainable biomass upgrading.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a novel electrocatalyst using a lignin-assisted strategy for enhanced biomass valorization.
- To investigate the structure-activity relationship of Cu-doped FeS2 heterostructures on N-doped carbon fibers.
Main Methods:
- Lignin-assisted electrospinning to create Cu-doped FeS2 heterostructures on N-doped lignin-derived carbon fibers (Cu-FeS2/LCF).
- Characterization using aberration-corrected TEM and X-ray absorption fine structure.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to understand reaction mechanisms and electronic properties.
Main Results:
- Uniform immobilization of ultrasmall Cu-FeS2 domains on conductive N-doped carbon fibers.
- Identification of an electronically activated Cu-S-Fe interface that optimizes reaction energy barriers.
- Achieved nearly complete HMF conversion with 98% FDCA selectivity in 1.5 hours.
- Demonstrated accelerated electron transfer and enhanced HMF adsorption via Cu incorporation and N-doped carbon fibers.
Conclusions:
- Cu-FeS2/LCF serves as a durable and efficient electrocatalyst platform for biomass upgrading.
- Lignin-enabled fiber engineering is a viable strategy for designing advanced heterogeneous electrocatalysts.
