Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
Published on: August 7, 2018
Manganese-regulated eg orbital occupancy coupled with anion dissociation enables efficient electrocatalytic oxidation
Mengru Lian1, Yan Yu1, Yue Xiao1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/State Key Laboratory Incubation Base for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China.
Abstract:
5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) offers a sustainable pathway for synthesizing the high-value platform chemical 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Most prior studies have focused on morphological and electronic modulation, yet have overlooked the critical role of electronic spin configuration in governing surface reconstruction. Herein, manganese-doped cobalt carbonate hydroxide (Co2-xMnxCO3(OH)2) is fabricated via a facile cation-exchange strategy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and physical property measurement system characterizations verify that Mn doping triggers intrinsic electron rearrangement within the 3d orbitals of Co active sites, which fundamentally modulates the orbital electron filling configuration of Co centers. Driven by such electronic structural evolution, partial high-spin Co2+ species in the electrocatalyst convert to an intermediate-spin state, reducing the proportion of high-spin Co2+ in the system. Density functional theory calculations further confirm the pronounced shift in eg orbital occupancy of Co2+, theoretically validating that Mn doping achieves precise spin-state regulation over Co sites. This electronic structure tuning remodels the local coordination environment, weakens metal‑oxygen bonds, and significantly accelerates lattice CO32- dissociation. The resultant Co centers with reduced eg occupancy preferentially adsorb OH- over HMF, facilitating rapid surface reconstruction at low applied potentials and generating highly selective active (Co3+/Co4+) species toward HMFOR. This work uncovers a spin-mediated surface reconstruction mechanism and provides a viable strategy for designing high-performance biomass electrocatalysts.
Related Concept Videos
Radical Oxidation of Allylic and Benzylic Alcohols
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate
Oxidation of Alcohols
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Amines to Alkenes: Hofmann Elimination
Under thermal conditions, the hydroxide can abstract a proton from the β carbon; this generates an alkene with the simultaneous...

