<scp>CuO</scp>/<scp>Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub></scp> Bifunctional Catalysts for Electrocatalytic 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural Oxidation Coupled Cathodic Ammonia Production
Li Zhang, Peiyue Jin, Ze Wu, Bo Zhou, Junchang Jiang, Aomeng Deng, Qiu‐Yue Li, Tanveer Hussain, Yiqiong Zhang, Hanwen Liu, Shuangyin Wang
Abstract
The electrochemical coupling of biomass oxidation and nitrogen conversion presents a potential strategy for high value‐added chemicals and nitrogen cycling. Herein, in this work, CuO/Co 3 O 4 with heterogeneous interface is successfully constructed as a bifunctional catalyst for the electrooxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid and the electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia (NH 3 ). The open‐circuit potential spontaneous experiment shows that more 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural molecules are adsorbed in the Helmholtz layer of the CuO/Co 3 O 4 composite, which certifies that the CuO/Co 3 O 4 heterostructure is conducive to the kinetic adsorption of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural. In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further shows that CuO/Co 3 O 4 has faster reaction kinetics and lower reaction potential in oxygen evolution reaction and 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural electrocatalytic oxidation. Moreover, CuO/Co 3 O 4 also has a good reduction effect on . The ex‐situ Raman spectroscopy shows that under the reduction potential, the metal oxide is reduced, and the generated Cu 2 O can be used as a new active site for the reaction to promote the electrocatalytic conversion of to NH 3 synthesis. This work provides valuable guidance for the synthesis of value‐added chemicals by 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural electrocatalytic oxidation coupled with while efficiently producing NH 3 .