Avoiding Pitfalls in Comparison of Activity and Selectivity of Solid Catalysts for Electrochemical HMF Oxidation

Wöllner S, Nowak T, Zhang GR, Rockstroh N, Ghanem H, Rosiwal S, Brückner A, Etzold BJ (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

ChemistryOpen Wiley Open Access: Chemistry Open / Wiley

Book Volume: 10

Pages Range: 600-606

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1002/open.202100072

Abstract

Electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) offers a renewable approach to produce the value-added platform chemical 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The key for the economic viability of this approach is to develop active and selective electrocatalysts. Nevertheless, a reliable catalyst evaluation protocol is still missing, leading to elusive conclusions on criteria for a high-performing catalyst. Herein, we demonstrate that besides the catalyst identity, secondary parameters such as materials of conductive substrates for the working electrode, concentration of the supporting electrolyte, and electrolyzer configurations have profound impact on the catalyst performance and thus need to be optimized before assessing the true activity of a catalyst. Moreover, we highlight the importance of those secondary parameters in suppressing side reactions, which has long been overlooked. The protocol is validated by evaluating the performance of free-standing Cu-foam, and CuCoO modified with NaPO2 H2 and Ni, which were immobilized on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Recommended practices and figure of merits in carefully evaluating the catalyst performance are proposed.

Authors with CRIS profile

Hanadi Ghanem Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Werkstoffkunde und Technologie der Metalle) Stefan Rosiwal Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Werkstoffkunde und Technologie der Metalle) Bastian Etzold

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Darmstadt DE Germany (DE) Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse (LIKAT) / Leibniz Institute for Catalysis DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Wöllner, S., Nowak, T., Zhang, G.R., Rockstroh, N., Ghanem, H., Rosiwal, S.,... Etzold, B.J. (2021). Avoiding Pitfalls in Comparison of Activity and Selectivity of Solid Catalysts for Electrochemical HMF Oxidation. ChemistryOpen, 10(5), 600-606. https://doi.org/10.1002/open.202100072

MLA:

Wöllner, Sebastian, et al. "Avoiding Pitfalls in Comparison of Activity and Selectivity of Solid Catalysts for Electrochemical HMF Oxidation." ChemistryOpen 10.5 (2021): 600-606.

BibTeX: Download