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Electroreductive 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural Dimerization on Carbon Electrodes
Author(s) -
Kloth Ricarda,
Vasilyev Dmitry V.,
Mayrhofer Karl J. J.,
Katsounaros Ioannis
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202101575
Subject(s) - overpotential , chemistry , glassy carbon , faraday efficiency , electrochemistry , hydroxymethyl , carbon fibers , selectivity , inorganic chemistry , reversible hydrogen electrode , electrocatalyst , electrolyte , catalysis , electrode , organic chemistry , materials science , working electrode , cyclic voltammetry , composite material , composite number
The electrochemical conversion of biomass‐based compounds to fuels and fuel precursors can aid the defossilization of the transportation sector. Herein, the electrohydrodimerization of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to the fuel precursor 5,5’‐bis(hydroxymethyl)hydrofuroin (BHH) was investigated on different carbon electrodes. Compared to boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrodes, on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes a less negative HMF reduction onset potential and a switch in product selectivity from BHH to the electrocatalytic hydrogenation product 2,5‐di(hydroxymethyl)furan (DHMF) with increasing overpotential was found. On BDD, the electrohydrodimerization was the dominant process independent of the applied potential. An increase in the initial HMF concentration led to suppression of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction and DHMF formation, resulting in higher BHH faradaic efficiencies. In contrast, BHH selectivity decreased with higher initial HMF concentration, which was attributed to increased electrochemically induced HMF degradation. Finally, it was demonstrated that even a simple graphite foil can function as an active HMF electroreduction catalyst.