Co- and V2O3-Modified Ni-Based Nanocatalyst for 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Electrooxidation

The electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) provides a prospective method to produce high-value 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Since this multistep process includes the oxidation of aldehyde and hydroxyl groups, a deep understanding of the mechanism of HMF oxidation reaction (HMFOR) is crucial. Herein, the surface reconstruction of the nickel-based catalyst is regulated by Co and V 2 O 3 modifications to reveal the relationship between the reconstructed surface and the HMFOR performance. The introduction of the V 2 O 3 nanosheet facilitates the in situ reconstruction of the nickel-based nanocatalyst by enhancing the adsorption of OH*. The incorporation of Co adjusts the electronic structure of nickel, contributing to a decrease in the formation potential of NiOOH. Moreover, the insitugenerated NiOOH promotes the adsorption and activation of aldehyde and hydroxyl groups, providing beneficial effects for HMFOR. Impressively, Co–Ni/V 2 O 3 /NF needs only 1.29 V RHE to achieve 10 mA cm –2 for HMFOR and maintains high FDCA selectivity for 10 cycles. This work explains the regulations of V 2 O 3 and Co on NiOOH species formation, which is conducive to designing an efficient nickel-based catalyst for HMF oxidation.