CuPd nanoalloys are efficient for the hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived vanillin

2-Methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP), a biofuel and flavor, can be produced from lignin-derived vanillin via hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Herein, CuPd nanoalloys were confined within SBA-15 for vanillin HDO. By tuning Cu/Pd mass ratio, a volcano-like trend in MMP yield and apparent turnover frequency (TOF) was observed. The optimized CuPd nanoalloy catalyst (Cu/Pd = 1) occupied the top position, achieving 96.3% MMP yield within 3 h, with the TOF of 323.5 h−1, 3 times than that of monometallic Cu catalyst, while other CuPd nanoalloy catalysts, positioned either side, exhibited lower activities. Moreover, it maintained HDO activity over 20 runs, far beyond typical Cu catalysts (~5 runs). Fabricated via microwave-assisted strategy, the catalysts were confirmed by X-ray absorption fine structure and density functional theory calculations to form CuPd nanoalloys with Pdδ- and Cuδ+ pairs, enabling H2 dissociation and C=O bond activation. This work demonstrates an efficient approach to robust and stable nanoalloy catalysts for biomass upgrading.