Self-Regenerating a NiCu Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Electrocatalyst for 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Oxidation to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid

Self-regenerating is widely exploited in polymers, biomaterials, and catalysts. Herein, as the current self-regenerating electrocatalysts are mainly oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, an OER electrocatalyst is replaced with a self-regenerating catalyst of a reaction with a lower overpotential. An electrocatalyst comprising a NiCu layered double hydroxide (NiCu-LDH)/Cu(OH)2 nanowire on Cu foam (NiCu-LDH/Cu(OH)2/CF) studied for use in electrochemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation. The catalytic properties of the NiCu-LDH/Cu(OH)2/CF electrode were studied along with its high catalytic performance in HMF oxidation to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). A noticeable enhancement in HMF oxidation over the developed electrode was observed, with an HMF conversion, FDCA yield, and a Faradaic efficiency of 98.5%, 96.2%, and >96%, respectively. Furthermore, the used catalyst exhibits self-regenerating upon immersion in a fresh electrolyte with HMF. This is a viable strategy to prepare a highly efficient catalyst of electrocatalytic HMF oxidation with a good sustainability.