MOF-derived CeO2-supported Au-Pd nanoparticles for efficient solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol

• The Straw-bundle CeO₂ (CM) support is synthesized via Ce-MOF pyrolysis. • The (110) facets in CM induce oxygen vacancies and Ce³⁺species. • The Au-Pd/CM catalyst promotes H* species for C-O bond cleavage in benzyl alcohol oxidation. • The designed Au-Pd/CM catalyst achieves high activity and also directs benzyl alcohol oxidation pathways. This study presents a CeO 2 support (denoted as CM) with a porous straw bundle morphology and high specific surface area was prepared through the pyrolysis of Ce-MOF precursor. The CM was compared with hydrothermally synthesized CeO 2 nanorods (CR) and commercial CeO 2 (CC). Au-Pd nanoparticles were deposited onto these CeO 2 supports via a sol-immobilization technique, which subsequently served as catalysts for the solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The predominant exposure of (110) crystal facets promoted the formation of a high concentration of oxygen vacancies and Ce 3+ species. These properties facilitated the metal–support interaction and promoted the formation of H* species, which was dissociated from benzyl alcohol and enabled toluene production through C-O bond cleavage. In result, the Au-Pd/CM (ACM) catalyst exhibited superior performance, achieving a 43.63% benzyl alcohol conversion at 1 h (turnover frequency (TOF) value of 11,084 h -1 ) and a low apparent activation energy (75.2 kJ/mol), along with good recyclability.