From poison to promoter: high-entropy alloy-enabled water activation for robust furfural hydrogenation in a water-containing system

The FeCo 3 NiCu 0.5 Zr HEA catalyst dissociates water molecules and forms oxygen vacancies to promote hydrogenation of furfural in the presence of water, achieving near-complete conversion of furfural and up to 98% selectivity toward furfuryl alcohol.