Cis-Trans Adsorption Configuration Influenced High-Efficient Hydrogenation of Furfural Over Zeolite-Encapsulated Pt1cu Single-Atom Alloy Catalyst

Abstract

Single-atom alloy (SAA) catalysts are promising materials for high-efficient conversion of lignocellulose to value-added chemicals, but synthetic methods with reasonable generality are still lacking. Herein, we report a novel method for synthesizing SAA catalyst Pt1Cu@S-1(S-1, silicalite‑1) via zeolite encapsulation with the aid of protecting chelating ligands. Pt1Cu@S-1 displays remarkable activity for the hydrogenation of furfural (FUR) to furfuryl alcohol (FOL), and its turnover frequency (TOF) values reach up to 529.0 mmolFUR·mmolPt-1·h-1 and 63.3 mmolFUR·mmolCu-1·h-1, which are ~ 500 and ~ 26 times higher than that of Pt@S-1 and Cu@S-1. Interestingly, we for the first time find that OO-trans FUR is a preferable adsorption configuration over OO-cis FUR on Pt1Cu@S-1 due to the Pt single atom coordinating with the carbon atom on the furan ring. More importantly, the adsorption ability of OO-trans FUR is stronger than that of OO-cis FUR, which increases the concentration of adsorbed species on Pt1Cu@S-1 and accelerates the hydrogenation of FUR.

Keywords: Furfural, high-efficient hydrogenation, Zeolite encapsulation, single-atom alloy catalyst.