Efficient Radical-Driving Electrocatalytic Dimerization of Furfural to Jet Fuel Precursors using WMoB Nanoflakes

Abstract

Electrocatalytic dimerization (ECD) of biomass platform molecules represents a promising route for sustainable fuel and chemical production, with the advantages of eliminating harmful reagents, being tunable, and potentially being driven by renewable electricity. However, the widespread application of organic electrocatalysis is hindered by limitations such as low catalytic activity, product selectivity and poor durability. Herein, we demonstrate the development of high-performing and stable transition metal borides WMoB nanoflakes catalyst for the ECD of biomass platform furfural (FF) into hydrofuroin (HFN) which is a jet fuel precursor. The as-obtained WMoB nanoflakes electrocatalyst, prepared by solvent-free mechanical alloying strategy, could achieve FF conversion of 80.5% and an HFN selectivity of 76.7% at −0.59 V vs. RHE (Reversible Hydrogen Electrode), which is 3.7 times that of WB prepared under the same conditions. Furthermore, experimental and theoretical studies, including X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), electrolysis experiments, in-situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), kinetic isotope effect (KIE) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that high furan radicals coverage on WMoB nanoflakes play a crucial role for the ECD reaction. The furan radicals-driven C−C electrocoupling reactions offer an alternative strategy to synthesize valuable products from biomass refineries.