COMPOSITE CATALYST WITH MOLYBDENUM MXENE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL HYDROGENATION OF 2-METHYLFURAN

Abstract

A composite catalyst for electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of furfural (FF) to 2-methylfuran (MF) includes Molybdenum Mxene and carbon nitride. In an example, the composite catalyst is two dimensional (2D)-on-2D Mo3C2@g-C3N4. By performing the ECH of FF with the composite catalyst in a mild electrolyte solution and enabling the selective production of MF at particular applied potentials, the composite catalyst minimizes challenges commonly associated with conventional ECH methods. The structure of the composite catalyst, in which Molybdenum sites act as active centers and nitrogen facilitates the hydrogenation of FF, enables direct hydrogenation of FF to MF, thereby increasing selectivity and efficiency. The composite catalyst shows a high preference for FF reduction over HER, significantly increasing the faradaic efficiency (FE). The Molybdenum Mxene can be Molybdenum carbide. In an example, an amount of Molybdenum Carbide in the composite catalyst is between about 5 and about 10 mass percent.

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