Efficient photocatalytic preparation of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid on bimetallic Fe/Au decorated TiO2

The photocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is important to facilitate the conversion of biomass into high-value compounds under mild conditions. This study developed Au/TiO 2 catalysts through the urea deposition method, subsequently integrating them with iron phthalocyanine (FePc) via ball milling, resulting in FePc/Au-TiO 2 . These catalysts were calcined at various temperatures. The results indicated that Au nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on TiO 2 , and Fe in FePc/Au TiO 2 calcined at 410 °C mainly exists in the form of ferrosoferric oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ). FePc/Au-TiO 2 with 30 % FePc which calcined at 410 °C demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic activity, achieving a 97 % yield of FDCA. The effects of various experimental parameters on the conversion of HMF to FDCA were investigated, such as the calcination temperatures, the FePc amount, base, and catalyst dosage. Electron paramagnetic resonance and active species capture tests revealed the catalyst can convert O 2 into •O 2 – and 1 O 2 through excited electrons and photogenerated holes. This study highlights the role of interfacial coupling interactions in boosting catalytic performance, offering a novel approach for photocatalyst development in converting HMF to FDCA.