Structural characterization of MXene-supported cobalt nanoparticle catalysts and their catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

The catalytic conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol is crucial for maximizing biomass resource efficiency. This research aims to develop Co-NC/MXene catalysts for the hydrogenation reaction by pyrolyzing a mixture of Zn/Co bimetal zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZnCo-ZIF) and MXene. During the pyrolysis process, the organic components of the ZnCo-ZIF network are converted into nitrogen-doped porous carbon (NC). Simultaneously, Co metal nodes are transformed into Co nanoparticles, which are embedded within the NC framework and firmly anchored onto the MXene surface. The resultant 14.6 % Co-NC/MXene catalyst demonstrated exceptional performance in selectively hydrogenating furfural to furfuryl alcohol, with a 98.7 % conversion and 100 % selectivity under mild conditions (333 K and 2 MPa H 2 for 12 h), utilizing water as the solvent. Structural characterizations and comparative analyses with alternative catalysts, including Co nanoparticles on activated carbon (Co-NC/C), MXene-support-free Co-NC, and Co im /MXene synthesized through impregnation, reveal that the superior efficiency of the 14.6 % Co-NC/MXene catalyst originates from the collaborative efforts between Co nanoparticles and the MXene support. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited remarkable stability, preserving its catalytic activity and selectivity with minimal degradation across six consecutive cycles.