Designed TiS₂ nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic reductive amination of biomass-derived furfurals

Zhang, M. et al. (2022) Designed TiS₂ nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic reductive amination of biomass-derived furfurals. Green Chemistry, 24(24), pp. 9570-9578. (doi: 10.1039/D2GC03234A)

Abstract

Green and highly selective synthesis of organonitrogen chemicals (ONCs) using the renewable energy source biomass over noble-metal free solid catalysts under common room temperature and pressure conditions is still a major challenge. Here, we report a sustainable electrochemical method for selective synthesis of several valuable ONCs with high yields using biomass-derived furanic aldehydes over greenly fabricated TiS2 nanosheets through a facile synthesis. Based on a range of characterization techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure, a well-defined structure of the TiS2 nanosheets (3.86 nm with 1T phase) was constructed. These as-prepared catalysts were applied to the electrochemical reductive amination (ERA) of three biomass-derived aldehydes, i.e. furfural (FF), 5-methylfurfural (MF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and exhibited superior performance whereby over 95% conversion of each furanic aldehyde and nearly perfect selectivity of ONCs were achieved. TiS2 nanosheets, in particular, exhibited a marked ∼2-fold increase in conversion (∼49%) compared with the monometallic Ti electrode. Besides, the reaction kinetics and rational pathway were also studied. In addition, these exfoliated TiS2 nanosheets maintained high durability over 6 h, providing a promising and versatile route for the sustainable upgrading of biomass-derived sources.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gibson, Dr Emma
• Authors: Zhang, M., Xu, S., Boubeche, M., Decarolis, D., Huang, Y., Liu, B., Gibson, E. K., Li, X., Wang, Y., Luo, H., Catlow, C. R. A., and Yan, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Green Chemistry
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 1463-9262
• ISSN (Online): 1463-9270
• Published Online: 10 November 2022