The selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PDO) presents a sustainable approach, leveraging a bio-renewable feedstock and significantly enhancing the economic viability of biodiesel production. However, the limited selectivity toward 1,3-PDO in glycerol hydrogenolysis has hindered its widespread adoption on an industrial scale. In this work, we synthesized a series of Pt/WO3–Al2O3catalysts using a simple wetness sequential impregnation method. Comprehensive characterization and kinetic studies revealed that the surface tungsten content of the catalyst exerted a critical and multifaceted influence on the catalytic performances. Under optimal conditions, glycerol could be selectively converted to 1,3-PDO with a yield of 43% in a fixed-bed continuous flow reactor. Furthermore, a plausible reaction mechanism for glycerol hydrogenolysis was proposed based on the correlations between catalyst structure and catalytic performance.
Developing superior oxidation resistance of high-entropy diborides is critical for extending their potential applications in harsh environments. Herein, we developed non-equimolar (Hf,Zr,Ta,W)B 2 high-entropy diborides with superior oxidation resistance by adjusting W contents for the first time. The as-fabricated (Hf 0.28 Zr 0.28 Ta 0.28 W 0.15 )B 2 samples are predicted to possess superior oxidation resistance at 1473–1773 K through the oxidation depth quantitative analysis obtained by machine learning, which is attributed to the reason that the moderate WO 3 can effectively inhibit the volatilization of B 2 O 3 . Furthermore, a four-layered structure is found in the generated product layers at 1773 K, which is due to the preferential oxidation of Hf and Zr elements at low oxygen partial pressure and the different diffusion activation energies of oxide products. The preferential oxidation of Hf and Zr elements is further demonstrated by the computational phase stability diagrams, and oxygen adsorption energies and charge transfer between oxygen atoms and different metal adsorption sites via first-principles calculations. Such superior performance endows (Hf 0.28 Zr 0.28 Ta 0.28 W 0.15 )B 2 with potential applications as ultrahigh-temperature structural materials.