Activating efficient HMF electro-oxidation activity of biochar-loaded MoS2 by Co-modified

In this study, a novel Co-modified MoS 2 loaded spherical biochar (Co-MoS 2 @BC) derived from renewable biomass was synthesized as an efficient anodic HMFOR electrocatalyst. In the HMFOR process, the Co-MoS 2 @BC required a potential of only 1.426 V for the current density of 100 mA/cm 2 , significantly outperforming that of the MoS 2 loaded on spherical biochar (MoS 2 @BC) and the Co nanoparticles loaded on spherical biochar (Co@BC). Furthermore, the HMF conversion ratio reached 99.6 %, FDCA selectivity was 99.7 %, and Faradaic efficiency was 99.3 %. The Mechanistic studies reveal that the modified-Co on the MoS 2 modulated the electronic structure of Co-MoS 2 @BC, which not only enhanced the interaction between Co-MoS 2 @BC and the electrolyte, thereby facilitating the evolution of the catalysts toward highly active species, but also improved the adsorption of HMF and the H + transfer e - coupling step during the HMFOR process.