Enhanced Bimetallic CuCo Nanoparticles on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol Through Strong Electronic Interactions

Bimetallic CuCo catalysts with different Cu to Co ratios on N-doped porous carbon materials (N-C) were achieved using impregnation method and applied in the hydrogenation of furfural (FAL) to furfuryl alcohol (FOL). The high hydrogenation activity of FAL over Cu 1 Co 1 /N-C was originated from the synergistic interactions of Cu and Co species, where Co 0 and Cu 0 simultaneously adsorb and activate H 2 , and Cu + served as Lewis acid sites to activate C═O. Meanwhile, electrons transfer from Cu to Co promoted the formation of Cu + . In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that Cu 1 Co 1 /N-C adsorbed FAL with a tilted η 1 -(O) configuration. The superior Cu 1 Co 1 /N-C showed excellent adsorbed ability towards H 2 and FAL, but weak adsorption for FOL. Therefore, Cu 1 Co 1 /N-C possessed 93.1% FAL conversion and 99.0% FOL selectivity after 5 h reaction, which also exhibited satisfactory reusability in FAL hydrogenation for five cycles.