Tuning mesoporous architecture in Au-CoOx/m-CeO2 catalysts for enhanced aerobic oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid

The conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) via aerobic oxidation is a crucial step toward transforming biomass into sustainable bio-based energy materials. In this study, a mesoporous Au-CoO x /m-CeO 2 catalyst was prepared using vacuum-assisted in situ self-assembly to realise this conversion. The well-defined mesostructure, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analyses, significantly enhanced active site accessibility and facilitated reactant diffusion, thereby accelerating the selective oxidation of HMF to produce FDCA. This catalytic system achieved complete conversion of HMF and an FDCA yield of 99.89 ( ± 0.03)% under ambient pressure at 90 °C. Using Au/m-CeO 2 or Au-CoO x /CeO 2 as catalysts under identical conditions, the FDCA yields were limited to 56.8 ( ± 1.9)% and 78.1 ( ± 0.8)%, respectively. The optimal catalyst also demonstrated outstanding durability, retaining 93.9 ( ± 0.7)% FDCA yield after 18 reuse cycles. This remarkable activity was attributed to the integrated Au-CoO x /m-CeO 2 architecture, wherein a synergistic metal–oxide interaction coupled with the ordered mesoporous CeO 2 framework collectively optimised the reaction–diffusion process, driving efficient HMF oxidation. This study therefore provides a new perspective for designing efficient catalysts for the conversion of HMF to FDCA, which is conducive to the conversion of biomass resources.