Electrocatalytic hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol on Pt/TiO2: The modulation on guaiacol adsorption and H spillover

The synthesis of KA oil (a cyclohexanone-cyclohexanol mixture) from guaiacol through mild electrocatalytic approach represents a sustainable strategy for biomass valorization. Herein, we report the electrocatalytic conversion of guaiacol to KA oil over the reduced Pt/TiO 2 catalysts. The TiO 2 -induced hydrogen spillover effect facilitates strategic modulation of H ads (H*) coverage on Pt surfaces, thereby effectively suppressing competitive aromatic ring hydrogenation and excessive hydrogen evolution reactions. Comparative studies of electrocatalysis and thermocatalysis have demonstrated that Pt active sites serve as the dominant catalytic centers. However, H spillover significantly influences reactivity and selectivity, particularly in the electrocatalytic pathways. The electrocatalytic system demonstrates preferential C–O bond cleavage with KA oil selectivity around 70%. This work provides valuable insights into the regulation of metal-support interactions in the design of electrocatalysts.