A direct 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation fuel cell based on a bifunctional PtNiSx/CB catalyst not only transformed chemical energy into electric energy but also converted HMF into value-added 2,5-furandicarboxylic. [IMAGE: ZHANG XIAN AND WANG JIALU]

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has received increasing attention as a near-market platform chemical that can potentially replace terephthalic acid in the production of commercial and high-performance polymers.

Currently, FDCA is mainly obtained from oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). However, these strategies, including thermochemical and electrochemical oxidation, are all processes of energy consumption, so how to design and develop a more sustainable conversion process of HMF to FDCA is worth investigating in depth.

Researchers at the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a new type of direct 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) fuel cell using bifunctional nanocatalyst — PtNiSx composite material — with an interface between platinum and nickel sulfide supported on carbon black.

This material is both the cathode and anode catalysts of the cell. Its ORR catalytic activity is enhanced by the close interaction and interface effect between Pt and NiSx nanoparticles.

“The catalyst demonstrates oxidization of HMF to the prospective platform chemical FDCA, efficiently and selectively, with a low over-potential,” said Wang Jialu, member of the team, “which is enough to drive the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to build the fuel cell.”

When they assembled the catalyst into an HMF-driven fuel cell, the discharge efficiency was as high as 2.12 mW cm^-2 at a current density of 6.8 mA cm^-2 and a temperature of 60^oC.

“HMF is efficiently converted into FDCA with high selectivity.” said Wang excitedly. “With this strategy, HMF can be continuously converted to value-added product FDCA at the anode, and simultaneously drive ORR in the cathode.” 

For more information, please contact:

Zhao Weiwei

Email: annyzhao@ipp.ac.cn

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science,

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Source: Hefei Institutes of Physical Science,

Chinese Academy of Sciences