Cooperative biomass-derived furfural synthesis and H2 evolution in one photoredox cycle over a MnxCd1-xS/Ti3C2 MXene Schottky junction structure

• Published in: Applied surface science 2024-03, Vol.649, p.159139, Article 159139
• Main Authors: Zhu, Simeng, Lin, Yuan, Hong, Xinlin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass conversion; Hydrogen evolution; Photocatalysis; Schottky junction; Ti3C2 MXene
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.159139

Highly efficient cooperative furfuryl alcohol conversion and H2 evolution in one photoredox cycle over 1D/2D MnxCd1-xS/Ti3C2 MXene Schottky junction. [Display omitted] •A 1D/2D MnxCd1-xS/Ti3C2 MXene photocatalyst is synthesized.•Furfural synthesis coupled with H2 production is conducted in one photoredox cycle.•Schottky junction structure facilitates the separation and transfer of photoinduced carriers.•A tentative mechanism for cooperative furfuryl alcohol conversion and H2 evolution is proposed. Selective and efficient photocatalytic transformation of biomass-derived platform molecules to high-value-added fuels or chemicals is a great challenge for green chemistry, especially utilizing visible light energy and earth-abundant catalytic materials. In this work, we report a 1D/2D MnxCd1-xS/Ti3C2 (MCSTC-X) Schottky junction structure to achieve efficient photocharge separation/transfer via in-situ interfacial self-assembly strategy. Under visible light illumination, the optimized MCSTC-7.5 catalyst enables the selective conversion of furfuryl alcohol into furfural with a production rate of 764.3 μmol·g−1·h−1, accompanied by water splitting into H2 with a generation rate of 756.5 μmol·g−1·h−1. Benefiting from the internal electric field in the Schottky junction structure, the efficient separation and transfer of photoinduced charge carriers are realized in one photoredox cycle. Moreover, a plausible reaction mechanism for the photocatalytic selective valorization of furfuryl alcohol to furfural and H2 evolution is proposed. Hopefully, this work would open a new avenue for sustainable and practical production of solar chemicals and fuels by rationally designing 1D/2D Schottky junction.