Designed TiS nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic reductive amination of biomass-derived furfurals

• Published in: Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC 2022-12, Vol.24 (24), p.957-9578
• Main Authors: Zhang, Man, Xu, Shaojun, Boubeche, Mebrouka, Decarolis, Donato, Huang, Yizhe, Liu, Biying, Gibson, Emma K, Li, Xin, Wang, Yuchen, Luo, Huixia, Catlow, C. Richard A, Yan, Kai
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/d2gc03234a

Green and highly selective synthesis of organonitrogen chemicals (ONCs) using the renewable energy source biomass over noble-metal free solid catalysts under common room temperature and pressure conditions is still a major challenge. Here, we report a sustainable electrochemical method for selective synthesis of several valuable ONCs with high yields using biomass-derived furanic aldehydes over greenly fabricated TiS 2 nanosheets through a facile synthesis. Based on a range of characterization techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure, a well-defined structure of the TiS 2 nanosheets (3.86 nm with 1T phase) was constructed. These as-prepared catalysts were applied to the electrochemical reductive amination (ERA) of three biomass-derived aldehydes, i.e. furfural (FF), 5-methylfurfural (MF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and exhibited superior performance whereby over 95% conversion of each furanic aldehyde and nearly perfect selectivity of ONCs were achieved. TiS 2 nanosheets, in particular, exhibited a marked ∼2-fold increase in conversion (∼49%) compared with the monometallic Ti electrode. Besides, the reaction kinetics and rational pathway were also studied. In addition, these exfoliated TiS 2 nanosheets maintained high durability over 6 h, providing a promising and versatile route for the sustainable upgrading of biomass-derived sources. Laminate TiS 2 nanosheets were successfully constructed for the electrochemical synthesis of valuable primary amines using biomass-derived furfurals at mild temperature and pressure.