Oriented surface decoration of (Co-Mn) bimetal oxides on nanospherical porous silica and synergetic effect in biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation

Abstract Boosting of atom efficiency for surface active species is a key challenge in heterogeneous catalysis. In this study, nanospherical mesoporous silica(NS-MS) orientedly decorated with well-dispersed bimetallic (Co-Mn) oxides was directly synthesized, and a synergetic catalytic effect of Co-Mn bimetals in the base-free selective oxidation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF) was received. In detail, through a modified micelle-templating route, controllable amounts of Co-Mn bimetals were chemically decorated on the surface of template micelle and then in situ generated in mesopores by the thermal degradation of the micelle. The strong metal-support interaction set up by the countra-ions medium effect induced the high dispersion of metal species. We thoroughly demonstrated the structure, morphology of materials and chemical status of Co-Mn bimetallic oxides in the functional composites by various efficient characterizations. Finally, base-free selective catalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl furfurol to 2, 5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) over the Co-Mn modified NS-MS were examined under the atmospheric pressure conditions. The relationship of catalytic activity and surface-decorated active species was correlated based on the HMF selective oxidation process. The optimal nonprecious-based catalyst afforded superior ∼100% of conversion (HMF), ∼72.4% of yield (FDCA), and a durable catalytic activity in several runs.