Plasmonic antenna enhancement on Pd cluster towards high selective FDCA production

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an excellent precursor for producing value-added green polymers, has recently garnered much attention. Traditional methods for oxidizing 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to FDCA typically require harsh conditions, such as high pressure, high temperature, and non-eco-friendly reactants, making them neither green nor economical. In this study, we present a novel photocatalytic system utilizing a plasmonic antenna effect to enhance Pd clusters supported on ceria (CeO₂). This system drives the transformation from HMF to FDCA under ambient conditions, achieving an impressive yield of over 90% within 4 h under green light irradiation. Notably, the palladium content in this system is minimal. This discovery could pave the way for the development of new photocatalytic systems with varied nanostructures or elemental compositions for efficient chemical reactions.