In Situ Generation of 3D Cu@CN Framework Catalyst for Selective Furfuryl Alcohol Synthesis from Furfural

The selective conversion of furfural is the key to the synthesis of bio-based fine chemicals, but it is still challenging due to the complexity of multi-pathway reactions. Herein, MOFs-derived 3D Cu@CN framework with layered structure were constructed via a dual-linkers strategy. The prepared Cu@CN-400 has good catalytic performance, the yield of furfuryl alcohol is more than 99%, and the catalyst can still maintain high activity after 10 cycles. The characterization and experimental results confirm that this strategy benefits the catalyst in two aspects, namely, the generation of a certain proportion of exposed Cu⁰ species and the formation of a layered structure with Cu embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon. The first aspect improves the activity of the catalyst, while the second aspect greatly inhibits the leaching of metal components during the reaction, thereby ensuring the stability of the catalyst. This study provides a feasible strategy for designing stable catalysts to achieve highly selective conversion of furfural.

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