A range of Pt:Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were investigated for the liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of furfural, an important platform biomass feedstock. Alloying of the two metals had a profound effect on the overall catalytic activity, providing superior rates of reaction and achieving the needed high selectivity towards furfuryl alcohol. Furthermore, we investigated the catalytic activity of an Ultra Dilute Alloy (UDA) formed via the galvanic replacement of Cu atoms by Pt atoms on dispersed host Cu nanoparticles (atomic ratio Pt:Cu 1:20). This UDA, after overcoming an induction period, exhibits exceptionally high initial rates of hydrogenation under modest hydrogen pressures of 10 and 20 bar, rivalling the catalytic turnover for the monometallic Pt (containing 12 times more Pt), and outdoing the pure Cu or other compositions of bimetallic nanoparticle alloy catalysts. These atom efficient catalysts are ideal candidates for the valorization of furfural due to their activity and vastly greater economic viability.

研究了一系列Pt：Cu双金属纳米颗粒用于糠醛（一种重要的平台生物质原料）的液相选择性加氢。两种金属的合金化对整体催化活性产生了深远的影响，提供了优异的反应速率并实现了对糠醇的所需高选择性。此外，我们研究了通过在分散的主体Cu纳米粒子（原子比Pt：Cu 1:20）上用Pt原子置换Cu原子而形成的超稀合金（UDA）的催化活性。该UDA在克服诱导期后，在适度的10和20 bar氢气压力下表现出异常高的初始氢化速率，可与单金属Pt（含12倍以上的Pt）的催化转化率相媲美，并且超过了纯铜或其他双金属纳米粒子合金催化剂的成分。这些具有原子效率的催化剂由于其活性和极大的经济可行性而成为糠醛增值的理想选择。