A core-shell structured CF/CuxO@NiCoAl-LDH nanocomposite as a low-potential electrocatalyst for highly efficient 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation.

To address the need for efficient and selective electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) at low working potentials, a core-shell structured CF/CuxO@NiCoAl-LDH nanocomposite was developed via a hydrothermal method, in which NiCoAl-layered double hydroxide (NiCoAl-LDH) nanosheets were uniformly grown on Cu foam-supported CuxO nanorods. The hierarchically structured design realizes synergistic regulation of both the morphology and electronic structure, endowing the nanocomposite with an expanded active surface area, exposed active sites, and high-concentration oxygen vacancies. Benefiting from these structural advantages, the nanocomposite delivers exceptional performance for HMF electrooxidation at a low potential. Specifically, at only 1.0 V vs. RHE, the nanocomposite achieves a high HMF conversion of 98.70%, an FDCA yield of 95.61%, and an FDCA selectivity of 93.29%. Moreover, the nanocomposite demonstrates robust electrochemical stability, maintaining superior performance over ten consecutive cycles. This study presents an effective approach to constructing low-potential, high-efficiency electrocatalysts for biomass conversion applications.