Fabrication of mesoporous POMs/SiO2 nanofibers through electrospinning for oxidative conversion of biomass by H2O2 and oxygen

Abstract

Polyoxometalate H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀/SiO₂ (HPMoV/SiO₂) nanofibers with a mesoporous structure were fabricated through combined electrospinning and surfactant-directing pore formation technique. These heterogeneous nanofibers were characterized by a wide variety of techniques to show mesoporous structure, high surface area, excellent stability, nanofiber morphology, highly efficient activity and selectivity towards the oxidation of starch and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) either by H₂O₂ or by oxygen. POM/SiO₂ nanofibers were suitable for oxidation of starch by H₂O₂ and oxidation of 5-HMF by O₂ with high efficiency of 0.58 mol per 100 g carboxyl content and 89.2% yield of DFF; these results are comparable with those obtained using homogeneous H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀ and HPMoV/SiO₂ without nanofiber morphology. Furthermore, HPMoV/SiO₂ nanofibers could be easily recycled and reused at least ten times with no significant loss of catalytic activity due to their nanofiber morphology.