Peroxide-mediated selective conversion of biomass polysaccharides over high entropy sulfides via solar energy catalysis

Abstract

As the most abundant renewable carbon resource, biomass is highly desirable to replace fossil fuels, particularly when using clean and sustainable solar energy. Nevertheless, biomass conversion is highly challenging with low product yields and limited selectivity, owing to the high molecular weight of biomass and requirement of harsh reaction conditions. In light of these, highly efficient catalysts are desired. Herein, we present an efficient and selective photocatalytic conversion of biomass polysaccharides with peroxide oxidants over novel high-entropy sulfides (CdZnCuCoFe)S_x under mild reaction conditions – ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Gratifyingly, this resulted in the production of a large amount of carbon monoxide (CO) at 1.73 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ with a high selectivity of 99.1% among the gas products. This work represents a new material platform and reaction route for the selective conversion of biomass into CO, which significantly contributes to biomass resource utilization for sustainable fuel production.