Efficient Electrocatalytic Reduction of Levulinic Acid to Valeric Acid on a Nanocrystalline PbO‐In2O3 Catalyst

Abstract

AbstractElectrosynthesis offers an efficient and sustainable strategy for the conversion of biomass‐derived platform molecules. Among this process, developing efficient and cost‐effective electrocatalysts is of vital importance. We report herein the preparation of the nanocrystalline PbO‐In2O3 catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of levulinic acid (LA) to valeric acid (VA). A series of non‐noble nanocrystalline PbO‐In2O3 composite materials with different molar compositions were prepared and thoroughly characterized. The prepared nanocrystalline PbO‐In2O3 composite materials were used as working electrode for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of LA in an H‐type electrolytic cell. A LA conversion of 41.4 % and VA selectivity of 97.8 % was achieved with the VA faradic efficiency of 89.2 % under the high current density of 134 mA cm−2. This is the first report on the electrocatalytic reduction of LA to VA using PbO‐In2O3 composite electrode catalyst.