Pd Nanoparticles Decorated CeZrOx for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Compounds

The photocatalytic conversion of biomass-derived compounds into value-added chemicals presents a promising protocol for the sustainable production of renewable chemicals. Our study explores the hydrogenation of biomass model compounds under visible light illumination. Zr was incorporated into the CeO2 framework, forming a CeZrOx(1:0.5) solid solution, confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The light uptake capacity of the CeZrOx solid solution was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy. Additionally, the band structure of the CeZrOx solid solution was assessed using valance band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB-XPS) and Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) analysis, revealing a Z-Scheme, which was further confirmed by various control experiments. Upon decorating the CeZrOx(1:0.5) solid solution with 1 wt% palladium (Pd), the resulting 1Pd/CeZrOx(1:0.5) composite exhibited improved charge separation and enhanced visible light absorption capacity. This composite achieved similar to 99% conversion of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol under a 15 W blue LED illumination and 0.2 MPa hydrogen. Similarly, it demonstrated similar to 99% conversion of benzyl phenyl ether (BPE) to toluene and phenol under a 10 W blue LED illumination. Our findings elucidate the active sites and demonstrate the recyclability of mixed metal oxides for selective furfural hydrogenation and BPE hydrogenolysis under visible light.