Insights into the reaction mechanism for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation to FDCA on bimetallic Pd-Au nanoparticles

The thermal treatment of Pd-Au catalysts considerably modified their catalytic activity, because Pd atoms migrated and concentrated onto the outer part of bimetallic nanoparticles. The resulting active phase morphology showed a different reaction path for FDCA formation compared to the untreated catalyst, with an important contribution of the Cannizzaro reaction. PVP-protected Pd-Au nanoparticles with different structures (either alloy or core-shell morphology) were synthesized and their reactivity tested in order to confirm the presence of different mechanisms for HMF oxidation, depending on whether the active phase preferentially exposes either Pd or Au atoms. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.