Cooperative Rh-O₅/Ni(Fe) Site for Efficient Biomass Upgrading Coupled with H₂ Production

Designing efficient and durable bifunctional catalysts for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation reaction (HMFOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is desirable for the co-production of biomass-upgraded chemicals and sustainable hydrogen, which is limited by the competitive adsorption of hydroxyl species (OH_ads) and HMF molecules. Here, we report a class of Rh-O₅/Ni(Fe) atomic site on nanoporous mesh-type layered double hydroxides with atomic-scale cooperative adsorption centers for highly active and stable alkaline HMFOR and HER catalysis. A low cell voltage of 1.48 V is required to achieve 100 mA cm^-2 in an integrated electrolysis system along with excellent stability (>100 h). Operando infrared and X-ray absorption spectroscopic probes unveil that HMF molecules are selectively adsorbed and activated over the single-atom Rh sites and oxidized by in situ-formed electrophilic OH_ads species on neighboring Ni sites. Theoretical studies further demonstrate that the strong d-d orbital coupling interactions between atomic-level Rh and surrounding Ni atoms in the special Rh-O₅/Ni(Fe) structure can greatly facilitate surface electronic exchange-and-transfer capabilities with the adsorbates (OH_ads and HMF molecules) and intermediates for efficient HMFOR and HER. We also reveal that the Fe sites in Rh-O₅/Ni(Fe) structure can promote the electrocatalytic stability of the catalyst. Our findings provide new insights into catalyst design for complex reactions involving competitive adsorptions of multiple intermediates.