Size-Dependent Metal–Support Interactions in Cobalt/Ceria-Based Catalysts for the Selective Conversion of Furfural Alcohol to 1,5-Pentanediol

Metal–support interactions (MSIs) play a critical role in the performance of heterogeneous catalysts; thus, the interest in optimizing MSIs is growing. Here we demonstrate the regulation of MSIs by varying the particle size of ceria-based supports and the impacts on the selective hydrogenolysis of furfural alcohol (FA) to 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD). A combination of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy presents the MSI effects on the enhanced cobalt dispersion and the formation of abundant Co2+–Ov pair sites. Different from the conventional cubic-phase CeO2, the tetragonal-phase Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 with a Ce/Zr ratio of 1/1 shows an ultrasmall crystallite size (6.7 nm) and enhanced surface area, which is vital to strengthen MSIs. The Co2+–Ov pairs demonstrate a very good correlation to the selective hydrogenolysis of FA to 1,5-PeD. This work provides an insight into the manipulation of the support phase to enhance MSI effects for important reactions.