Anchoring single platinum atoms onto nickel nanoparticles affords highly selective catalysts for lignin conversion

Due to the highly complex polyphenolic structure of lignin, depolymerization without a prior chemical treatment is challenging, and new catalysts are required. Atomically dispersed able maximize atomic efficiency noble metals, simultaneously providing an alternative strategy tune activity selectivity by alloying with other abundant metal supports. Here, we report active selective catalyst comprising monodispersed (single) Pt atoms on Ni nanoparticles supported carbon (denoted as 1 Ni/C, where represents single atoms), designed for reductive lignin. Selectivity toward 4-n-propylsyringol 4-n-propylguaiacol exceeds 90%. The Ni/C in lignin may be attributed synergistic effects between atoms. • An efficient single-atom alloy lignin-first biorefining disclosed shows high deconstruction afford aromatic monomers Key structural mechanistic features provided Alloying non-noble metals allows maximized. Chen et al. describe based platinum anchored onto nickel carbon, which efficient, determining reaction.