Interfacial charge transfer via SMSI in heterostructured Pd/Bi2O3: A paradigm for sustainable electrochemical biomass upcycling

However, existing catalysts are limited by low selectivity, rapid deactivation, and high overpotentials. Herein, we report a 0D/2D heterostructured catalyst, Pd-NCs/Bi2O3-NSs, in which Pd nanocrystals are uniformly anchored on ultrathin Bi2O3 nanosheets.

Spectroscopic studies and density functional theory calculations reveal that the strong Pd–O–Bi interfacial interactions induce charge transfer from Bi2O3 to Pd, generating electron-rich Pd sites with a downshifted d-band center. Together with the effect of oxophilic Bi2O3, this optimizes reaction energetics and suppresses intermediate poisoning. As a result, the catalyst delivers 5.81 A mgPd-1 mass activity, 92.1% Faradaic efficiency for GA, and excellent durability.