Understanding chemoselectivity in the oxidation of ethyleneglycol catalyzed by Co3O4

Cobalt oxides have shown great promise as catalysts of oxidation reactions. In particular cobalt spinel, Co3O4, owing to its capability to tune its redox states when thermodynamic equilibria are established between the reactants, products and material surface. Its catalytic activity is dominated by the Co3+ ions in uncapped octahedral surface sites, with the participation of suprafacial reactive oxygen species or the involvement of superficial lattice oxygen atoms. In the oxidation of small molecules like CO and CH4, it has been demonstrated that the Co spin state, atomic structure, and oxygen vacancies play crucial roles in catalytic activity. However, when molecules with multiple functional groups are concerned, the drivers that determine product selectivity of Co3O4 are yet to be determined. Operando XAS at BM23 would provide a much needed insight into the catalyst transformations occurring during the thermal oxidation of ethylene glycol, the simplest polyol.