Nano TiO2 film electrode for electrocatalytic reduction of furfural in ionic liquids

Nanoporous TiO₂ having enhanced surface area was synthesized by sol–gel method. An “environmental friendly” method for production of furfuryl alcohol was presented by electrocatalytic reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol in ionic liquid medium at the surface of nanoporous TiO₂ film electrode. The heterogeneous catalytic redox behaviour of a nanoporous TiO₂ film electrode surface was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was found that the catalytic reduction of furfural by Ti(IV)/Ti(III) redox system on the nanoporous TiO₂ film surface. The electrode reaction mechanism is called catalytic (EC′) mechanism, current density can reach 38 mA/cm² and yielding an overall conversion efficiency of 61.7%.