Lignin, as the Earth's most abundant renewable aromatic resource, is pivotal to a sustainable bio-economy; however, its intricate structure and high chemical stability make selective conversion into specific high-value chemicals a formidable challenge.
Recently, a team led by Professor Zhuohua Sun from Beijing Forestry University and a team led by Xiangwen Liu from the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology developed an ultrafine ruthenium (Ru) nanocluster catalyst supported on cerium oxide (CeO2) that achieves the precise transformation of lignin-derived compounds into 1,4-cyclohexanediol (CHDO) using only pure water as a solvent.
The team published their research findings in Nano Research on June 24, 2026.
Converting lignin-derived molecules, such as 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DMBQ), into useful aliphatic alcohols typically requires harsh reaction conditions, toxic organic solvents, and expensive catalytic systems. These traditional processes often suffer from low selectivity, leading to over-hydrogenated byproducts that are difficult to separate. "Our goal was to develop a 'green surgery' for these complex molecules," the researchers stated. "We needed a catalyst capable of operating in a water environment while specifically targeting certain chemical bonds without destroying the entire molecular framework."
To address this, the team engineered a novel catalyst featuring ultrafine Ru nanoclusters—averaging just 1.6 nanometers in size—anchored onto CeO2 nanorods. This configuration utilizes the Strong Metal-Support Interaction (SMSI) to construct optimized active interfaces. The SMSI not only prevents the sub-nanometer clusters from aggregating under hydrothermal conditions but also induces the formation of high-density surface oxygen vacancies (Ov). These vacancies act as molecular anchors, specifically activating the carbonyl groups of the DMBQ molecule.
The results were record-breaking. Under mild conditions (200°C and 2 MPa H2), the Ru/CeO2 catalyst achieved a 96.7% yield of 1,4-cyclohexanediol. This performance significantly exceeds current industrial benchmarks and commercial noble metal catalysts like Ru/C or Pd/C.
This protocol proves that we can replace petroleum-based manufacturing with sustainable, earth-abundant resources and green solvents," the team explained. The 1,4-cyclohexanediol produced serves as a critical building block for biodegradable plastics, high-performance resins, and advanced coatings. By leveraging the synergistic effect between the metal clusters and the defective oxide support, this study provides a new blueprint for a "lignin refinery."
Other contributors to this work include Yuxin Gao, Zhenzhen Sun, Zhuohua Sun from Beijing Forestry University, China; and Jinling Chen, Xinqi Chen, Rui Liu, Xiangwen Liu from Institute of Analysis and Testing, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, China.
This work is support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22378024 and 22101029), Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (2222006) and Financial Program of BJAST (25CA002, 25CA011-02), Scientific Research Program of BJAST(25CB003-04).
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908659
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 8,000 articles. In 2025 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2025 IF is 9.4 (8.3, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.
