Recent Advances in the Application of Nanocatalysts for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin and Its Derivatives to Jet-Fuel-Range Cycloalkanes and Aromatics

Lignin is the sole renewable organic carbon resource that is intrinsically rich in aromatic rings. Its catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) to produce jet-fuel-range cycloalkanes and aromatics represents a pivotal route toward achieving sustainable aviation fuel. The central challenge of HDO lies in achieving selective C-O bond cleavage while precisely controlling the hydrogenation of aromatic rings. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in nanocatalysts for this application, covering molybdenum-based catalysts (edge-site engineering and oxygen vacancy regulation in MoS2), nickel-based catalysts (optimization of low-temperature activity in nickel phosphide and hydrogen spillover strategies), bimetallic catalysts (geometric/electronic/stabilization/synergistic effects), and bifunctional catalysts (synergy between acid sites and metal sites), with particular emphasis on the emerging single-atom catalysts (coordination environment and charge density regulation). The functional roles of nanocatalysts in cascade conversion processes are also discussed. Finally, the future directions for the rational design of highly efficient nanocatalytic systems are outlined, aiming to provide insights for the targeted synthesis of lignin-based jet-fuel-range cycloalkanes and aromatics.