For the first time, V modified Ir/SiO2 (Ir-VOx/SiO2) catalyst was used for the selective hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) to 1,5-pentanediol and exhibited better performance than those of V modified other noble metal (Rh, Ru, Pt and Pd) catalysts. The optimum V/Ir atomic ratio for the 4% Ir-VOx/SiO2 catalyst is about 0.10. Over the 4% Ir-VOx/SiO2 (V/Ir = 0.1) catalyst, high THFA conversion and 1,5-pentanediol selectivity can be achieved even at low reaction temperature or system pressure. To understand the reason for its excellent performance, the Ir-VOx/SiO2 catalysts were characterized by XRD, N-2-physisorption, TEM, CO chemisorption, H-2-TPR, XPS and DRIFTS for CO adsorption. It was found that the modification with V has no evident effect on the average size of Ir particles on the 4% Ir/SiO2 catalyst. The close interaction between V oxide and Ir particle promoted the reduction of VOx at lower temperature. The synergy between the closely contacted Ir particles and the partially reduced isolated VOx species attached on them is the reason for the excellent performance of Ir-VOx/SiO2 catalyst. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.