Ru nanoparticles confined in carbon nanotubes: supercritical CO2 assisted preparation and improved catalytic performances in hydrogenation of D-glucose

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) confined in carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) will provide significantly improved performances compared to their counterparts supported on the outer walls of MWCNTs. In this paper, supercritical CO2 (sc-CO2) was used as an impregnation medium to assist the inorganic Ru precursor into the inner pores of MWCNTs. MWCNTs inner space confined Ru-MWCNTs nanocomposites were obtained after further reduction by H-2. The Ru-MWCNTs show excellent catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of D-glucose. The activity and stability of the prepared Ru catalyst were much improved. This sc-CO2 assisted impregnation is an effective and environmental benign process to prepare other metal NPs confined in MWCNTs as advanced functional materials.