Synergistic effects of PtFe/CeO2 catalysts afford high catalytic performance in selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

Selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes remains a grand challenge in controlling chemoselectivity up to now. We synthesized a series of PtFex/CeO2 catalysts, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as temperature-programmed-reduction by hydrogen (H2-TPR). The catalytic performance of PtFex/ CeO2, including cinnamaldehyde (CAL) conversion and selectivity toward cinnamyl alcohol (COL), is improved remarkably by introduction of Fe species in the Pt particles in the selective CAL hydrogenation under mild conditions. XPS results indicate that the electron transfer from Fe to Pt promotes CAL adsorption, resulting in the enhanced CAL conversion. And the COL selectivity is improved by CAL adsorption via an interaction of C=O group with surface oxygen defect sites because of interaction between PtFe and CeO2 support. In all, this study may provide some hints to design efficient nano Pt particles for the selective hydrogenation. (c) 2022 Chinese Society of Rare Earths. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

By introducing Fe species, the catalytic performance of PtFex/CeO2 catalysts in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CAL) is improved, showing increased CAL conversion and selectivity towards cinnamyl alcohol (COL). XPS results indicate that the electron transfer from Fe to Pt promotes CAL adsorption, leading to enhanced CAL conversion. The interaction between PtFe and CeO2 support improves the COL selectivity by enabling CAL adsorption via an interaction of the C=O group with surface oxygen defect sites.