Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes-supported PdNiCo nanoparticles as a highly efficient catalyst for selective hydrogenation of furfural

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) was synthesized via covalent functionalization, and the monometallic (Pd/CNTs, Pd/N-CNTs), bimetallic (NiCo/CNTs, NiCo/N-CNTs, PdNi/CNTs, PdCo/CNTs, PdNi/N-CNTs, PdCo/N-CNTs) and trimetallic (PdNiCo/CNTs, PdNiCo/N-CNTs) catalysts were prepared by simple liquid chemical reduction. The catalytic performance of as-obtained catalysts was evaluated by furfural hydrogenation. The properties of electron and surface active sites and nanostructures of as-prepared catalysts were characterized. And the relationship between the above-mentioned characteristic textures and catalytic performance of as-synthesized catalysts was further discussed and established. 97.1% selectivity to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol could be obtained over PdNiCo/N-CNTs (furfural conversion-100%), but tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol selectivity was only 41.8% when using PdNiCo/CNTs. This investigation confirmed that the catalytic performance of PdNiCo/N-CNTs was much more excellent than other catalysts mainly due to its own PdNiCo alloy nanostructure and the electronic synergy effect between PdNiCo metallic nanoparticles and N-CNTs. Furthermore, there were much weaker basic sites in PdNiCo/N-CNTs, which greatly increased its catalytic properties.

Automated summary

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) were synthesized via covalent functionalization, and different metal catalysts were prepared by liquid chemical reduction for furfural hydrogenation evaluation. Results showed that PdNiCo/N-CNTs exhibited superior selectivity and catalytic activity, attributed to its unique alloy nanostructure and electronic synergy effect.