Bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework Derived Nanocatalyst for CO2 Fixation through Benzimidazole Formation and Methanation of CO2

In this paper, a bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) CoNiBTC was employed as a precursor for the fabrication of bimetallic nanoalloys CoNi@C evenly disseminated in carbon shells. These functional nanomaterials are characterized by powdered X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area porosity analyzer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Hydrogen Temperature-Programmed Reduction (H-2 TPR), CO2 Temperature-Programmed Desorption (CO2-TPD), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This nanocatalyst was utilized in the synthesis of benzimidazole from o-phenylenediamine in the presence of CO2 and H-2 in a good yield of 81%. The catalyst was also efficient in the manufacture of several substituted benzimidazoles with high yield. Due to the existence of a bimetallic nanoalloy of Co and Ni, this catalyst was also employed in the methanation of CO2 with high selectivity (99.7%).

Automated summary

In this paper, a bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) CoNiBTC was used to fabricate bimetallic nanoalloys CoNi@C evenly dispersed in carbon shells. The nanomaterials were characterized by various techniques and used as catalysts for the synthesis of benzimidazole and methanation of CO2 with high yields and selectivity.