Microwave-assisted green synthesis of uniform Ru nanoparticles supported on non-functional carbon nanotubes for cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation

Uniformly dispersed ruthenium nanoparticles supported on non-functional carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been successfully synthesized by using a facile and solvent-free microwave-assisted thermolytic method with dodecacarbonyltriruthenium as the precursor. The results show that 2-4 mn sized spheres of Ru nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed and supported on non-functional CNT by several minutes' exposure to microwave irradiation without solvent. The Ru/CNT catalysts show the desired conversion of about 80% and selectivity to hydrocinnamaldehyde of about 72% in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde, where the catalytic performance has been found to depend on both the Ru loading and the surface properties of CNT. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.