A highly CO-tolerant atomically dispersed Pt catalyst for chemoselective hydrogenation

Area of Science:

• Heterogeneous catalysis
• Materials science
• Chemical engineering

Background:

• Platinum (Pt) catalysts are crucial for hydrogenation but are deactivated by trace carbon monoxide (CO).
• Developing CO-resistant catalysts is economically vital for utilizing crude hydrogen and simplifying product separation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly CO-resistant catalyst for the chemoselective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene derivatives.
• To investigate the catalytic performance and mechanism of atomically dispersed Pt on α-molybdenum carbide (α-MoC).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of atomically dispersed Pt on α-MoC (Pt₁/α-MoC).
• Testing catalytic activity and selectivity under varying CO concentrations (up to 5,000 ppm).
• Investigating the role of water as a co-reactant/promoter.
• Computational and experimental analysis of CO binding and reaction pathways.

Main Results:

• The Pt₁/α-MoC catalyst demonstrated high activity and selectivity in the presence of 5,000 ppm CO.
• The catalyst exhibited strong chemoselectivity for nitro group hydrogenation.
• High hydrogenation activity was achieved using CO and water as a hydrogen source, maintaining selectivity and stability.

Conclusions:

• Atomically dispersed Pt on α-MoC offers exceptional CO resistance and chemoselectivity for nitrobenzene derivative hydrogenation.
• Weakened CO binding on electron-deficient single Pt atoms and a unique reaction pathway contribute to the catalyst's performance.
• The catalyst enables efficient hydrogenation using impure hydrogen sources, with potential for industrial applications.