Al-Doped Core-Shell-Structured Ni@Mesoporous Silica for Highly Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin-Derived...

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Selective deoxygenation of biomass-derived oxygenates is crucial for producing fuels and chemicals.
• Non-noble metal catalysts are desirable for cost-effectiveness but face challenges in activity and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a bifunctional core-shell catalyst for efficient hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin.
• To investigate the role of Al-doping in silica shells for enhanced catalytic performance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a Ni@Al-mSiO2 core-shell catalyst.
• Testing catalytic activity for vanillin hydrodeoxygenation under specific conditions.
• Characterization of catalyst properties and stability.
• Density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Main Results:

• Achieved 100% vanillin conversion and >99% yield of 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol.
• Demonstrated excellent catalytic stability with no significant activity loss after 10 recycles.
• Incorporation of Al atoms enhanced acidic sites and catalytic activity.

Conclusions:

• The Ni@Al-mSiO2 catalyst is efficient, cost-effective, and stable for vanillin hydrodeoxygenation.
• The study provides insights into catalyst design for biomass valorization using non-noble metals.
• Offers a new synthetic protocol for designing advanced catalysts.