Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Dual-atom Rh-Co catalysts for synergistically boosting nitrile hydrogenation
Jiawei Chen1,2, Hongqiu Chen3, Xiangbin Cai4
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang, P. R. China.
A new Rh-Co dual-atom catalyst on defective graphene efficiently hydrogenates benzonitrile. This advanced catalyst offers high selectivity and stability, overcoming limitations of single-atom catalysts for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Heterogeneous catalysis
- Materials science
- Chemical engineering
Background:
- Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer high selectivity in hydrogenation due to defined active sites.
- Limited binding sites on SACs restrict their use with larger molecules like benzonitrile.
- Activity-selectivity trade-off is a challenge in nitrile hydrogenation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel catalyst for efficient and selective nitrile hydrogenation.
- To overcome the limitations of single-atom catalysts for multidentate substrates.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of dual-atom catalysts in hydrogenation reactions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a heteronuclear Rh-Co dual-atom catalyst (Rh₁Co₁/ND@G) on defective graphene.
- Characterization of the catalyst's structure and active sites.
- Evaluation of catalytic performance in benzonitrile hydrogenation under mild conditions.
Main Results:
- Rh₁Co₁/ND@G demonstrated enhanced C≡N bond activation via cooperative Rh-Co interaction.
- Achieved a turnover frequency (TOF) of 4068 h⁻¹ with >98% dibenzylamine selectivity.
- Catalyst exhibited excellent stability, maintaining performance over 12 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The Rh-Co dual-atom catalyst design resolves the activity-selectivity trade-off in nitrile hydrogenation.
- This work presents a breakthrough in dual-atom catalyst development for industrial hydrogenation.
- Opens new avenues for designing high-performance heterogeneous catalysts.
More Related Videos
12:08Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
10:51The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Catalysis
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Heterogeneous Catalysis