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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
Homonuclear Dual-Atom Cobalt Sites for Enhanced Selective Hydrogenation
Huan Liu1, Peng Zhu2, Zhentao Zhang3
1Anhui Basic Discipline Research Center For Clean Energy and Catalysis, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 22, 2026
Summary
A novel dual-atom cobalt catalyst (Co-DAC) significantly boosts selective hydrogenation. This catalyst shows enhanced activity and selectivity in converting nitroarenes and alkynes, outperforming single-atom catalysts.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer high selectivity but limited activity in hydrogenation due to electron-deficient sites.
- Non-noble metal SACs face challenges in activity and adjacent site availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and investigate a homonuclear dual-atom cobalt site catalyst (Co-DAC) for enhanced selective hydrogenation.
- To explore the catalytic performance of Co-DAC in nitroarene and alkyne hydrogenation reactions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Co-DAC via impregnation-pyrolysis of a Co2-complex onto ZIF-8.
- Evaluation of catalytic activity in nitrobenzene hydrogenation and phenylacetylene semi-hydrogenation.
- Mechanistic studies using computational and experimental approaches.
Main Results:
- Co-DAC exhibited high turnover frequencies: 431 h⁻¹ for nitrobenzene hydrogenation and 1665 h⁻¹ for phenylacetylene semi-hydrogenation.
- Performance surpassed single-atom catalysts by 6.8-fold and 17.5-fold, respectively.
- Demonstrated broad substrate scope and enhanced adsorption of nitro groups.
Conclusions:
- Homonuclear dual-atom cobalt sites with Co─Co bonds significantly improve hydrogenation activity and selectivity.
- Electron coupling in Co─Co sites enhances H2 activation and product desorption.
- Co-DAC presents a promising alternative to SACs for efficient selective hydrogenation.
Keywords:
alkyne hydrogenationdual‐atom site catalystsheterogeneous catalysisnitroarene hydrogenationMore Related Videos
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