High-Performance Ni₃P Catalyst for C═O Hydrogenation of Ethyl Levulinate: Ni^δ+ as Outstanding Adsorption Sites

Abstract

It is important but challenging to develop non-noble metal catalysts with high activity and selectivity for biomass conversion. The activation of CO bond is a crucial step in biomass upgradation. Herein, a series of Ni-xP/Al2O3 catalysts with different P/Ni molar ratios were prepared for the conversion of ethyl levulinate to γ-valerolactone. The developed Ni-0.38P/Al2O3 catalyst was 5.4 times more active than conventional Ni/Al2O3 based on turnover frequency and significantly outperformed the state-of-the-art non-noble metal catalysts. The unique catalytic performance was ascribed to the formation of Ni3P phase, which was identified by several characterizations. The results of DFT calculation and characterization by XPS and CO-FTIR revealed that electron was transferred from Ni to P with the formation of Niδ+ sites. In situ FTIR for the surface reaction indicated that Niδ+ acted as a new active site to activate the CO bond, which rendered the high intrinsic activity of Ni3P for the CO hydrogenation of EL.

Solar Biomass Reforming and Hydrogen Production with Earth‐Abundant Si‐Based Photocatalysts

“…[ 34 ] The Ni‐NGQDs exhibited a Ni 2p3/2 peak at 855.0 eV and no Ni 0 peak at ≈853.2 eV (Figure S4, Supporting Information). [ 35 ] Satellite peaks of Ni 2p 3/2 and Ni 2p 1/2 were clearly observed with the increase in the amounts of Ni in the Ni‐NGQDs (Figure 1b; Figure S4, Supporting Information). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed no sign of crystalline Ni (Figure S5, Supporting Information).…”

Atomically Precise AgCu Clusters Affixed to SiO2 Aerogel for N-Formylation of Amines

“…During the reaction process of 40 min, no stretching vibration band of the carbonyl groups appeared near 1696 cm −1 (Figure 4a,c). 36,37 It was speculated that the adsorption saturation of the CO molecules onto the catalyst might hinder further adsorption of aniline onto the catalyst. On the other hand, aniline was first injected, and then, CO was added to the system.…”

The Synergistic Activation of Ce‐Doping and CoP/Ni3P Hybrid Interaction for Efficient Water Splitting at Large‐Current‐Density

“…The survey spectrum of Ce 0.2 ‐CoP/Ni 3 P@NF in Figure 2b demonstrates the existence of Ce, Ni, Co, and P elements. In the Ni 2p region (Figure 2c), the peaks at 852.7 and 870.0 eV are attributed to Ni δ+ 2p 3/2 and Ni δ+ 2p 1/2 in pristine Ni 3 P. [ 25 ] The peaks at 856.7 and 874.7 eV with a pair of satellite peaks (861.4 and 879.9 eV) are assigned to the Ni 2+ 2p 3/2 and Ni 2+ 2p 1/2. [ 25b ] After hybridization with CoP, the peaks of the Ni δ+ 2p 3/2 and Ni δ+ 2p 1/2 in CoP/Ni 3 P shift to the higher binding energy of 852.9 and 870.2 eV, indicating a charge transfer caused by electronic interaction.…”