Tailoring the 3D Structure of Pd Nanocatalysts Supported on Mesoporous Carbon for Furfural Hydrogenation

Abstract

By quantitative 3D structural characterization of Pd nanoparticles supported on mesoporous carbon, we identify the most important structural aspects of the catalysts, which are responsible for the activity, selectivity and stability in liquid phase furfural hydrogenation. A systematic series of catalysts were prepared by three synthetic methods: incipient wetness impregnation, wet impregnation and immobilization of preformed PVA stabilized nanoparticles in order to control the Pd nanoparticle distribution on the external and internal surfaces of the mesoporous carbon. The activity and selectivity of these catalysts are highly affected by the particle locations. More Pd nanoparticles located inside pores promote the formation of 2‐methyl furan, while selectivity to furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is suppressed correspondingly. Through recycling tests we find that leaching depends on the synthesis process and plays an important role with respect to catalytic stability.

Three-dimensional Insight on Formation and Light-harvesting of Hollow-structure Carbon Nitride

“…However, the understanding of the morphology evolution from supramolecular aggregates to g-CNs during the thermal polycondensation process is still limited, as previous investigations were mainly based on two-dimensional (2D) micrographs ,, and thus insufficient to reflect their genuine three-dimensional (3D) architectures. Electron tomography, which reconstructs the 3D morphologies from a series of 2D projections in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), has demonstrated the capabilities to resolve intricate 3D structures among a variety of materials, − such as diverse morphologies of CeO 2 nanoparticles, mesoporous silica/carbon, , zeolites, , and supported nanocatalysts. − Herein, we employ electron tomography to systematically investigate the 3D morphology evolution of the melamine–cyanuric acid (MC) complex to the hollow-structure g-CN during the thermal polycondensation at different temperatures. The MC supramolecular complex prepared by the method used in our previous work has a well-defined, hexagonal rod shape, and three intermediate morphologies are determined from the polycondensation at 350 and 450 °C.…”

Capping Agent Effect on Pd-Supported Nanoparticles in the Hydrogenation of Furfural

“…Depending on the process conditions [11], the nature of the catalyst [12], and the type of the solvent [13], furfural hydrogenation proceeds through various pathways and with the formation of a significant number of products. A variety of heterogeneous catalysts mainly based on Pd [14,15], Pt [16], Ni [17], Cu [18], and Ru [19]. supported on carbon [20], titanium oxide [21], alumina [22], silica.…”

Time‐Dependent Surface Oxidation of Pd Nanocubes and its Role in Controlling Catalytic Performance

“…The information gleaned above has raised an interesting question: what parameter can be altered only by storing Pd nanocubes in H 2 O and is the key to Heck coupling rather than hydrogenation reaction? As the shape of Pd nanocrystals plays a crucial role in catalytic reactions, the potential morphological changes of Pd nanocubes during storage should be first taken into consideration. Figure shows the TEM images for the Pd nanocubes stored in H 2 O and DMF with different storage duration.…”