Highly active ultrafine Pd NPs confined in imine-linked COFs for nitrobenzene hydrogenation?

Catalysis Science & Technology Pub Date: 2021-04-10 DOI: 10.1039/D1CY00129A

Abstract

The preparation and stabilization of ultrafine metal nanoparticles (NPs) are of great importance owing to the enhanced atom efficiency but still remain a challenging issue. Herein, we report that ultrafine Pd NPs with an average size of 1.8 nm could be successfully stabilized on an imine-linked covalent organic framework (COF) even with Pd loadings as high as 5 wt%. The strong interactions of Pd NPs and imine linkage were evidenced by the electron donation from imine linkage to Pd NPs. The Pd/COF catalyst with electron rich surface properties, a high surface area and regular pore channels showed much higher catalytic activity than commercial Pd/C in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (TOF: 906 h?1vs. 507 h?1). Furthermore, no aggregation of ultrafine Pd NPs was observed during the recycling process, demonstrating the superiority of imine-linked COFs in stabilizing ultrafine metal NPs.

Graphical abstract: Highly active ultrafine Pd NPs confined in imine-linked COFs for nitrobenzene hydrogenation
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