Acrolein Hydrogenation on Ni(111)

Abstract

Acrolein hydrogenation via allyl alcohol, propanal, and enol into propanol on the Ni(111) surface has been investigated using the spin-polarized periodic density functional theory method. On the basis of the computed adsorption energies and effective hydrogenation barriers, acrolein hydrogenation into propanal and allyl alcohol obeys the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism and propanal formation is more favored kinetically and thermodynamically than allyl alcohol formation. Hydrogenation of propanal and allyl alcohol should follow the Eley–Rideal mechanism. The adsorption energies of acrolein, allyl alcohol, and propanal along with the partial hydrogenation selectivity on Ni, Au, Ag, and Pt catalysts have been compared and discussed.