Periodic Trends from Metal Substitution in Bimetallic Mo-Based Phosphides for Hydrodeoxygenation and Hydrogenation Reactions

Abstract

Bimetallic phosphides are promising materials for biomass valorization, yet many metal combinations are understudied as catalysts and require further analysis to realize their superior properties. Herein, we provide the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic performance of a variety of period 4 and 5 solid solutions of molybdenum-based bimetallic phosphides (MMoP, M = Fe, Co, Ni, Ru). From the results, the charge sharing between the metals and phosphorus control the relative oxidation of Mo and reduction of P in the lattice, which were both indirectly observed in binding energy shifts in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and absorption energy shifts in X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). For MMoP (M = Fe, Co, Ni), the more oxidized the Mo in the bimetallic phosphide, the higher the selectivity to benzene from phenol via direct deoxygenation at 400 °C and 750 psig. This phenomenon was observed in the bimetallic materials synthesized across period 4, where aromatic selectivity and degr...