PtCo/MWCNTs Prepared by a Microwave‐assisted Polyol Method for Selective Cinnamaldehyde Hydrogenation

Abstract

AbstractUsing microwave irradiation, PtCo alloy nanoparticles were deposited within a few minutes on COOH‐functionalized MWCNT supports. The obtained catalysts were used for selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde, a reaction whose products are widely used in various fields. In the selective cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation to cinnamyl alcohol, microwave‐prepared catalysts (generically, PtxCoy‐MW) outperformed a catalyst prepared by the conventional method (Pt1Co2‐con). The highest selective hydrogenation to cinnamyl alcohol, 89%, was obtained using Pt1Co2‐MW, while Pt1Co2‐con showed a selectivity of 76%. Characterization results confirmed that the microwave prepared samples had a stronger interaction between Pt and Co than that in the Pt1Co2‐con sample. The alloyed Co altered the electronic structure of Pt, leading to favorable adsorption of the C=O bond by the lone‐pair electrons of its oxygen atom. Moreover, the Pt1Co2‐MW sample showed neglectable change in catalytic performance (e. g., cinnamaldehyde conversion and selective hydrogenation to cinnamyl alcohol) during recycling experiments.