Significant effect of In doping on Ni/C catalyst for hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to ethanol: Synergistic effect of InNi3 alloy, surface oxygen, and defect sites

Abstract

The Ni-In/C catalyst, prepared using a one-pot method, demonstrates superior catalytic performance compared to the Ni/C catalyst in the hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) to ethanol (EtOH). The introduction of doping results in the formation of defect sites and InNi3 alloy, enhancing both the adsorption of DMO and the activation of H2. Additionally, the presence of -OH groups (acting as Bronsted acid sites) on the carbon surface activates C-O, thereby effectively promoting the deep hydrogenation of intermediate products to produce EtOH. The catalyst exhibits remarkable industrial potential by achieving high ethanol yield through a straightforward preparation method, while maintaining low Ni content.