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Optimized nickel particles improve catalyst performance for hydrogenation reactions

A research team led by Wang Guozhong from the Hefei Institutes of �鶹��Ժical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel method to precisely control the size of nickel (Ni) particles in catalysts, improving their performance in hydrogenation reactions.

The findings, published in , offer new insights into catalyst design for industrial applications.

Catalysts play a crucial role in accelerating chemical reactions without being consumed, and the size of metal particles within them is a key factor influencing their performance.

While larger Ni particles contain more high-coordination sites that facilitate hydrogen dissociation, smaller particles are dominated by low-coordination sites that enhance reactant adsorption. Achieving precise control over these particle sizes has been a longstanding challenge in catalyst development.

In this study, the researchers synthesized mesoporous silica and used a strategy that adjusted the molar ratio of ethylenediamine (EDA) to Ni to create Ni/MS catalysts with varying Ni particle sizes. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, they analyzed how these size variations impact the hydrogenation of vanillin, a key reaction in fine chemical production.

By adjusting particle size, researchers can optimize catalyst performance and product selectivity, though finding precise control methods has been challenging.

Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, they analyzed how these size variations impact the hydrogenation of vanillin, a key reaction in fine chemical production. They found that the hydrogenation of vanillin into 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP) showed a peak productivity with the Ni/MS-4.8 catalyst, which had intermediate-sized particles.

They further demonstrated that low-coordinated Ni atoms enhance reactant adsorption, while high-coordinated Ni atoms promote efficient hydrogen dissociation, leading to improved catalytic performance.

This breakthrough provides a new pathway for optimizing catalyst design, paving the way for more efficient and selective hydrogenation reactions.