Highly-efficient RuNi single-atom alloy catalysts toward chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Abstract The design and exploitation of high-performance catalysts have gained considerable attention in selective hydrogenation reactions, but remain a huge challenge. Herein, we report a RuNi single atom alloy (SAA) in which Ru single atoms are anchored onto Ni nanoparticle surface via Ru–Ni coordination accompanied with electron transfer from sub-surface Ni to Ru. The optimal catalyst 0.4% RuNi SAA exhibits simultaneously improved activity (TOF value: 4293 h –1 ) and chemoselectivity toward selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-aminostyrene (yield: >99%), which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest level compared with reported heterogeneous catalysts. In situ experiments and theoretical…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22172006, 22102006, 22173003
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality

  Award: 2212012
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Awards: XK1803, XK1803-05
• BS
  Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility