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Synthesis of α‐MoC 1− x Nanoparticles with a Surface‐Modified SBA‐15 Hard Template: Determination of Structure–Function Relationships in Acetic Acid Deoxygenation
Author(s) -
Baddour Frederick G.,
Nash Connor P.,
Schaidle Joshua A.,
Ruddy Daniel A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201602878
Subject(s) - hydrodeoxygenation , bifunctional , selectivity , mesoporous material , chemistry , deoxygenation , acetic acid , catalysis , nanoparticle , mesoporous silica , propanoic acid , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , engineering
Surface modification of mesoporous SBA‐15 silica generated a hydrophobic environment for a molybdenum diamine (Mo‐diamine) precursor solution, enabling direct growth of isolated 1.9±0.4 nm α‐MoC 1− x nanoparticles (NPs) inside the pores of the support. The resulting NP catalysts are bifunctional, and compared to bulk α‐MoC 1− x and β‐Mo 2 C, the NPs exhibit a greater acid‐site:H‐site ratio and a fraction of stronger acid sites. The greater acid‐site:H‐site ratio results in higher decarbonylation (DCO) selectivity during acetic acid hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactions, and the stronger acid sites lead to higher activity and ketonization (KET) selectivity at high temperatures. The hard‐templating synthetic method could be a versatile route toward carbide NPs of varying size, composition, and phase, on a range of mesoporous oxide supports.