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Ruthenium on Alkali‐Exfoliated Ti 3 (Al 0.8 Sn 0.2 )C 2 MAX Phase Catalyses Reduction of 4‐Nitroaniline with Ammonia Borane
Author(s) -
Slot Thierry K.,
Oulego Paula,
Sofer Zdeněk,
Bai Yuelei,
Rothenberg Gadi,
Raveendran Shiju N.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.202100158
Subject(s) - ammonia borane , ruthenium , catalysis , borane , metal , phase (matter) , ammonia , reducing agent , mxenes , reactivity (psychology) , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , materials science , alkali metal , ammonia production , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , dehydrogenation , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
MAX phases are gaining increased interest in catalysis, typically for high‐temperature applications. They can also be delaminated into 2D‐structures, so‐called MXenes, enabling better accessibility and the tuning of active site surroundings. Here we present an analogous yet different approach, using an alkaline treatment to prepare a Ti 3 (Al 0.8 Sn 0.2 )C 2 MAX phase derivative, with an open, disordered structure. This new material, which is missing most of the larger interlayer spacing, is a good support for ruthenium particles (1.6 nm diameter). Ru on disordered MAX phase catalyses both ammonia borane hydrolysis (TOF=582 min −1 , 30 °C) and the reduction of 4‐nitroaniline (TOF=13 min −1 , 45 °C). Using the former as a benchmark reaction, we show that the open disordered structure of the support promotes catalytic activity. The boost in reactivity is related to a metal‐support interaction, improving the activity of metallic ruthenium. We also show here, for the first time, that supported Ru is a good catalyst for reducing nitroaniline with ammonia borane. Overall, our results reveal that disordered MAX‐derivatives are promising as catalyst supports, owing to their potential for tuning the electronic properties at the metal active sites.