Effect of glow discharge plasma treatment on amorphous Co–B catalyst

Glow discharge plasma technique was firstly applied to treat amorphous Co–B catalyst. Both the amorphous Co–B particles before and after plasma treatment were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption–desorption, and CO temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). After plasma treatment, relatively larger uniform spherical Co–B particles with mesopores have been formed and the synergistic effect between Co and B enhanced. Furthermore, the mesopores formed on the surface of Co–B after plasma treatment enabled it with higher specific surface area. During the liquid-phase cinnamaldehyde (CMA) hydrogenation, Co–B after plasma treatment exhibited higher CMA conversion and cinnamyl alcohol (CMO) selectivity.