Selective oxidation of glycerol with oxygen in base-free solution over MWCNTs supported PtSb alloy nanoparticles

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported PtSb alloy nanoparticles were prepared and used in the selective oxidation of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone (DIHA) in a base-free aqueous solution. The structure and morphology of the prepared PtSb/MWCNTs catalyst were characterized and compared with that of Pt-Bi/MWCNTs. It was found that Sb homogenously entered into the lattice of Pt and PtSb alloy nanoparticles formed in PtSb/MWCNTs, but Pt particles in Pt-Bi/MWCNTs were wrapped by a layer of Bi2O2CO3. PtSb/MWCNTs is extremely active for the selective oxidation of glycerol to DIHA. The turnover frequency of surface Pt atoms in PtSb/MWCNTs increased from 341.5 (of Pt/MWCNTs) to 878.1 h−1. At the same time, DIHA is relatively ‘stable’ over the homogenous PtSb alloy nanoparticles, which also depressed the cleavage of CC.

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► PtSb alloy nanoparticles were prepared on the surface of MWCNTs.
► PtSb alloy nanoparticles are highly active for selective oxidation of glycerol.
► TOF of Pt in PtSb/MWCNTs is 2.6 times of that of Pt/MWCNTs at low glycerol conversion.
► CC cleavage over PtSb alloy is lower than Pt and Pt-Bi/MWCNTs.