ZSM-5-supported multiply-twinned nickel particles: Formation, surface properties, and high catalytic performance in hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose

•Multiply-twinned Ni particles composed of 5 f.c.c. tetrahedral subunits are formed.•Ni MTPs are electron deficient and inherently strained.•Ni MTPs have several kinds of active sites based on the adsorption of CO.•Ni MTPs have good activity at hydrogenation, but poor at hydrogenolysis and dehydrogenation.•Ni MTPs give higher yield of hexitols compared to the conventional Ni catalysts.

Nickel multiply-twinned particles (Ni MTPs) imbedded onto ZSM-5 were prepared, and their formation and chemical and electronic properties were characterized by HRTEM, XPS, CO-FTIR, and H2-TPD. HRTEM showed the formation of Ni MTPs with triangular, square, hexagonal, and spherical shapes. The multiply-twinned particles were composed of f.c.c. nanocrystals dominated by (1 1 1) crystal face. Ni MTPs indicate an enhanced CO adsorption capability as compared with ordinary Ni particles. Ni MTPs were electron deficient and inherently strained, which is responsible for high catalytic activity in the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose.

Graphical abstractThe Ni multiply-twinned particles (Ni MTPs) composed of five f.c.c. tetrahedral subunits are formed on the surface of ZSM-5. Ni MTPs are surface electron deficient and inherently strained as confirmed by in situ CO-FTIR. Ni MTPs/ZSM-5 gives high yield of hexitols in the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose for its high hydrogenation activity but lower hydrogenolysis and dehydrogenation activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (182 K)Download as PowerPoint slide