Fine-tuning the catalytic activity by applying nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as catalyst supports for the hydrogenation of olefins

Nitrogen-free multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and N-doped bamboo-like carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) were synthesized by using catalytic vapor deposition (CVD) and used as catalyst support materials. Pd, Rh, Ru, and Ir have been deposited onto the nanotubes to achieve metal/nanotube catalysts. The catalytic activity of the samples was fine-tuned by changing the type of support. BCNT supported Pd and Rh (Pd/BCNT, Rh/MWCNT) catalysts were found to be the most active for liquid phase hydrogenation of octadecene amongst these samples. The initial olefin hydrogenation rate of the Pd/BCNT sample was slightly higher than the corresponding MWCNT-supported catalyst. Based on the hydrogenation reaction, the performance of these catalyst had been ranked as follows: Pd/BCNT approximate to Rh/MWCNT>Pd/MWCNT>Rh/BCNT>>Ir/MWCNT>Ru/BCNT>Ir/BCNT>Ru/MWCNT. The structural properties of chemisorbed Pd on MWCNT and N- BCNT were also characterized by means of computational chemical methods in order to shed some light on the nature of metal binding properties of N-doped and undoped surfaces. The calculations shown preference towards the edges of the surfaces which is in good agreement with the experimental findings.