Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Triangle-Shaped La2O2CO3 Nanosheets: A New Highly Efficient and Durable Catalyst for Selective Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde to Hydrocinnamaldehyde

A catalyst in which Pd nanoparticles are supported on triangle-shaped La2O2CO3 nanosheets exposing predominantly the (001) planes (Pd/La2O2CO3-TNS; where TNS denotes triangular nanosheets) was prepared by a facile solvothermal method. The Pd/La2O2CO3-TNS catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity and recycling stability for hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to hydrocinnamaldehyde with turnover frequency of up to 41 238 h(-1). This enhanced activity of Pd/La2O2CO3-TNS results from strong metal-support interactions. Structure analysis and characterization demonstrated that surface-oxygen-enriched La2O2CO3-TNS supports exposing (001) planes are beneficial to charge transfer between the Pd nanoparticles and triangle-shaped La2O2CO3 nanosheets and increase the electron density of Pd. Moreover, the modulated electronic states of the Pd/La2O2CO3-TNS catalysts can enhance the adsorption and activation of hydrogen to enhance the hydrogenation activity.