Highly dispersed Ni2P clusters inlaid in micropore openings on mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite and its catalytic performance in the phenylacetylene semi-hydrogenation

Preparation of Ni2P phase with cluster size and high stability is significant for enhancing its catalytic performance. Herein, Ni2P nanoclusters (<1 nm) inlaid in micropore openings on mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite (MZSM-5) was prepared through citric acid-assisted, two-step impregnation method under the reduction temperature of 400 degrees C. The facilitation effect of the citric acid and support surface properties on the formation of Ni2P clusters was investigated. The formation of Ni(H(2)cit)(+) complex promotes the dispersion of the Ni precursor on the zeolite surface. After calcination, the free Ni species interact stronger with the acidic hydroxyl groups on MZSM-5 than that with silanol on mesoporous TS-1(MTS-1), Silicalite-1 (MSilicalite-1) and SiO2, facilitating the formation of Ni2P nanoclusters on the MZSM-5 micropore openings after the calcined Ni catalyst was loaded with P species and followed by activation treatment. The obtained Ni2P clusters exhibit higher intrinsic activity (r(obs) = 1.50 mol kg(-1) s(-1)) than MTS1, MSilicalite-1 and SiO2 supported Ni2P catalysts (0.80, 0.76, 0.40 mol kg(-1) s(-1)) in the semi hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. (c) 2021 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.