Ni-Co alloys via controlled pyrolysis of NiCo-MOF as heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) composited on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can generate valuable materials (MNP/MOF) possessing good physical, chemical, and biological properties. The preparation of novel MNP/MOF followed by exploration of their applications has inspired great investigational enthusiasm. In this paper, Ni, Co and Ni-Co bimetallic MNP/MOF catalysts derived from MOFs were prepared by controlled pyrolysis, and then characterized by TGA, FTIR, XRD, BET, SEM, XPS and H-2-TPD, which showed that pyrolysis under H-2 (reported typically under an inert atmosphere) and the addition of Co to Ni-MOF could form Ni-Co alloy MOFs with not only a relatively complete MOFs structure but good dispersion of metal nanoparticles. In order to disclose their potential for utilization, specifically, the activity tests of the prepared novel MNP/MOF materials were conducted on the hydrogenation of toluene towards methylcyclohexane. The results confirmed that the Ni1Co(2)/MOF-325 catalyst obtained by pyrolysis of Ni1Co(2)-MOF under H2 at 325(degrees)C had high activity and good stability for the hydrogenation of toluene, showing excellent prospect as a hydrogenation catalyst.