Screening support effect of Pt/MOx for selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

In supported metal catalysts, solid support material is of great importance for immobilizing and dispersing metal species, which can affect the catalytic performance of supported metal catalysts in terms of selectivity. Rational design of supported metal catalysts with tailored performance, in particular with controlled catalytic performance, is highly desired yet poses challenges in chemoselective hydrogenation reactions. Here, platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) supported on a series of commercial oxides were synthesized by a facile wet impregnation and thermal treatment under the air. The catalytic performance of as-prepared catalysts was evaluated in chemoselective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. The varied product distribution demonstrates that supports affect markedly on selectivity. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) spectroscopy reveals that the high selectivity towards cinnamyl alcohol could be attributed to the preferential adsorption of aldehyde group. Meanwhile, the existence of Pt δ+ could enhance activity markedly by facilitating the spillover of activated H species.