A Bamboo-structured N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes Encapsulated PdCo Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Catalytic Performance for Furfural Hydrogenation to Furfural Alcohol

The confinement effect of carbon nanotubes plays a significant role in the field of catalysis. A bamboo-structured N-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNT) encapsulated PdCo nanoparticles (PdCo@NCNT) was prepared by pyrolysis method with melamine as carbon and nitrogen source. The preparation conditions of PdCo@NCNT and the growth mechanism of NCNT were studied. TEM test showed that the PdCo nanoparticles are fully encapsulated by the graphitic shell on the top of carbon nanotubes. There exists electron transfer between Pd and Co, and a bimetallic PdCo active center with electron-rich Pd and electron-deficient Co formed. PdCo@NCNT exhibited higher catalytic activity for furfural hydrogenation than Co@NCNT. PdCo@NCNT with PdCo encapsulated within NCNT showed better furfural hydrogenation activity and reusability property compared with PdCo/NCNT with NCNT external loading method.