Catalytic Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde Over Nanocrystalline Nickel‐Doped Lanthanum Aluminate: Synergistic Effect of Nickel and Oxygen Vacancies

Abstract Nickel‐doped lanthanum aluminium perovskite, LaAl 1‐x Ni x O 3‐δ with x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4,0.5, 0.6, and 0.75 (LANx), were obtained through a combustion method followed by a calcination process. The obtained LANx materials crystallized in the cubic structure by the P m‐3m (221) space group. The nanocrystalline nature of the LANx materials was confirmed by the average crystalline size determined using Debye‐Scherrer formula. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies showed that nickel was present in the +2 and +3 oxidation states. The introduction of nickel resulted in distinct peaks in TPR in the temperature range of 200–600 °C, with an enhanced reducibility of the materials. The LANx materials were thoroughly assessed for their effectiveness in the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. The maximum catalytic activity (cinnamaldehyde conversion of 98% with a hydrocinnamylalcohol selectivity 96.5%) was observed with the presence of the LAN7 catalyst at 150 °C for 6 h at a H 2 pressure of 10 bar. The catalytic activity is maintained even after four cycles, which broadens the application scope as the material is sustainable, scalable, cost‐effective, and a potential alternative to reported noble metal catalysts. The synergistic effect of nickel and oxygen vacancies in the catalyst improves the reducibility and provides a promising catalytic activity in the cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation.