A High-Performance in Situ Core–Shell Catalyst for the Acetoxylation of Acetylene

Core–shell catalysts with selective coatings were synthesized using an in situ generation method followed by a carbonization process. These catalysts were successfully applied to acetylene acetoxylation. The results demonstrated that the core–shell-structured catalysts had excellent catalytic activity and stability with a shell layer thickness of 30–50 nm. They achieved an initial acetic acid (CH3COOH) conversion rate of up to 69%, maintained a conversion rate above 60% after 250 h of reaction. The Zn loss rate was only 0.10% with the ZnO–AC@10%tea polyphenols (TP)–650°C catalyst, whereas it reached 0.25% with the ZnO–AC–650°C catalyst. Compared to catalysts without added TP, those with a core–shell structure exhibited better catalytic activity and stability. This improvement is attributed to the core–shell structure’s crucial role in reducing Zn component loss. The vinyl acetate (VAc) selectivity of all catalysts remained above 90%.