Boosting Hydrogenation via NIR-Light-Controlled Metal-Support Interactions over Structurally Modulated Ru/TiO2

Abstract The modulation of metal–support interaction (MSI) could provide exciting catalytic performance for the heterogeneous catalyst. Herein, we report a novel and fast strategy to controllably modulate the physicochemical structure of supports through NIR laser irradiation and then reconstruct the interface between the metal site and support. The abundant oxygen vacancies, tunable anatase-rutile phases, and unique surface properties of TiO2 supports can be formed by laser irradiation in 3 s. It is worth mentioning that the structure and properties of TiO2 supports can be controllably modulated by controlling the intensity of laser irradiation, thereby tuning the MSI between active Ru sites and TiO2 supports to promote the catalytic performance of Ru/TiO2 catalysts. Specifically, the optimized interfacial activity of the Ru/TiO2 catalyst would exhibit excellent electron/mass transfer, which facilitates the adsorption and activation of H-donor (alcohols) and ethyl levulinate (EL), thereby improving the EL catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) to γ-valerolactone (GVL), achieving 95% GVL yield, 96% EL conversion, and 99.0% GVL selectivity under mild conditions (150 °C, 12 h, 2-PrOH as H-donor). This research provides an innovative approach for fast modulation of support to tune the MSI, thus enhancing the catalytic activity of catalysts.