Electronic modulation of metal-support interactions improves polypropylene hydrogenolysis over ruthenium catalysts

Pavel A. Kots, Tianjun Xie, Brandon C. Vance, Caitlin M. Quinn, Matheus Dorneles de Mello, J. Anibal Boscoboinik, Cong Wang, Pawan Kumar, Eric A. Stach, Nebojsa S. Marinkovic, Lu Ma, Steven N. Ehrlich, Dionisios G. Vlachos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Ruthenium (Ru) is the one of the most promising catalysts for polyolefin hydrogenolysis. Its performance varies widely with the support, but the reasons remain unknown. Here, we introduce a simple synthetic strategy (using ammonia as a modulator) to tune metal-support interactions and apply it to Ru deposited on titania (TiO2). We demonstrate that combining deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with temperature variation and density functional theory can reveal the complex nature, binding strength, and H amount. H2 activation occurs heterolytically, leading to a hydride on Ru, an H+ on the nearest oxygen, and a partially positively charged Ru. This leads to partial reduction of TiO2 and high coverages of H for spillover, showcasing a threefold increase in hydrogenolysis rates. This result points to the key role of the surface hydrogen coverage in improving hydrogenolysis catalyst performance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5186
JournalNature communications
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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