Strong interaction between efficient magnetic tri-metallic PdFeCo nano-alloy towards formic acid dehydrogenation and application of in-situ hydrogenation.

The mesoporous carbons with abundant Fe–Co sites were prepared through one-step carbonization of a MOF materials (ZIF-67) with sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [NaFe(III)EDTA], which can facilitate the nucleation and growth of highly dispersed palladium active sites. The robust synergistic interaction between Pd and FeCo metal with moderate work functions is responsible for the enhanced catalytic activity. Interfacing Pd nano-particles with FeCo sites has been demonstrated for the first time to boost the heterogeneous catalysis of hydrogen production from formic acid, affording the high turnover frequency (TOF) value of 1288 h−1 at 303 K. The Pd–Fe–Co sites also help to achieve outstanding catalysis performance of in situ hydrogenating phenol. The 91.1 % of the conversion of phenol and 92.7 % of the selectivity of cyclohexanone has been obtained with formic acid as H-donor. [Display omitted] • FA dehydrogenation catalyst is applied in the in-situ hydrogenation of phenol. • PdFeCo alloy sites shows excellent activity with 92.7 % selectivity of cyclohexanone. • The catalyst shows a TOF value of 1288 h−1 at 303 K in FA dehydrogenation. • The PdFeCo alloy structure leads to the higher bifunctional catalytic activity. • The electron transfer within PdFeCo alloy was proved by various characterizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]