Synergistic Catalysis in SiO2 Supported Ir-Sn bimetallic Nanoparticles for Selective Hydrogenation of Aromatic Ketone to Aromatic Alcohol

Abstract

Bimetallic nanocatalysts have emerged as promising systems for enhancing catalytic performance through synergistic interactions between constituent metals. In this study, we present a facile synthesis of SiO2-supported Ir-Sn bimetallic catalysts with tunable compositions for the chemoselective hydrogenation of acetophenone. The incorporation of Sn into the Ir matrix significantly improved both catalytic activity and selectivity, with performance highly dependent on the Ir/Sn ratio. Notably, the IrSn/SiO2 catalyst with a 1:1 atomic ratio achieved the highest steady-state phenylethanol yield of 80.0% and a selectivity of 95.9%, representing an approximately tenfold enhancement over monometallic Ir/SiO2. Structural and surface characterizations revealed strong electronic and geometric interactions between Ir and Sn, which are attributed to the superior catalytic behavior. Furthermore, the optimized IrSn/SiO2 catalyst exhibited broad substrate scope for C=O bond hydrogenation, underscoring its potential for scalable and selective hydrogenation processes in industrial applications.