Intermetallic Co3Sn2 catalyst with isolated and electron-rich Co active sites for efficient acetylene semihydrogenation

Abstract

A hexagonal Co₃Sn₂ intermetallic catalyst with Sn-isolated, electron-rich Co sites is identified as a high-performance catalyst for acetylene semihydrogenation. Enhanced semihydrogenation is shown to originate from the kinetically favorable desorption of ethylene against its further hydrogenation on the electron-rich Co active sites isolated by Sn sites.