Synthesis of ultrafine Mo2N particles supported on N doped carbon material for guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation

A series of Mo₂N particles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (Mo₂N@NC) catalysts for guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation were synthesized in situ through a one-step method employing dopamine as C and N resources and ammonium molybdate as Mo resource, respectively. During synthesis, molybdate ions are adsorbed on dopamine because of a complexation between them; then dopamine/molybdate ions/TMB/F127 nanoemulsions are formed. After polymerization, growth, drying, and carbonization, Mo₂N particles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts are obtained. Because of the interaction between Mo and N, Mo₂N particles are anchored onto the support, preventing the aggregation of Mo₂N during carbonization. As a result, ultrafine Mo₂N particles with a size of 1.0–1.3 nm are highly dispersed on Mo₂N@NC catalysts. The guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation for these Mo₂N@NC catalysts was performed at 280–380 °C, a H₂ flow rate of 80 mL/min and different pressures and weight hourly space velocities. Among them, Mo₂N@NC with a Mo₂N loading of 40 % presents the highest guaiacol conversion (99.9 %) and aromatic hydrocarbon selectivity (80.2 %), which is also better than Mo₂N/C with a Mo₂N loading of 40 % prepared by the wet impregnation method.