Improving hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol using Pd catalysts homogeneously anchored on WN-TiO₂: a synergistic interaction between WN and Pd nanoparticles

Incorporating a suitable promoter or co-catalyst is an effective strategy for improving the catalytic properties of low-content Pd catalysts. Herein, we report a straightforward method for synthesizing WN-TiO₂, characterized by uniformly dispersed WN nanoparticles (NPs), which involves utilizing the evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) process followed by nitridation. A polyol reduction method was employed to homogeneously anchor Pd NPs on WN-TiO₂ for the superior hydrogenation of lethal 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to important fine chemicals. In our set of catalysts, 1.0 wt% Pd@WN-TiO₂ exhibited a remarkable catalytic conversion rate for the 4-NP hydrogenation. Comprehensive characterization techniques were utilized to examine the impact of the synthesis technique on the interfacial properties of Pd species and their catalytic activities. The exceptional conversion rate of the 1.0 wt% Pd@WN-TiO₂ catalyst is attributable to its unique nanostructural characteristics and the durable synergetic interaction between Pd NPs and WN, which improves the distribution of Pd NPs and increases the availability of surface exposed Pd (Pd⁰) entities.