Selective hydrogenation of stearic acids to alcohols via synergistic Pt/g-C3N4 catalysis

Herein, we present a synergistic catalytic approach utilizing Pt nanoparticles anchored on a graphitic carbon nitride (CN) for the selective hydrogenation of stearic acids into alcohols. The catalyst was prepared via a photodeposition method, ensuring the high dispersion of Pt nanoparticles on the surface of CN. Notably, the 0.48 wt% Pt-CN catalyst exhibits the best performance, achieving 100 % conversion of stearic acid into stearic alcohol with a yield of up to 89.6 % under optimized reaction conditions. The interaction between Pt nanoparticles and g-C 3 N 4 support is confirmed experimentally by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and theoretically by Bader charge analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Furthermore, in-depth investigations into the adsorption behavior unveil a pronounced synergistic effect between the loaded Pt nanoparticles and CN support, leading to enhanced adsorption capacities for acid molecules and hydrogen. Our findings not only provide insights into the design of novel catalysts for sustainable chemical transformations but also highlight the potential of carbon nitride-based catalysts in converting bio-derived acids into value-added alcohol products.