The effect of Ni particle size and carbon support on catalytic activity for glucose hydrogenation reaction

Ni nanoparticles supported on carbon black (Ni/CB) with Ni particle sizes 6.9–23.5 nm were found to exhibit a size effect, with a significant impact on catalytic performance in the glucose hydrogenation reaction. A series of Ni nanoparticles with different sizes, as determined by statistical analysis of TEM images, were obtained by varying the synthesis temperature using a sol-gel method. The highest glucose conversion and sorbitol production in glucose hydrogenation was possible with Ni/CB catalysts with Ni particles size around 17 nm obtained at 550 °C. Similarly, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) supported Ni with different particle sizes synthesized under different temperature conditions have an identical behaviour, that is, GNP-550 exhibits the highest catalytic performance. Therefore, it can be concluded that size effect appeared when the particle size is above 10 nm, which provides a reference for the design of subsequent catalysts for liquid phase hydrogenation reactions pertinent to biomass conversion. CB/GNP supported Ni nanoparticles with an average size around 17 nm exhibit the highest catalytic activity and sorbitol selectivity for glucose hydrogenation in the particle size range of 7 – 24 nm. • Different sizes of Ni particles were obtained by altering heat treatment. • Ni nanoparticles ranging from 6.9 to 23.5 nm were obtained on two carbon supports. • High temperature induces a wide range of particle sizes distribution. • Ni/CB catalysts have higher activities than Ni/GNP in glucose hydrogenation. • Ni catalyst with 17 nm particle size exhibited the highest activity.