Microwave-assisted green synthesis of uniform Ru nanoparticles supported on non-functional carbon nanotubes for cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation

Abstract Uniformly dispersed ruthenium nanoparticles supported on non-functional carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been successfully synthesized by using a facile and solvent-free microwave-assisted thermolytic method with dodecacarbonyltriruthenium as the precursor. The results show that 2–4 nm sized spheres of Ru nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed and supported on non-functional CNT by several minutes' exposure to microwave irradiation without solvent. The Ru/CNT catalysts show the desired conversion of about 80% and selectivity to hydrocinnamaldehyde of about 72% in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde, where the catalytic performance has been found to depend on both the Ru loading and the surface properties of CNT.