hcp-phased Ni nanoparticles with generic catalytic hydrogenation activities toward different functional groups

Catalytic hydrogenation is a vital industrial means to produce value-added fuels and fine chemicals, however, requiring highly efficient catalysts, especially the nonprecious ones. To date, majority of high-performance catalysts are made precious metals-based materials, any given catalyst could only be used catalyze one or few specific reactions. Herein, we exemplify crystal phase engineering approach empower Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with superb intrinsic catalytic activities toward wide spectrum A facile pyrolysis directly convert Ni-imidazole MOF precursor into hexagonal close-packed (hcp)-phased NPs on carbon support. The as-synthesized hcp-phased exhibit unprecedented in pure water towards nitro-, aldehyde-, ketone-, alkene- N heterocyclic-compounds, outperforming face-centered cubic (fcc)-Ni counterpart reported transition catalysts. density functional theory calculations unveil that presence hcp-Ni boosts activity by coherently enhancing substrate adsorption strength lowering reaction barrier energy rate-determining step. We anticipate design unveiled this work would adoptable other types