A Tandem Catalyst with Multiple Metal Oxide Interfaces Produced by Atomic Layer Deposition

Ideal heterogeneous tandem catalysts necessitate the rational design and integration of collaborative active sites. Herein, we report on the synthesis of a new tandem catalyst with multiple metal-oxide interfaces based on a tube-in-tube nanostructure using template-assisted atomic layer deposition, in which Ni nanoparticles are supported on the outer surface of the inner Al₂O₃nanotube (Ni/Al₂O₃interface) and Pt nanoparticles are attached to the inner surface of the outer TiO₂nanotube (Pt/TiO₂interface). The tandem catalyst shows remarkably high catalytic efficiency in nitrobenzene hydrogenation over Pt/TiO₂interface with hydrogen formed in situ by the decomposition of hydrazine hydrate over Ni/Al₂O₃interface. This can be ascribed to the synergy effect of the two interfaces and the confined nanospace favoring the instant transfer of intermediates. The tube-in-tube tandem catalyst with multiple metal-oxide interfaces represents a new concept for the design of highly efficient and multifunctional nanocatalysts.