Hydrothermal Preparation of a Robust Boehmite‐Supported N,N‐Dimethyldodecylamine N‐Oxide‐Capped Cobalt and Palladium Catalyst for the Facile Utilization of Formic Acid as a Hydrogen Source

Abstract Bimetallic CoPd nanoparticles (NPs) on boehmite (AlOOH) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions using three different capping agents for the facile utilization of formic acid (FA) as a hydrogen source. The CoPd NPs capped with N , N ‐dimethyldodecylamine N ‐oxide (DDAO) supported on AlOOH (CoPd‐DDAO/AlOOH) exhibited superior catalysis and recyclability in the hydrogenation of maleic anhydride (MAn) in water without metal leaching. The formation of monodispersed CoPd‐DDAO NPs on AlOOH that contained both cobalt oxides and CoPd alloy in each NP was indicated by TEM with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, XRD, and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and XAS supported the partial electron transfer phenomenon in CoPd‐DDAO NPs. The as‐prepared CoPd‐DDAO/AlOOH catalyst showed activity for the utilization of FA formed in situ from biomass for the hydrogenation of MAn. It suggested that the DDAO capping agent contributed strongly to the favorable electronic/geometric changes in CoPd alloy for the facile utilization of FA.