Design and synthesis of hollow Ce/Zr-UiO-66 nanoreactors for synergistic and efficient catalysis

Hollow MOFs nanoreactors with controlled shape, size, pore volume, and shell thickness have been considered as emerging materials for a variety of applications. Selecting environmentally friendly and cheap colloidal carbon (CNs) as the template, bimetallic hollow Ce/Zr-UiO-66 nanoreactors were synthesized. The PXRD, TEM, EDS and other characterization analysis proved that hollow structure was formed, accompanied with incorporating of Ce(III) in UiO-66 and the crystal morphology was good. Furthermore, bimetallic hollow Ce/Zr-UiO-66 was studied as a catalyst to catalyze the conversion of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FAL) without exogenous hydrogen. The results showed that the hollow structure and bimetallic UiO-66 was beneficial to the catalytic reaction by modulating the ratio of Ce(III) and Zr(IV). Among then, the 1:4 ratio of Ce(III) and Zr(IV) displayed good catalytic activity, the conversion rate of FF was 95% and selectivity of FAL was 94%. This study opens a new avenue for further rational design and construction of well-performing MOFs nanoreactors. • Hollow Ce/Zr-UiO-66 nanoreactors were successfully synthesized for catalysis. • The conversion rate of furfural was 95% and selectivity of furfuryl alcohol was 94%. • Hollow Ce/Zr-UiO-66 were beneficial to catalysis by modulating the ratio of Ce(III) and Zr(IV).