Dynamic tuning of naked ruthenium clusters/nanoparticles in ionic liquids cages to boost CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid

The reduction of atmospheric CO2 is indeed a major challenge for modern life due to its increase as a result of the intensified contemporary industrial activities and its contribution to global warming. One of the most desirable approaches to accomplish this goal is to convert CO2 into C1 feedstocks, such as formic acid (FA). In this regard, naked ruthenium clusters and nanoparticles (1.8 ± 0.3 nm) are prepared by magnetron sputtering into different supported ionic liquid phases (SILPs) that demonstrated remarkable efficiency in producing a total of 2.2 M of free FA with a TONs of 7,305 in 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ionic liquid media at 87 °C. The higher efficiently is related to the hydrophobic/hydrophilic effect presents in the ionic liquid-cages of the SILPs akin to the micelle nano (micro)reactors, which act as catalytic membranes enabling the tuning of FA production. DFT calculations support the mechanistic approach followed the hydrogenation of HCO3⁎ to FA.