SBA‐15‐Supported Metal Silicides Prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition as Efficient Catalysts Towards the Semihydrogenation of Phenylacetylene

Abstract Metal silicide (Pd 2 Si, Ni 2 Si, CoSi, Fe x Si, and Cu 6.69 Si) catalysts supported by SBA‐15 have been prepared by a chemical vapor deposition method under a H 2 atmosphere using (CH 3 ) 2 SiCl 2 as the Si source. Of the SBA‐15‐supported metal silicide catalysts, Ni 2 Si/SBA‐15 presented a modest activity, notable selectivity to styrene (>90 %), and high stability with respect to the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene, which is attributed to the active‐site isolation and electron transfer in the silicide. Furthermore, Ni 2 Si/SBA‐15 also has a high selectivity to diphenylacetylene and 1,4‐butynediol, which demonstrates that Ni 2 Si/SBA‐15 is a promising, low‐cost catalyst alternative to noble‐metal catalysts as a selective hydrogenation catalyst.