Bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework Derived Nanocatalyst for CO[sub.2] Fixation through Benzimidazole Formation and Methanation of CO[sub.2]

In this paper, a bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) CoNiBTC was employed as a precursor for the fabrication of bimetallic nanoalloys CoNi@C evenly disseminated in carbon shells. These functional nanomaterials are characterized by powdered X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area porosity analyzer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Hydrogen Temperature-Programmed Reduction (H[sub.2] TPR), CO[sub.2] Temperature-Programmed Desorption (CO[sub.2]-TPD), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This nanocatalyst was utilized in the synthesis of benzimidazole from o-phenylenediamine in the presence of CO[sub.2] and H[sub.2] in a good yield of 81%. The catalyst was also efficient in the manufacture of several substituted benzimidazoles with high yield. Due to the existence of a bimetallic nanoalloy of Co and Ni, this catalyst was also employed in the methanation of CO[sub.2] with high selectivity (99.7%).