Nickel-phosphorus-boron amorphous alloy nanotubes improves the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Ni-P-B (NPB) amorphous alloy nanotubes were prepared for the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. The content of P in NPB amorphous alloy nanotubes was adjusted by the initial NaH2PO2-containing liquid crystal system of non-ionic/anionic mixed surfactants. The promotion effect of an appropriate amount of P was mainly characterized by its large active surface area, ability for greater absorption of H, strong synergistic interaction, better stability, high conversion and catalytic selectivity. The NPB nanotubes exhibited higher hydrogenation activity when compared with the corresponding NPB nanoparticles, which might be dependent on the specific surface area, uniform active sites and tubular morphology of the catalysts.