Synthesis of Nickel–Tungsten Bimetallic Carbide Nanoparticles for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Benzofuran

In this paper, nickel (Ni)-tungsten (W) bimetallic carbide nanoparticles with different W : Ni ratios were prepared, and the catalytic deoxidation and hydrodeoxidation activities of the carbides were significantly improved by the modification and synergistic effect of the newly added second metal on the monometallic carbides. Pure phase Ni₆W₆C and W₂C/Ni₆W₆C composites with different Ni contents were synthesized via organic and inorganic hybrid method. The structure and morphology of bimetallic carbides were characterized by XRD, XPS, BET, TEM, and SEM, and the Hydrodeoxygenation activity of bimetallic carbides was detected by hydrodeoxidationb reaction of benzofuran. Results showed that W₂C and Ni–W bimetallic carbides had synergistic effects at certain W/Ni ratio. Even the formation of a small amount of Ni–W bimetallic carbides can significantly improve the catalytic activity. When the atomic ratio of W:Ni was 6 (the mass fraction of nickel is only 5%), the catalytic deoxidation activity and hydrogenation activity of Ni–W bimetallic carbides were 17 and 11 times higher than that of W₂C, respectively.