Ultrastable Magnetic Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Carbon for Magnetically Induced Catalysis

Magnetically induced catalysis using magnetic nanoparticles (MagNPs) as heating agents is a new efficient method to perform reactions at high temperatures. However, the main limitation is the lack of stability of the catalysts operating in such harsh conditions. Normally, above 500 °C, significant sintering of MagNPs takes place. Here we present encapsulated magnetic FeCo and Co NPs in carbon (Co@C and FeCo@C) as an ultrastable heating material suitable for high-temperature magnetic catalysis. Indeed, FeCo@C or a mixture of FeCo@C:Co@C (2:1) decorated with Ni or Pt-Sn showed good stability in terms of temperature and catalytic performances. In addition, consistent conversions and selectivities regarding conventional heating were observed for CO2 methanation (Sabatier reaction), propane dehydrogenation (PDH), and propane dry reforming (PDR). Thus, the encapsulation of MagNPs in carbon constitutes a major advance in the development of stable catalysts for high-temperature magnetically induced catalysis.The authors thank the Instituto de Tecnología Química(ITQ), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas(CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) for thefacilities and Severo Ochoa programe (SEV-2016-0683),“Juande la Cierva”by MINECO (IJCI-2016-27966), and PrimeroProyectos de Investigación PAID-06-18 (SP20180088) forfinancial support. The authors acknowledge ERC AdvancedGrants (MONACAT-2015-694159 and SynCatMatch-2014-671093). We also thank the Electron Microscopy Service ofthe UPV for TEM facilities