Pd single atoms on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers for efficient photothermal catalytic hydrogenation of phenylacetylene

Photothermal catalysis has emerged as a promising approach to overcome the high energy consumption of conventional thermal catalysis and the low quantum efficiency typical of photocatalysis, offering a sustainable pathway for clean energy utilization and efficient chemical synthesis. To advance such applications, the design of high-performance photothermal catalysts is crucial. Herein, we develop a palladium single-atom catalyst (Pd SAC) anchored on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers (Pd₁/PCNF) by synergistically coupling support structure, electronic properties, and photothermal effects. When applied to the photothermal-driven selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene using ammonia borane as a hydrogen donor, the catalyst delivered exceptional performance metrics: >99% conversion of phenylacetylene and 97.4% selectivity toward styrene within 10 minutes, and a turnover frequency (TOF) of 586 min⁻¹, significantly surpassing commercial Pd/C and Lindlar catalysts. Moreover, the catalyst maintained stable catalytic performance over 5 consecutive recovery cycles and demonstrated broad applicability to various substituted terminal alkynes. This work offers a novel strategy for the design of solar-driven, highly efficient, and environmentally benign catalysts for dealkynylation processes.