Synthesis of carbon-supported sub-2 nanometer bimetallic catalysts by strong metal–sulfur interaction

Small-sized bimetallic nanoparticles that integrate the advantages of efficient exposure of the active metal surface and optimal geometric/electronic effects are of immense interest in the field of catalysis, yet there are few universal strategies for synthesizing such unique structures. Here, we report a novel method to synthesize sub-2 nm bimetallic nanoparticles (Pt–Co, Rh–Co, and Ir–Co) on mesoporous sulfur-doped carbon (S–C) supports. The approach is based on the strong chemical interaction between metals and sulfur atoms that are doped in the carbon matrix, which suppresses the metal aggregation at high temperature and thus ensures the formation of small-sized and well alloyed bimetallic nanoparticles. We also demonstrate the enhanced catalytic performance of the small-sized bimetallic Pt–Co nanoparticle catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes.