Biomass-derived substrate hydrogenation over rhodium nanoparticles supported on functionalized mesoporous silica

] and RhNPs@SBA-15-NIC were efficiently prepared and extensively characterized, revealing small, spherical, and well-dispersed fcc Rh nanoparticles on the support surface, confirmed by XPS analyses detecting metallic rhodium, Rh(I), and Rh(III) species. The catalytic performance of these materials is assessed in the hydrogenation of biomass-derived substrates, including furfural, levulinic acid, terpenes, vanillin, and eugenol, among others, underscoring their potential in sustainable chemical transformations. The nanocatalysts demonstrated excellent recyclability and resistance to metal leaching over multiple cycles. The study shows that neutral and ionic silica grafting fragments differently stabilize RhNPs, affecting their morphology, size, and interaction with silanol groups, which impacts their catalytic activity.