Direct Synthesis of Ruthenium‐Containing Ordered Mesoporous Carbon with Tunable Embedding Degrees by Using a Boric Acid‐Assisted Approach

Uniform ruthenium nanoparticles (1–2 nm) confined in ordered mesoporous carbon (Ru‐OMC) with various embedding degrees have been fabricated by using a boric acid‐assisted hard template method. The catalytic performance of Ru‐OMC catalysts was determined through the hydrogenation of toluene at 110 °C and 4.0 MPa. The effects of pore size and embedding degree on the catalytic performance were studied and compared with those of OMC‐supported ruthenium (Ru/OMC) catalysts with various pore sizes. The catalytic activities of embedding Ru‐OMC catalysts are much higher than those of supported Ru/OMC catalysts, which can be attributed to the strong interaction between ruthenium nanoparticles and the carbon support. Furthermore, the activities of Ru‐OMC catalysts are closely related to the embedding degree of ruthenium nanoparticles in the carbon matrix. The Ru‐OMC catalysts with an appropriate embedding degree affords a turnover frequency of up to 4.69 s−1 in toluene hydrogenation.