Highly Efficient Hydrogenation of Solid Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at Mild Temperature by the Ru–Rh Alloy Catalyst

Achieving the highly efficient hydrogenation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under mild temperatures remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a highly active RuRh alloy catalyst supported on carbon nanofibers (RuRh/CNFs) developed via element screening. This catalyst achieves 100% conversion of naphthalene to decalin within 15 min at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. It exhibits a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 214.2 h –1 at 25 °C (1071 h –1 at 35 °C), significantly surpassing single-metal catalysts. Additionally, a 97% yield of the intermediate tetralin was obtained by fine-tuning the kinetic parameters. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional recyclability and broad substrate universality. Mechanistic studies attribute this performance to the synergistic effect between Ru and Rh, which enhances hydrogen migration and optimizes adsorption energies for substrates and intermediates, providing both theoretical insights and practical validation for the rational design of highly efficient PAHs as hydrogenation catalysts.