Selective semihydrogenation of acetylene in ethylene using defect-rich boron nitride catalyst from flux reconstruction

Tao Wang, Kevin M. Siniard, Meijia Li, Felipe Polo-Garzon, Jue Liu (), Zengqing Zhuo, Jinghua Guo, Alexander S. Ivanov, Takeshi Kobayashi, Kui Tan, Stella Amagbor, Abdullah Ali Maruf, Jeffry Kelber, Shize Yang, Haohong Song, Jiang De-en, Gerd Duscher, Zhenzhen Yang () and Sheng Dai ()
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Tao Wang: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Kevin M. Siniard: University of Tennessee
Meijia Li: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Felipe Polo-Garzon: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Jue Liu: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Zengqing Zhuo: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Jinghua Guo: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Alexander S. Ivanov: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Takeshi Kobayashi: U.S. DOE Ames National Laboratory
Kui Tan: University of North Texas
Stella Amagbor: University of North Texas
Abdullah Ali Maruf: University of North Texas
Jeffry Kelber: University of North Texas
Shize Yang: Yale University
Haohong Song: Vanderbilt University
Jiang De-en: Vanderbilt University
Gerd Duscher: University of Tennessee
Zhenzhen Yang: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sheng Dai: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Efficient removal of trace acetylene from ethylene streams is essential for producing polymer-grade ethylene, yet achieving highly selective semihydrogenation without over-hydrogenation remains a long-standing challenge. A key barrier is the lack of a simple, low-cost catalyst that can activate hydrogen effectively while preventing ethylene from reacting further. Here we show that defect-rich boron nitride, prepared through a straightforward flux reconstruction method, serves as a highly selective and metal-free catalyst for acetylene semihydrogenation. The catalyst contains abundant open boron and nitrogen sites that enable efficient hydrogen activation and rapid release of ethylene, thereby avoiding over-hydrogenation. Experiments combined with isotope labeling and theoretical analysis reveal that these defects lower the energy barrier for hydrogen activation while accelerating product desorption. Our findings demonstrate a scalable strategy for defect engineering in boron nitride and highlight its potential as a robust, sustainable alternative to metal-based catalysts in industrial ethylene purification.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64886-x

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