Understanding alkali metal promotion in hydrogenation catalysis through Strong Metal–Base Interaction

Alkali metals have been widely used as promoters in heterogeneous metal catalysts to improve activity, product selectivity, and stability. Despite their prevalence, the precise role remains not fully uncovered due to the complex interplay between catalytic components and reactants involving dynamic structural changes. Herein, we elucidate the promotional effect of alkali metal in hydrogenation reactions from a unified perspective. Using Na-doped Rh/TiO2 as a representative system, we demonstrate a phenomenon, termed “Strong Metal–Base Interaction (SMBI)”. The basic Na species (e.g. Na2O) intimate to the Rh particles facilitates heterolytic H2 splitting, capturing H+ while leaving H− on Rh sites. Consequently, there are suppressed hydrogen spillovers from Rh to the TiO2 surface and electron-rich Rh sites, fundamentally altering the catalytic behavior during hydrogenation. SMBI enables fine control of both activity and selectivity: Na doping shifts product selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation completely from CH4 to CO, enhances C=C hydrogenation via weakened H adsorption and electron-enriched Rh, and suppresses C=O and N=O hydrogenation due to restricted H spillover. These findings provide a unified framework for understanding alkali metal promotion and offer a rational approach for designing efficient hydrogenation catalysts. Alkali metals are widely used as promoters in heterogeneous metal catalysts, yet their precise role remains unclear. Here, the authors elucidate the promotional effects of alkali metals in hydrogenation reactions from a unified perspective and reveal a novel phenomenon termed “strong metal–base interaction”.