Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2018, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (4): 664-672.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(17)62988-7

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Cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon for room-temperature selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Ruijie Gaoa,b, Lun Pana,b, Zhengwen Lia, Xiangwen Zhanga,b, Li Wanga,b, Jijun Zoua,b   

  1. a Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China;
    b Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering(Tianjin), Tianjin 300072, China
  • Received:2017-11-29 Revised:2017-12-22 Online:2018-04-18 Published:2018-04-08
  • Contact: 10.1016/S1872-2067(17)62988-7
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1462119) and the Tianjin Municipal Natural Science Foundation (16JCQNJC05200).

Abstract:

Here, we report cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon (Co@NC) that exhibit excellent catalytic activity and chemoselectivity for room-temperature hydrogenation of nitroarenes. Co@NC was synthesized by pyrolyzing a mixture of a cobalt salt, an inexpensive organic molecule, and carbon nitride. Using the Co@NC catalyst, a turnover frequency of~12.3 h-1 and selectivity for 4-aminophenol of >99.9% were achieved for hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol at room temperature and 10 bar H2 pressure. The excellent catalytic performance can be attributed to the cooperative effect of hydrogen activation by electron-deficient Co nanoparticles and energetically preferred adsorption of the nitro group of nitroarenes to electron-rich N-doped carbon. In addition, there is electron transfer from the Co nanoparticles to N-doped carbon, which further enhances the functionality of the metal center and carbon support. The catalyst also exhibits stable recycling performance and high activity for nitroaromatics with various substituents.

Key words: Cobalt nanoparticle, Nitrogen-doped carbon, Nitroarenes, Selective hydrogenation, Hydrogen activation, Heterogeneous catalysis