Rational design of metal/N-doped carbon nanocatalysts via sol-gel method for obtaining high catalytic activity toward reduction reactions of 4-nitrophenol and Rhodamine B

This work reports main principles for designing metal/N-doped carbon (metal/NC) nanocatalysts via sol-gel method with high catalysis performances toward hydrogenation reduction reactions of 4-nitrophenol. Depending on standard electrode potentials of metallic ions, different kinds of polymerization agents should be selected. For designing Pd/NC, Pt/NC, Ni-Pd/NC nanocatalysts, starch can be selected as polymerization agent, and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid is effective in designing Cu/NC nanocatalysts. For designing Ni/NC and Co/NC nanocatalysts, polyols, amines and amides, extracts of plant leaves can be used as polymerization agent. Nanocatalysts could be obtained when the dried precursors were calcined in the range of 350-700 ? under N-2 atmosphere. By using NaBH4 as reducing agent, high activity parameter (per mass of metal) of 68.8 s(-1).g(-1), 597.1 s(-1).g(-1), 5571.7 s(-1).g(-1) can be obtained for Ni/NC, Cu/NC and Pd/NC nanocatalysts toward hydrogenation reaction of 4-nitrophenol. Our results provide new insight into designing and application of metal/N-doped carbon nanocatalysts.

Automated summary

This study reports on the design of metal/N-doped carbon nanocatalysts through the sol-gel method, highlighting the importance of selecting specific polymerization agents and calcination conditions to achieve high catalysis performance. By using different polymerization agents and calcination temperatures, the nanocatalysts exhibited effective hydrogenation reduction reactions. These findings provide new insights into the design and application of metal/N-doped carbon nanocatalysts.