A green and facile synthesis of Co3O4 monolithic catalyst with enhanced total oxidation of propane performance

A nanoflower-like nickel foam supported Co3O4 (Co-NF) monolithic catalyst was synthesized via a green and facile electro-deposition strategy. The optimized Co-NF presents much higher catalytic activity per Co3O4 loading, ca. 6.7 x 10(-4) mol/(g(co3O4).S) at 220 degrees C and exhibits a lower activation energy of 46 kJ/mol compared with powder Co3O4. It also exhibited good stability (e.g. > 80% propane conversion) for 40 h at 350 degrees C and a GHSV of 30,000 mL/(g(cat).h) without any notable decrease. The 3D hierarchical microstructures with interconnected pore channels, the high Co2+ content and the weak Co-O bond strength of Co-NF-300 s were considered key factors responsible for the good activity and stability in the propane catalytic total oxidation.