Co0.85Se bundle-like nanostructure catalysts for hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol

This study demonstrated the preparation of Co0.85Se bundle-like nanostructures (BNs) by a template-directed approach under solvothermal conditions. The Co0.85Se BNs were utilized as catalysts in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH4. The kinetics of the reduction of 4-nitrophenol at three different reaction temperatures were investigated to evaluate the catalytic activity of the Co0.85Se BNs. The activation energy (E-a), activation enthalpy (Delta H-double dagger), and activation entropy (Delta S-double dagger) of the Co0.85Se BNs and Co0.85Se nanoparticles (NPs) are 14.66 kJ mol(-1), 12.15 kJ mol(-1), 42.51 J mol(-1) K-1, and 17.78 kJ mol(-1), 16.55 kJ mol(-1), 50.66 J mol(-1) K-1, respectively. The above results revealed that the Co0.85Se BNs exhibited a higher catalytic performance for the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol by NaBH4 than that of the Co0.85Se NPs at room temperature. It is believed that the prepared Co0.85Se BNs have potential applications in catalysis.