Interfacial synergy between atomically dispersed Co and encapsulated Co nanoparticles on carbon-based catalyst for efficient hydrogenation of nitroaromatics

Non-noble metal-based catalysts are highly desired for the catalytic hydrogenation of nitroaromatics. Here we reported a catalyst of Co 1 /Co n @NCNS prepared with raw materials for efficient hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (NB), in which the Co nanoparticle (Co NP ) was tightly coated in a nitrogen-doped graphite carbon shell, and the Co single atom (Co SA ) was uniformly anchored on graphite support. The catalyst achieved a conversion of NB for over 99% under mild conditions at 50 °C and 10 bar. The catalyst was able to consistently maintain over 90% conversion and 99% selectivity for 100 h, and exhibited outstanding catalytic activity and selectivity (>99%) towards the reduction of various nitroaromatics, even though for halogen-containing substrates. The superior catalytic performance resulted from the synergy between the internal Co NP and the surface Co SA on the nitrogen-doped carbon shells. Both Co NP and Co SA synergistically facilitated electron transfer to nitrogen atoms in the carbon framework, and rendered them catalytic activity during the hydrogenation.