Synthesis and catalytic activity of heteroatom doped metal-free single-wall carbon nanohorns

Abstract

Boron-, phosphorus-, nitrogen-doped and co-doped single-wall carbon nanohorns were produced using an arc-vaporization method. These as-prepared doped materials consist of uniform isolated nanohorns and exhibit greatly enhanced catalytic capabilities in the reduction reaction of nitrobenzene and a volcano-shape trend between their activities with a B dopant content is found. Moreover, the B-C₃ and P-C₃ species in doped nanohorns might act as the acidic and basic sites to promote this reaction.