Preparation and catalytic properties of porous CoP nanoflakes via a low-temperature phosphidation route

Abstract

In this paper, porous CoP nanoflakes were successfully synthesized through a two-step route. Porous Co₃O₄ nanoflakes were firstly prepared by pyrolyzing flake-like precursors. Then, porous CoP nanoflakes were produced through the low temperature phosphidation of porous Co₃O₄ nanoflakes. The phase and morphology of the as-prepared products were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Experiments showed that the as-prepared porous CoP nanoflakes presented outstanding catalytic activity in the reduction of some aromatic nitro compounds such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) and 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), and organic dyes including Rhodamine B, pyronine B, methylene blue and safranine T, in excess NaBH₄ solution, which provided a new catalyst option for the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds and the decoloration of organic dyes at room temperature. Interestingly, the preparation approach of the precursor could affect the morphology and the catalytic performance of the final CoP nanostructures.