Pyrite nanoparticles: an Earth-abundant mineral catalyst for activation of molecular hydrogen and hydrogenation of nitroaromatics

Abstract

Pyrite (FeS₂) nanoparticles, a kind of Earth-abundant mineral, can efficiently activate molecular hydrogen under mild conditions. At ambient pressure, H₂ can be dissociatively adsorbed by FeS₂ nanoparticles, react with nitrobenzene, and selectively produce aniline. The catalytic activity for hydrogenation of nitrobenzene is comparable to most non-precious metal catalysts.