Co0.85Se bundle-like nanostructure catalysts for hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol†
Abstract
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 (Ea), activation enthalpy (ΔH‡), and activation entropy (ΔS‡) 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.