Biomolecule-Derived Porous N-Doped Carbon Nanofibers Supported Cobalt Nanoparticles for Mild Aerobic Oxidative Coupling of Thiols

Abstract

The straightforward fabrication of metal nanocatalysts supported on hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (M/N-CNFs) using renewable biomolecules offers great promise due to their notable versatility and sustainability. In this study, we present a method for preparing cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) encapsulated within graphitic shells of hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers via electrospinning technology using renewable biomolecule. The as-fabricated Co/N-CNFs nanocomposites exhibit a BET surface area of 262.5 m2 g−1, a high pore volume and meso-micro hierarchical porous structures with average pore diameter from 4 to 12 nm. The materials display excellent activity and selectivity in the oxidative self-coupling of a variety of thiols to disulfides with air or molecular oxygen as oxidant. Furthermore, the catalyst Co/N-CNFs exhibits high activity and good substrate adaptability in the catalytic cross-coupling of thiols.