MoOx regulating Ni-based catalyst anchored on N-doped carbon microspheres for catalytic hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Reasonable modification of Ni-based catalysts is crucial for improving their catalytic activity in the nitroarenes hydrogenation but remaining a major challenge. Herein, a MoOx-promoted x-promoted Ni-based bimetallic catalyst with fine Ni nanoparticles (only about 5.7 nm) anchored on N-doped carbon microspheres (NiMo1@NC-500) 1 @NC-500) was prepared for the first time by a simple one-pot hydrothermal strategy and exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the probe reaction of nitrobenzene hydrogenation. The characterization and DFT calculations results elucidated that Ni and MoO2 2 sites promoted the activation and adsorption of H2; 2 ; while the NiNx x sites significantly enhanced the adsorption of the reaction substrate nitrobenzene. This synergistic adsorption mode endowed the catalyst with excellent nitrobenzene hydrogenation performance under mild conditions (80 degrees C, 1 MPa H2, 2 , 3 h). Moreover, the as-prepared catalyst exhibited robust stability for no less than 6 cycles and outstanding generality for the hydrogenation of other substituted nitroarenes, which provide a profound insight for the preparation of efficient and economical catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes.