Oxidative dehydrogenation of 9,10-dihydroanthracene using multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Impact of Carboxyl Groups in Graphene Oxide on Chemoselective Alcohol Oxidation with Ultra-Low Carbocatalyst Loading

A highly efficient and simple chemoselective aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to either aldehydes or carboxylic acids in the presence of nitric acid was developed, utilising 5 wt% graphene oxide as a carbocatalyst under ambient reaction conditions. Carboxylic acid functional groups on graphene oxides played a vital role in carbocatalyst activity, greatly influencing both the reactivity and selectivity. We also applied this protocol to a variant of the Knoevenagel condensation for primary alcohols and malonates with a secondary amine co-catalyst via cooperative catalysis.

Carbocatalysts: graphene oxide and its derivatives

Graphene oxide (GO) sheets are emerging as a new class of carbocatalysts. Conventionally, researchers exfoliate graphite oxide into submicrometer-sized, water-dispersible flakes to produce these sheets. The presence of oxygen functional groups on the aromatic scaffold of GO allows these sheets to mediate ionic and nonionic interactions with a wide range of molecules. GO shows remarkable catalytic properties on its own and when hybridized with a second material. It is a perfect platform for molecular engineering. This Account examines the different classes of synthetic transformations catalyzed by GO and correlates its reactivity with chemical properties. First, we raise the question of whether GO behaves as a reactant or catalyst during oxidation. Due to its myriad oxygen atoms, GO can function as an oxidant during anaerobic oxidation and become reduced at the end of the first catalytic cycle. However, partially reduced GO can continue to activate molecular oxygen during aerobic oxidation. Most importantly, we can enhance the conversion and selectivity by engineering the morphology and functionalities on the G/GO scaffold. GO can also be hybridized with organic dyes or organocatalysts. The photosensitization by dyes and facile charge transfer across the graphene interface produce synergistic effects that enhance catalytic conversion. Using GO as a building block in supramolecular chemistry, we can extend the scope of functionalities in GO hybrids. The presence of epoxy and hydroxyl functional groups on either side of the GO sheet imparts bifunctional properties that allow it to act as a structural node within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). For example, known homogeneous molecular catalysts can be anchored on the GO surface by employing them as scaffolds linking organometallic nodes. We have demonstrated that porphyrin building blocks with GO can lead to facile four-electron oxygen transfer reactions. We have also evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of GO as a catalytic material relative to other types of catalysts, both metallic and nonmetallic. Researchers would like to increase the potency of GO catalysts because many catalytic reactions currently require high loading of GO. Further research is also needed to identify a low-cost and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of GO.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as a highly active metal-free catalyst for selective oxidation

Catalytic reactions are generally carried out on supported metals or oxides, which act as an active phase and require impregnation and thermal treatment steps. During tests, the metal or oxide nanoparticles could be further sintered, which would induces deactivation. Direct incorporation of the active phase into the matrix of a support could be an elegant alternative to prevent catalyst deactivation. Here, we report that nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) can be efficiently employed as a metal-free catalyst for oxidative reactions that allow the selective transformation of the harmful, gaseous H(2)S into solid sulfur. The catalyst exhibits a high stability during the test at high space velocity. The macroscopic shaping of the catalyst on the silicon carbide foam also increases its catalytic activity by improving the contact between the reactants and the catalyst. Such macroscopic shaping allows the avoidance of problems linked with transport and handling of nanoscopic materials and also reduces the pressure drop across the catalyst bed to a large extent.

Recent progress on the growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes: a review

Tremendous progress has been achieved during the past 20 years on not only improving the yields of carbon nanotubes and move progressively towards their mass production, but also on gaining a profound fundamental understanding of the nucleation and the growth processes. Parameters that influence the yield but also the quality (e.g., microstructure, homogeneity within a batch) are better understood. The influence of the carbon precursor, the reaction conditions, the presence of a catalyst, the chemical and physical status of the latter, and other factors have been extensively studied. The purpose of the present Review is not to list all the experiments reported in the literature, but rather to identify trends and provide a comprehensive summary on the role of selected parameters. The role of the catalyst occupies a central place in this Review as a careful control of the metal particle size, particle dispersion on the support, the metastable phase formed under reaction conditions, its possible reconstruction, and faceting strongly influence the diameter of the carbon nanotubes, their structure (number of walls, graphene sheet orientation, chirality), their alignment, and the yield. The identified trends will be compared with recent observations on the growth of graphene. Recent results on metal-free catalysts will be analyzed from a different perspective.

Metal-free heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemistry

The current established catalytic processes used in chemical industries use metals, in many cases precious metals, or metal oxides as catalysts. These are often energy-consuming and not highly selective, wasting resources and producing greenhouse gases. Metal-free heterogeneous catalysis using carbon or carbon nitride is an interesting alternative to some current industrialized chemical processes. Carbon and carbon nitride combine environmental acceptability with inexhaustible resources and allow a favorable management of energy with good thermal conductivity. Owing to lower reaction temperatures and increased selectivity, these catalysts could be candidates for green chemistry with low emission and an efficient use of the chemical feedstock. This Review highlights some recent promising activities and developments in heterogeneous catalysis using only carbon and carbon nitride as catalysts. The state-of-the-art and future challenges of metal-free heterogeneous catalysis are also discussed.

The use of natural materials in nanocarbon synthesis

Nanomaterials are shifting from laboratory-scale preparation to industrial production. The energy costs and starting materials (feedstock, catalyst, and support) consumed or used in the mass production of nanomaterials are issues that limit their broad application. Natural materials, such as sand, rock, and lava, contain small or trace amounts of metals or metal oxides of nanometer-scale sizes and have been recently used as catalysts for the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), providing an interesting way to lower the production cost of CNTs. However, the sustainability of the whole production process still needs to be explored. Layered minerals (e.g., clays) are used to produce CNT-clay hybrids, which can be further used to synthesize polymer-CNT-clay nanocomposites. Natural materials and some byproducts of industrial production processes have been explored as carbon sources for nanocarbon synthesis. This Minireview highlights some recent promising work and prospects for the use of natural materials in the synthesis of CNTs, carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and nanocomposites, and their applications in catalysis and in materials science.