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Noble-Metal-Free Copper Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite: A New and Highly Efficient Catalyst for Transformation of 4-Nitrophenol

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Abstract

A noble-metal-free reduced graphene oxide composite, copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) loaded reduced graphene oxide (Cu/RGO), was prepared via a one-step in-situ reduction method. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the composite for reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was investigated. The results showed that the composite was a highly efficient, stable and low-cost catalyst for transformation of 4-NP. In the composite, Cu NPs acted as the cocatalyst and the RGO acted as the substance of electron transfer. The catalytic mechanism was also suggested.

Graphical Abstract

Copper nanoparticles loaded reduced graphene oxide (Cu/RGO) was prepared via a one-step in-situ reduction method. The Cu/RGO composite exhibited high catalytic activity and good recycle stability for treatment and transformation of 4-nitrophenol. Compared with the similar catalysts, the Cu/RGO composite is a cheaper, stable and highly efficient in practical application.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (No. 15ZZ096) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21301118, 21305092 and 21371070).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Center of Graphene Research, Shanghai Institute of Technology, 100 Haiquan Road, Shanghai, 201418, China

    Lixia Qin, Honglei Xu, Kun Zhu, Shi-Zhao Kang & Xiangqing Li

  2. State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Guodong Li

Authors
  1. Lixia Qin
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  2. Honglei Xu
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  3. Kun Zhu
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  4. Shi-Zhao Kang
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  5. Guodong Li
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  6. Xiangqing Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiangqing Li.

Additional information

Lixia Qin, and Honglei Xu have contributed equally to this paper.

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Qin, L., Xu, H., Zhu, K. et al. Noble-Metal-Free Copper Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite: A New and Highly Efficient Catalyst for Transformation of 4-Nitrophenol. Catal Lett 147, 1315–1321 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-017-2038-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-017-2038-0

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