Application of Co/Ti film catalysts with different nanostructures in the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol

Abstract

p-Aminophenol is a very important chemical intermediate with wide applications in different areas. In this study, aiming to obtain highly active, stable and cost-effective catalysts for the production of p-aminophenol, Co/Ti films with different nanostructures were fabricated by a magnetic field induced deposition process. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis on those film catalysts indicated that the Co layers were composed of nanosheets or nanoplatelets. It was revealed that the diameter/thickness ratio of nanosheets or nanoplatelets, which was associated with their catalytic performance, could be easily adjusted by controlling the synthetic conditions. Those Co/Ti film catalysts exhibited significantly improved catalytic activity in the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol in contrast to Co nanoparticles. It was also found that these Co/Ti film catalysts didn't lose their catalytic activity after 18 cycles, which showed much better reusability than the as-prepared Co nanoparticles, as well as the recently reported nanocatalysts in the literature.