A freestanding SiO2 ultrathin membrane with NiCu nanoparticles embedded on its double surfaces for catalyzing nitro-amination

Abstract

Herein, a new two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin-nanostructure of NiCu–SiO₂ has been explored through synchronously assembling NiCu nanoparticles (∼6 nm) on the double surfaces of the freestanding SiO₂ ultrathin membrane by the in situ reduction of the NiCuSiO₃-hydroxide precursor under H₂. These 2D ultrathin-nanostructures of NiCu–SiO₂ have high surface area and extremely high stability of morphology and thus can well embed the in situ formed NiCu NPs to achieve excellent catalytic cycling stability. When the NiCu–SiO₂ nanocomposite is used to catalyze the amination reaction of 4-nitrophenol, the reaction selectivity is as high as 99%, and no obvious performance decay appears after 20 cycles. Moreover, the designed nanocatalyst has wide applications in other nitro-amination reactions.