Boosting catalytic performance of ternary FeCoNi yolk-shelled nanoreactors for organic reactions via low-content active metal decoration
摘要
Nanoreactors have attracted extensive research and attention in the field of catalysis due to their unique surface/interface structures and physicochemical properties. However, conventional nanoreactors have limited catalytic performance due to the confinement of their active components in the “nanochamber”. Herein, low-content active metal (AM, AM = Pd, Cu) decorated yolk-shelled FeCoNiOx (AM/FeCoNiOx) nanoreactors with magnetic recycling properties are synthesized through a simple two-step method. The obtained AM/FeCoNiOx nanospheres are characterized by their distinctive structure and the integration of two kinds of catalytically active components, namely the active FeCoNiOx substrate and the well-dispersed AMs in the whole yolk-shelled substrate. These nanospheres can be utilized as nanoreactors in two types of organic reactions (i.e., reduction and oxidation). During the catalytic reduction of prototypical nitrogen-containing unsaturated organic compounds (e.g., 4-nitrophenol) using sodium borohydride, the Pd/FeCoNiOx nanoreactors demonstrate high activity over Cu/FeCoNiOx and FeCoNiOx counterparts. The catalytic efficiency significantly surpasses that of a variety of magnetic metal-based nanocatalysts reported recently. Meanwhile, the Pd/FeCoNiOx nanoreactors demonstrate remarkable stability and broad-spectrum catalytic capability towards reduction of the other nitrogen-containing unsaturated compounds, including eight substituted nitrobenzenes and two azo dyes. Furthermore, the Pd/FeCoNiOx nanoreactors exhibit exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity in promoting the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. This research provides an effective strategy for the rational design and fabrication of a dual-active-component nanoreactor with simple recycling, which is of practical significance for future sustainable industrial applications.