A highly efficient iron doped BaTiO3 nanocatalyst for the catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to azoxybenzene

Abstract

In the present study, we report an efficient and high yielding catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene in the presence of 2-propanol or molecular H₂ over Fe doped BaTiO₃ nanocatalysts. This method provides 100% conversion of nitrobenzene with 93% and 95% AOB yield with 2-propanol and molecular H₂ under the described experimental conditions, thus leading to efficient synthesis of azoxybenzene from nitrobenzene. The optimum Fe content to obtain high azoxybenzene yields was 2.5% and 10% in the presence of 2-propanol and molecular H₂ respectively.