A platinum supported reduced graphene catalyst to enhance the hydrogenation of nitro compound activity

Abstract

We have investigated a simple approach for the preparation of platinum (Pt) decorated graphene and N-doped Pt decorated graphene nanosheets in the presence of ethylene glycol (EG) for catalytic hydrogenation of nitro compounds. The presence of EG not only triggers the mono dispersion of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) of 2 to 6 nm particle size and also its homogeneous distribution on graphene nanosheets without any agglomeration. The results showed that the Pt-nanoparticle supported graphene as well as the Pt, N-doped graphene nanosheets enhanced the catalytic reduction of 4-nitro aniline (4-NA) to para-phenyl di aniline (p-PDA) in the presence of an aqueous solution of NaBH₄. This two dimensional Pt supported reduced graphene sheet with a large surface area showed enhanced catalytic properties compared to other noble metal nanoparticles.