A facile synthesis of Cu–Ni bimetallic nanoparticle supported organo functionalized graphene oxide as a catalyst for selective hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol and cinnamaldehyde

Abstract

We report a facile and environmentally friendly protocol for the synthesis of novel mono-dispersed Cu and Ni bimetallic alloy particles supported on fibrous anime functionalized graphene oxide (GO). In this protocol, we used the organic amine group to increase the binding capacity of supported metal particles. First GO was covalently functionalized by organic amine [N-(2 amino ethyl)-3-amino propyl trimethoxy silane i.e., (AAPTMS)] to form AAPTMS–GO and then metal ions were loaded on the surface of the AAPTMS–GO material. The metal particles supported on AAPTMS functionalized graphene oxide were named as Ni–AAPTMS–GO, Cu–AAPTMS–GO and Cu–Ni–AAPTMS–GO to reflect the metals loaded, and all were fully characterized by various techniques including XRD, SEM, FTIR, Raman spectra, TEM and HRTEM analysis. The 5% loaded with a 1 : 1 ratio of Cu : Ni of Cu(0)–Ni(0)–AAPTMS–GO showed superb efficiency in conversion of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol with 100% conversion and selectivity. Hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde with the same catalyst gave 85% conversion and 59.8% selectivity towards cinnamal alcohol (COL) at 80 °C. The catalyst also showed good stability in recycling tests.