3D Porous Carbon Framework Stabilized Ultra-Uniform Nano γ-Fe₂ O₃ : A Useful Catalyst System

We present a novel strategy for the scalable fabrication of γ-Fe₂ O₃ @3DPCF, a three-dimensional porous carbon framework (PCF) anchored ultra-uniform and ultra-stable γ-Fe₂ O₃ nanocatalyst. The γ-Fe₂ O₃ @3DPCF nanocomposites were facilely prepared with the following route: condensation of iron(III) acetylacetonate with acetylacetonate at room temperature to form the polymer precursor (PPr), which was carbonized subsequently at 800 °C. The homogeneous aldol condensation offered an ultra-uniform distribution of iron, so that the γ-Fe₂ O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) were uniformly distributed in the 3D carbon architecture with the average size of approximate 20 nm. The Fe₂ O₃ NPs were capped with carbon, so that the iron oxide maintained its γ-phase instead of the more stable α-phase. The nanocomposite was an excellent catalyst for the reduction of nitroarene; it gave >99 % conversion and 100 % selectivity for the reduction of nitroarenes to the corresponding anilines at 100 °C. The fabrication of the γ-Fe₂ O₃ @3DPCF nanocatalyst represents a green and scalable method for the synthesis of novel carbon-based metal oxide nanostructures.