Electron Spin Catalysis with Graphene Belts

Here, we report kinetic studies using electron spin resonance spectroscopy on spin catalysis reactions caused by using graphene belts which were synthesized by a radical coupling method. The results show that σ-type free radical species provide the dominant sites for catalytic activity through the spin-spin interaction, although there are some other influencing factors. The spin catalysis mechanism can be applied both in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and in organic synthesis. The graphene belt spin catalyst shows excellent performance with a high ORR half-wave potential of 0.81 V and long-term stability with almost no loss of activity after 50 000 cycles in alkaline media. It also shows excellent performance in a benzylamine coupling with molecular oxygen to generate the corresponding imine at an average conversion of ≈97.7 % and an average yield of ≈97.9 %. This work opens up a new research direction for understanding aerobic processes in the field of spin catalysis.