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Updated: Oct 29, 2026

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Surface-Active Hydrogen Coverage Engineering Enables Selective Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene over a
Jingzhe Tao1, Weijian Wang1, Zihao Diao1
1Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Separation Membrane Materials, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou310014, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of nitroarenes to aromatic amines is significant, but selectivity control remains challenging. Herein, a series of CoFe non-precious catalysts are prepared on carbon cloth via a facile constant-current deposition method. The optimal CoFe catalyst features a 3D honeycomb-like porous structure with a high electrochemically active surface area and enhanced mass transfer, delivering the highest cathodic current density and the most positive onset potential. At -1.2 V vs Hg/HgO, the nitrobenzene (NB) conversion approaches 100%, with the aniline (AN) yield and selectivity both exceeding 95%, demonstrating outstanding NB electroreduction (NBER) performance. In-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms the reaction pathway NB → NSB → PHA → AN. Theoretical calculations reveal that CoFe optimizes the electronic structure to modulate the surface coverage of active hydrogen (*H) from water dissociation, thereby promoting the hydrogenation reaction while efficiently suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. Coupling this cathode with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) gives a higher energy utilization efficiency and economic returns than the conventional system that coupled with the oxygen evolution reaction. This work demonstrates a promising strategy for upgrading both nitroaromatic and biomass-derived substrates via green electrosynthesis, offering a viable route toward the energy-efficient and economically attractive co-production of fine chemicals.
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