MoOx regulating Ni-based catalyst anchored on N-doped carbon microspheres for catalytic hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Reasonable modification of Ni-based catalysts is crucial for improving their catalytic activity in the nitroarenes hydrogenation but remaining a major challenge. Herein, a MoOx-promoted Ni-based bimetallic catalyst with fine Ni nanoparticles (only about 5.7 nm) anchored on N-doped carbon microspheres (NiMo1@NC-500) was prepared for the first time by a simple one-pot hydrothermal strategy and exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the probe reaction of nitrobenzene hydrogenation. The characterization and DFT calculations results elucidated that Ni and MoO2 sites promoted the activation and adsorption of H2; while the NiNx sites significantly enhanced the adsorption of the reaction substrate nitrobenzene. This synergistic adsorption mode endowed the catalyst with excellent nitrobenzene hydrogenation performance under mild conditions (80 °C, 1 MPa H2, 3 h). Moreover, the as-prepared catalyst exhibited robust stability for no less than 6 cycles and outstanding generality for the hydrogenation of other substituted nitroarenes, which provide a profound insight for the preparation of efficient and economical catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes.