Designing a dumbbell-brush-type Co3O4 for efficient catalytic toluene oxidation

• Published in: Catalysis communications 2020-06, Vol.140, p.106005, Article 106005
• Main Authors: Xu, Weicheng, Xiao, Kaibang, Lai, Shufeng, Liang, Jinzhi, Jiang, Xueding, Liu, Zhang, Li, Fuhua, Zhang, Yan, Wu, Xiaolian, Zhou, Xiwu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Co3O4; DRIFTS; Reactive oxygen species; Toluene oxidation
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2020.106005

A series of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) catalysts in dumbbell-brush-type, mesoporous nanosheets and nanorods morphologies were successfully prepared and used as catalysts for toluene oxidation. Tailoring Co3O4 morphology not only changed their physico-chemical properties but also remarkably enhanced their catalytic performance, and the formation of oxygen species of different reactivity. Dumbbell-brush-type Co3O4 exhibited the best catalytic activity due to abundant surface Co3+ species, which contributed to superficial oxygen mobility and the formation of more reactive oxygen species. In situ DRIFTS studies confirmed the presence of key reaction intermediates, such as benzaldehyde, benzoate, carbonate and formate species. [Display omitted] •Dumbbell-brush-type Co3O4 catalyst is successfully prepared.•Improving catalytic activity is due to the formation of rich reactive oxygen species.•DRIFTS confirm that the key intermediates are detected in the toluene oxidation.