Novel RGO-ZnWO sub(4)-Fe sub(3)O sub(4) Nanocomposite as an Efficient Catalyst for Rapid Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol to 4-Aminophenol

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research 2016-07, Vol.55 (27), p.7267-7272
• Main Authors: Mohamed, Mohamed Jaffer Sadiq, Denthaje, Krishna Bhat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Graphene; Infrared spectroscopy; Nanocomposites; Reduction; Transmission electron microscopy; X-rays
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.6b01882

We report herein a simple, economic, and facile approach for the synthesis of a novel reduced graphene oxide-zinc tungstate-iron oxide (RGO-ZnWO sub(4)-Fe sub(3)O sub(4)) nanocomposite by a one-pot microwave method and its efficiency as a catalyst in reducing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) using sodium borohydride (NaBH sub(4)). The as-prepared RGO-ZnWO sub(4)-Fe sub(3)O sub(4) nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The prepared nanocomposites showed excellent catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP. The reaction was completed in just 40 s at room temperature. The RGO in RGO-ZnWO sub(4)-Fe sub(3)O sub(4) nanocomposite plays an essential role to improve the catalytic performance through facilitation of easy electron transfer and high adsorption of the substrate on graphene sheets. The synergistic effects of RGO, ZnWO sub(4), and Fe sub(3)O sub(4) in the RGO-ZnWO sub(4)-Fe sub(3)O sub(4) nanocomposite toward reduction, apart from its excellent stability and reusability, make it an efficient candidate as catalyst for hydrogenation reactions of aromatic compounds in research and industrial applications.