Multiwalled carbon nanotubes oxidized by UV/H2O2 as catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene

►Oxidation of MWCNTs with H2O2 and with UV/H2O2 generates oxygen-containing groups. ►Oxidation with UV/H2O2 generates a higher quantity of oxygen-containing groups on MWCNTs than that with H2O2 only. ►UV/H35 MWCNTs probe gained the highest yield of ~ 41% styrene. ►New sp2-carbon layers on the surface of UV/H35 MWCNTs were observed after catalytic tests under conventional heating.