Enhancing the catalytic activity of carbon nanotubes by filled iron nanowires for selective oxidation of ethylbenzene

• Iron nanowire filled carbon nanotubes (Fe@CNTs) are used in ethylbenzene oxidation.
• Filled Fe enhances the catalytic activity of CNTs for the oxidation of ethylbenzene.
• Fe@CNTs can be easily separated from the reaction mixtures by external magnet.
• Fe@CNTs exhibit excellent stability for the aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene.

Iron nanowire filled carbon nanotubes (Fe@CNTs) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition method and employed as heterogeneous catalysts for selective oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone with molecular oxygen. The results showed that filled iron nanowires efficiently enhanced the catalytic activity of CNTs, arising from improving electron transfer. Moreover, Fe@CNTs could be easily separated from the reaction mixtures by external magnet and displayed excellent stability with no significant loss of catalytic activity after six cycling reactions. The result presented herein paves the way for the development of novel carbon catalysts for the liquid phase oxidation of ethylbenzene.

The filled iron nanowires efficiently enhanced the catalytic activity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aerobic liquid-phase oxidation of ethylbenzene (EB) to acetophenone (AcPO), and the catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction mixtures by external magnet.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide