Homogeneously dispersed gold nanoparticles stabilized on the walls of ordered mesoporous carbon via a simple and repeatable method with enhanced hydrogenation properties for nitro-group

A series of gold containing ordered mesoporous carbon (Au–OMC) samples are prepared by using two different hard templates: AuCl4−/SBA-15 as well as gold containing and amino functionalized SBA-15. The hard templates and obtained Au–OMC catalysts were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption methods. Compared with Au–OMC1 using AuCl4−/SBA-15 as hard template, the Au–OMC2 using modified SBA-15 as hard template had highly dispersed Au nanoparticles with narrow particle size distribution (2.3 ± 0.5 nm) that exhibited much superior activity and selectivity in the liquid phase hydrogenation of nitro aromatic compounds. An important role is played in the post grafting of SBA-15 surface by amino and Au nanoparticles in the preparation of highly dispersed gold nanoparticles that are confined to the walls of an OMC.

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► This study leads to a simple preparation method of synthesis a kind of active Au–OMC catalyst.
► Au nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed on the walls of the OMC with a diameter of 2.3 nm.
► The hydrogenation activity of the Au on carbon is on a par with the one on oxide metals.