Efficient aerial oxidation of different types of alcohols using ZnO nanoparticle–MnCO3‐graphene oxide composites

Abstract

Graphene–metal nanocomposites have been found to remarkably enhance the catalytic performance of metal nanoparticle‐based catalysts. In continuation of our previous report, in which highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG)‐based nanocomposites were synthesized and evaluated, we present nanocomposites of graphene oxide (GRO) and ZnO nanoparticle‐doped MnCO3 ([ZnO–MnCO3/(1%)GRO]) synthesized via a facile, straightforward co‐precipitation technique. Interestingly, it was noticed that the incorporation of GRO in the catalytic system could noticeably improve the catalytic efficiency compared to a catalyst (ZnO–MnCO3) without GRO, for aerial oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) employing O2 as a nature‐friendly oxidant under base‐free conditions. The impacts of various reaction factors were thoroughly explored to optimize reaction conditions using oxidation of BzOH to benzaldehyde (BzH) as a model substrate. The catalysts were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET), and Raman spectroscopy. The (1%)ZnO–MnCO3/(1%)GRO exhibited significant specific activity (67 mmol.g−1.hr−1) with full convversion of BzOH and >99% BzH selectivity within just 6 min. The catalytic efficiency of the (1%)ZnO–MnCO3/(1%)GRO nanocomposite was significantly better than the (1%)ZnO–MnCO3/(1%)HRG and (1%)ZnO–MnCO3 catalysts, presumably due to the existence of oxygen‐possessing groups on the GRO surface and as well as a very high surface area that could have been instrumental in uniformly dispersing the active sites of the catalyst, i.e., ZnO–MnCO3. Under optimum circumstances, various kinds of alcohols were selectively transformed to respective carbonyls with full convertibility over the (1%)ZnO–MnCO3/(1%)GRO catalyst. Furthermore, the highly effective (1%)ZnO–MnCO3/(1%)GRO catalyst could be successfully reused and recycled over five consecutive runs with a marginal reduction in its performance and selectivity.