Induction of Catalytic Activity in ZnO Loaded Cobalt Based MOF for the Reduction of Nitroarenes

Abstract

AbstractAmalgamating the robust structures of metal organic frameworks with nanoparticles is one of the most devisable and logical approach in order to enhance their applicability. We report herein an easy wet impregnation method for loading ZnO nanoparticles with tunable sizes and shapes on a cobalt based metal organic framework constructed by using CoCl2.6H2O and 4, 4’‐oxy‐bis (benzoic acid) (OBA). The size, composition and morphology of nanoparticles were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction (P‐XRD), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV‐Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The incorporation of nanoparticles does not affect the overall structural integrity of the framework whereas it induces the heterogenous catalytic capability for the reduction of nitro aromatics to their corresponding amines under benign conditions, which cannot be realized using bare MOF.