Interfacial synthesis of Co-based ultrathin nanosheets with NaF crystal as template and inducer: fluorine doped Co(OH)2, porous fluorine doped Co3O4, and porous Co3O4

Abstract

NaF crystals were used as the template and inducer, and fluorine doped cobalt hydroxy ultrathin nanosheets (F-Co(OH)2) were synthesized at room temperature. F-Co(OH)2 exhibits a petal-like morphology with a thickness of ∼1.7 nm. Porous fluorine doped Co3O4 ultrathin nanosheets (pF-Co3O4) and porous Co3O4 ultrathin nanosheets (p-Co3O4) were synthesized through the calcinations of F-Co(OH)2 at 230 °C and 330 °C, respectively. They exhibit a petal-like morphology with a thickness of ∼1.6 nm. pF-Co3O4 and p-Co3O4 have been applied for the catalytic oxidation benzyl alcohol. At the identical conditions, pF-Co3O4 achieved 100% benzyl alcohol conversion and 100% yield of benzaldehyde, and p-Co3O4 achieved 100% benzyl alcohol with 69.8% yield of benzaldehyde and 30.2% yield of benzoic acid. For the oxidation benzyl alcohol, both pF-Co3O4 and p-Co3O4 have exhibited much higher catalytic efficiencies than bulk Co3O4.