The
development of metal-free catalysts for hydrogenation reduction
of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) has been of great
increasing scientific and industrial importance. Herein, we reported
the preparation of sulfurized graphene (SG) nanomaterials by a well-developed
ball-milling method. The as-prepared SG nanomaterials were systematically
characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron
microscope, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
The SG exhibited flake-like morphology with average size of 100 nm,
and the S doping (3.4 atom %) into the nanocarbon molecules results
in asymmetry of electron density distribution, providing high catalytic
performance for catalytic reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP by using NaBH4 as the reducer. The related catalytic mechanism and reaction
path of the reduction were investigated. The effects of different
initial 4-NP concentrations, initial reductant concentrations, catalyst
dosages, and reaction temperatures were presented, which have not
been reported so far. The thermodynamic parameters including activation
enthalpy and entropy were determined.
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