We present a novel strategy for the scalable fabrication of γ-Fe2 O3 @3DPCF, a three-dimensional porous carbon framework (PCF) anchored ultra-uniform and ultra-stable γ-Fe2 O3 nanocatalyst. The γ-Fe2 O3 @3DPCF nanocomposites were facilely prepared with the following route: condensation of iron(III) acetylacetonate with acetylacetonate at room temperature to form the polymer precursor (PPr), which was carbonized subsequently at 800 °C. The homogeneous aldol condensation offered an ultra-uniform distribution of iron, so that the γ-Fe2 O3 nanoparticles (NPs) were uniformly distributed in the 3D carbon architecture with the average size of approximate 20 nm. The Fe2 O3 NPs were capped with carbon, so that the iron oxide maintained its γ-phase instead of the more stable α-phase. The nanocomposite was an excellent catalyst for the reduction of nitroarene; it gave >99 % conversion and 100 % selectivity for the reduction of nitroarenes to the corresponding anilines at 100 °C. The fabrication of the γ-Fe2 O3 @3DPCF nanocatalyst represents a green and scalable method for the synthesis of novel carbon-based metal oxide nanostructures.
Keywords: 3D porous carbon frameworks; aldol condensation; heterogeneous catalysis; hydrogen transfer reaction; γ-Fe2O3.
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