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Abstract: Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) were prepared by chemical vapor deposition method and employed as carbon-based catalysts for selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant under the mild reaction conditions. The results showed that the N-CNTs exhibited much higher activity than the undoped CNTs, and the improved catalytic activity was probably attributed to the introduction of electron-rich nitrogen atoms in the graphitic domains enhanced electron transfer. Moreover, N-CNTs displayed excellent stability without an obvious loss in activity and selectivity for benzyl alcohol oxidation after eight cycling reactions. The results presented herein pave the way for the development of novel carbon catalyst for the liquid-phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phosphorus-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) were synthesized by the thermolysis and characterized by electron microscopy and microanalysis technique and evaluated with electrochemical methods. The results revealed that carbon nanotube length became shorter, the tube diameters increased and the yield of MCNTs reduced gradually with the increase of the concentration of triphenylphosphine in toluene solution, and the tube diameters increased with the increase of the synthesis temperature. Moreover, the phosphorus doping significantly improved the electrocatalytic activity of carbon nanotubes for the oxygen-reduction reaction in alkaline media, and the carbon nanotubes doped with small amounts of phosphorus exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity and stability than Pt/C catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pt/CNTs, PtRu/CNTs, Pt/RuO2/CNTs and RuO2/Pt/CNTs were prepared to understand the role of RuO2 in anodic catalyst of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The results show that the presence of Ru, no matter in alloy or in oxide, can improve the CO electrooxidation ability. RuO2 in Pt–Ru binary catalyst, which situates between CNTs and Pt particles, can exert its CO electrooxidation ability best. Another role of RuO2 in Pt–Ru binary catalyst is to promote Pt nanoparticles to disperse uniformly on CNTs to obtain larger EAS, resulting in higher activity of methanol electrocatalytic oxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbon nanotube immobilized IrO2 (IrO2/CNT) was prepared by a simple oxidation method with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and used as an improved catalyst support to load active Pt to prepare Pt/IrO2/CNT anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell. Electrochemical measurement revealed that Pt/IrO2/CNT exhibits much higher activity for methanol oxidation and better CO tolerance than Pt/CNT. The anodic peak current of methanol oxidation on Pt/IrO2/CNT (873.1A gPt −1) is 2.6 times that of Pt/CNT catalyst (335.7A gPt −1). The enhanced performance of Pt/IrO2/CNT is attributed to the fact that IrO2 improves the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles, and lowers the charge transfer resistance in methanol electrooxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A wide spectrum of, up to 22, organic solvents, including aprotic/protic aliphatics/aromatics, was studied to achieve a comprehensive understanding to the solvent effect on the cyclohexene oxidation. It was found that the catalytic activity was significantly influenced by the viscosity, polarity and basicity of solvents in this reaction. Among these solvents, the polar aprotic aliphatic solvents displayed higher catalytic reactivities than other types of solvents. A volcano curve was found describing the dependence of activity on solvent basicity because of the suitable stability of intermediates. Among the solvents investigated, acetonitrile afforded the highest activity and selectivity of 2-cyclohexen-1-one, because of a good compromise between strong polarity and moderate basicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Iron nanowire filled carbon nanotubes (Fe@CNTs) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition method and employed as heterogeneous catalysts for selective oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone with molecular oxygen. The results showed that filled iron nanowires efficiently enhanced the catalytic activity of CNTs, arising from improving electron transfer. Moreover, Fe@CNTs could be easily separated from the reaction mixtures by external magnet and displayed excellent stability with no significant loss of catalytic activity after six cycling reactions. The result presented herein paves the way for the development of novel carbon catalysts for the liquid phase oxidation of ethylbenzene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The reusability of hydrous ruthenium(IV) dioxide nanoparticles supported by carbon nanotubes (RuO2·xH2O/CNT) was investigated in aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol in toluene. The used catalyst was characterized by multiple techniques, including FT-IR, HRTEM, XPS and TGA. RuO2·xH2O/CNT deactivated mainly due to the accumulation of excess water as coproduct in weakly polar organic solvent. It was found that the used catalyst can be easily regenerated within a hot water bath, which effectively eliminates the excess water from the catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]