MoOx regulating Ni-based catalyst anchored on N-doped carbon microspheres for catalytic hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

[Display omitted] • A novel 3D N-doped carbon microspheres supported NiMo bimetallic catalyst was constructed. • Ni metal was uniformly dispersed with fine nanoparticles size (about 5.7 nm). • Synergistic effect of Ni, NiN x and MoO x sites endowed excellent nitrobenzene hydrogenation performance of the catalyst. • The catalyst showed a robust stability for no less than 6 cycles. • The catalyst exhibited outstanding universality for the hydrogenation of substituted nitroarenes. Reasonable modification of Ni-based catalysts is crucial for improving their catalytic activity in the nitroarenes hydrogenation but remaining a major challenge. Herein, a MoO x -promoted Ni-based bimetallic catalyst with fine Ni nanoparticles (only about 5.7 nm) anchored on N-doped carbon microspheres (NiMo 1 @NC-500) was prepared for the first time by a simple one-pot hydrothermal strategy and exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the probe reaction of nitrobenzene hydrogenation. The characterization and DFT calculations results elucidated that Ni and MoO 2 sites promoted the activation and adsorption of H 2 ; while the NiN x sites significantly enhanced the adsorption of the reaction substrate nitrobenzene. This synergistic adsorption mode endowed the catalyst with excellent nitrobenzene hydrogenation performance under mild conditions (80 °C, 1 MPa H 2 , 3 h). Moreover, the as-prepared catalyst exhibited robust stability for no less than 6 cycles and outstanding generality for the hydrogenation of other substituted nitroarenes, which provide a profound insight for the preparation of efficient and economical catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]