Enhancing the catalytic activity of carbon nanotubes by filled iron nanowires for selective oxidation of ethylbenzene

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. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.