Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-Mediated Synthesis of Co3O4 Nanoparticles Encapsulated in N-Doped Graphitic Carbon as an Efficient Catalyst for Selective Oxidation of Hydrocarbons

The aerobic solvent-free selective oxidation of the C–H bonds of hydrocarbons to the corresponding ketones by earth-abundant catalysts would provide high added value both from economy and environment points of view. In this respect herein, Co3O4 nanocrystals embedded into N-doped graphitic carbon nanohybrids (Co3O4@GNC) are prepared by uniform seed-mediated growth and deposition of Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework-9 (ZIF-9) nanocrystals on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets followed by facile carbonization of the ZIF-GO composite under inert atmosphere at high temperature. The specific textural and chemical characteristics of as-synthesized nanohybrids at different pyrolysis temperatures were comprehensively investigated by performing various spectroscopic tools. N-Doped graphitic carbon wrapped Co3O4 nanocrystals is demonstrated to be an efficient oxidation catalyst of arylalkanes. Under the optimized reaction conditions, Co3O4@GNC-B catalyst (as-synthesized at 700 °C carbonization temperature) was fo...