Copper Nanoparticles Supported on Doped Graphenes as Catalyst for the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Silanes and Alcohols

Copper nanoparticles (NPs) supported on a series of undoped and doped graphene materials (Gs) have been obtained by pyrolysis of alginate or chitosan biopolymers, modified or not with boric acid, containing Cu2+ ions at 900 °C under inert atmosphere. The resulting Cu‐G materials containing about 17 wt % Cu NPs (from 10 to 200 nm) exhibit high catalytic activity for the dehydrogenative coupling of silanes with alcohols. The optimal material consisting on Cu‐(B)G is more efficient than Cu NPs on other carbon supports. Dehydrogenative coupling: Graphene and doped graphene materials have been obtained by pyrolysis of biomass wastes and have been used as support of copper nanoparticles (see picture). The system exhibits superior catalytic activity for the formation of siloxanes.