Single-atom Fe-N site for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene: theoretical and experimental studies

The hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline is an important process in the industry of fine chemicals, but developing inexpensive catalysts with expected activity and selectivity still remains a challenge. By using density functional theory calculations, we demonstrated that the isolated Fe atom not only can weaken the adsorption of reactants and reaction intermediates as compared to Fe nanoparticles, but also remarkably decrease the reaction barrier for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline. Thus, the Fe single-atom (Fe SA) catalyst is considered as an ideal catalyst for this reaction. This theoretical prediction has been subsequently confirmed by experimental results obtained for the Fe SAs loaded on N-doped hollow carbon spheres (Fe SAs/NHCSs) which achieved a conversion of 99% with a selectivity of 99% for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. The results significantly outperformed the Fe nanoparticles for this reaction. This work provides theoretical insight for the rational design of new catalytic systems with excellent catalytic properties. The hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline is an important process in the industry of fine chemicals, but developing inexpensive catalysts with expected activity and selectivity still remains a challenge.