Vitamin B9 derived nitrogen-doped graphene for metal-free aerobic oxidation of biomass-derived chemicals

A superior carbocatalyst ultrahigh N-doped graphene (NG) was prepared by a novel self-sacrificial templating method of one-step annealing vitamin B9. The NG catalyst with pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C (abbreviated VB9-NG-800) has an ultrahigh nitrogen content of 13.5 wt% and demonstrated the highest activity for the oxidation of bio-based alcohols and terpenes with molecular oxygen without any additives. Systematic characterizations and quantum-chemical calculations further manifested that high contents of graphitic N and pyridinic N species in VB9-NG-800 promoted the generation of O2− active species from molecular oxygen effortlessly, resulting in excellent catalytic performance for aerobic oxidation.