Tuning the oxidation state of copper in CuMgAl hydrotalcite using partially oxidized MoS2 for efficient hydroxylation of phenol.

The CuMgAl ternary hydrotalcite (CuMgAl) has been reported to achieve the decomposition of H 2 O 2 to OH for hydroxylation of phenol, and the key active site is Cu+. The Cu2+ must be converted to Cu+, which is a slow step that lowers the total reaction efficiency. Herein, the partially oxidized MoS 2 loaded CuMgAl (PO-MoS 2 /CuMgAl-1.12) sample was designed to overcome this issue. As a variable valence metal the Mo can partly tune the Cu2+ to Cu+ by forming Mo O Cu electron transport system which enhances the catalytic performance of our catalyst. Unlabelled Image • The partically oxidised MoS 2 (PO-MoS 2) was loaded on CuMgAl hydrotalcite catalyst (PO-MoS 2 /CuMgAl-1.12) by a simple hydrothermal treatment. • It is the first report that PO-MoS 2 /CuMgAl-1.12 exhibits improved efficiency for the decomposition of H 2 O 2 and the hydroxylation of phenol than the original CuMgAl hydrotalcite. • It is infferred that the improved efficiency is due to the contruction of a Mo-O-Cu electron transfer system, which can in situ adjust the valence state of copper ion from Cu2+ to Cu+ during the catalytic reaction cycle and accelerate the reaction rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]