Graphene Based Cu Oxide Nanocomposites for C-N Cross Coupling Reaction

Copper oxide is a multi-functional material being used in various research areas including catalysis, electrochemical materials, oxidizing agents etc. Among these areas, we have synthesized and utilized graphene based copper oxide nanocomposites (CuOx/Graphene) for the catalytic applications (C-N cross coupling reaction). Briefly, Cu precursors were anchored on the graphite oxide(GO) sheets being exfoliated and oxidized from graphite powder. Two different crystalline structures of Cu2O and CuO on graphene and GO were prepared by annealing them in Ar and O2 environments, respectively. The morphological and electronic structures were systemically investigated using FT-IR, XRD, XPS, XAFS, and TEM. Here, we demonstrate that the catalytic performance was found to depend on oxidative states and morphological structures of CuOx graphene nanocomposites. The relationship between the structure of copper oxides and catalytic efficiency toward C-N cross coupling reaction will be discussed.