Effect of alkali and alkaline earth metal dopants on catalytic activity of mesoporous cobalt oxide evaluated using a model reaction

Herein we report the synthesis of mesoporous cobalt oxides in pure (Co₃O₄) and alkali and alkaline earth metal doped form (Li-, Ca-, Cs-, and Na-, K-, and Mg/Co₃O₄) via the inverse micelle method. The as-prepared materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen sorption (BET), hydrogen-temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Characterization results suggested that the as-synthesized materials are of amorphous and mesoporous nature. Their catalytic activity was investigated using a model reaction, namely the liquid-phase morin oxidation. Results revealed pure cobalt oxide to be the better catalyst compared to its doped counterparts. The stability of Li/Co₃O₄ material was investigated exemplarily by recycling and reusing the catalysts for as many as four catalytic cycles. Conversion of morin was complete in all runs and no significant metal leaching could be detected by the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).