Catalytic Activity of N-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide in the Hydrogenation of Ethylene and Acetylene

Catalytic activity was shown for N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO), subjected to prior thermal reduction in a hydrogen atmosphere, in the hydrogenation of ethylene and acetylene. Samples of N-RGO and activated N-RGO (N-RGO-H2) were characterized by SEM, TEM, IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our results indicate the catalytic activity of N-RGO-H2 may be attributed to the presence of nitrogen-containing fragments, which may reveal frustrated Lewis pairs properties.