Synthesis of graphene-based solid acid for catalytic reducing of p-nitrophenol

A novel graphene-based solid acid was successfully prepared through loading Co and Ni onto the surface of reduced graphene nanosheets with hydrothermal method. After sulfonation of the as-synthesized reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-Ni-Co composites, a kind of solid acid was prepared for reducing p-Nitrophenol (PNP) into p-Aminophenol (PAP). The result shows that the sulfonated rGO-Ni-Co composites have better catalytic ability than rGO-Ni-Co composites. These findings may provide a facile method to prepare solid acid which consists of rGO and metal ion for its application in catalysis fields.