@article {Kente:2013:1533-4880:4990,
title = "Application of Gallium Nitride Nanostructures and Nitrogen Doped Carbon Spheres as Supports for the Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde",
journal = "Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology",
parent_itemid = "infobike://asp/jnn",
publishercode ="asp",
year = "2013",
volume = "13",
number = "7",
publication date ="2013-07-01T00:00:00",
pages = "4990-4995",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "1533-4880",
eissn = "1533-4899",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asp/jnn/2013/00000013/00000007/art00055",
doi = "doi:10.1166/jnn.2013.7578",
author = "Kente, Thobeka and Dube, Sibongile M. A. and Coville, Neil J. and Mhlanga, Sabelo D.",
abstract = "This paper reports on the synthesis and use of nanostructures of gallium nitride (GaN NSs) and nitrogen doped carbon spheres (NCSs) as support materials for the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. This study provides the first investigation of GaN as a catalyst support in hydrogenation
reactions. The GaN NSs were synthesized via chemical vapour deposition (CVD) in a double stage furnace (750 \textdegreeC) while NCSs were made by CVD in a single stage furnace (950 \textdegreeC) respectively. TEM analysis revealed that the GaN NSs were rod-like with average diameters of 200 nm, while
the NCSs were solid with smoother surfaces, and with diameters of 450 nm. Pd nanoparticles (1 and 3% loadings) were uniformly dispersed on acid functionalized GaN NSs and NCS. The Pd nanoparticles had average diameters that were influenced by the type of support material used. The GaN NSs
and NCSs were tested for the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde in isopropanol at 40 and 60 \textdegreeC under atmospheric pressure. A comparative study of the activity of the nanostructured materials revealed that the order of catalyst activity was 3% Pd/GaN >3% Pd/NCSs >1% Pd/NCSs
>1% Pd/GaN. However, 100% selectivity to hydrocinnamaldehyde (HCALD) was obtained with 1% Pd/GaN at reasonable conversion rates.",
}