A highly efficient iron doped BaTiO₃ nanocatalyst for the catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to azoxybenzene

In the present study, we report an efficient and high yielding catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene in the presence of 2-propanol or molecular H ₂ over Fe doped BaTiO₃ nanocatalysts. This method provides 100% conversion of nitrobenzene with 93% and 95% AOB yield with 2-propanol and molecular H₂ under the described experimental conditions, thus leading to efficient synthesis of azoxybenzene from nitrobenzene. The optimum Fe content to obtain high azoxybenzene yields was 2.5% and 10% in the presence of 2-propanol and molecular H₂ respectively.