Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Catalysis Letters https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-018-2481-6 In Situ Generation of Cu 0 Supported on TiO 2 Aerogel as a Catalyst for the Vapour Phase Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene to Aniline Itika Kainthla 1  · Venkata Ramesh Babu Gurram 2  · Jayesh T. Bhanushali 1  · Seetha Rama Rao Kamaraju 2  · Rangappa S. Keri 1  · Suresh W. Gosavi 3  · Arvind H. Jadhav 1  · Bhari Mallanna Nagaraja 1 Received: 9 February 2018 / Accepted: 2 July 2018 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract This study is frst to demonstrate a new strategy to synthesize Cu nanoparticles (NPs) supported on TiO 2 (Cu@TiO 2 ) catalyst towards the vapor phase hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. The experimental design involved the four diferent loadings (10, 15, 20 and 30 wt%) of Cu NPs onto the TiO 2 aerogel to produce a complex with high surface area and increased pore volume. The developed catalysts were characterized using N 2 physisorption analysis, powder-XRD studies, H 2 -temperature programmed reduction, feld emission scanning electron microscopy–EDAX, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The characterisation results specifed that the surface area, mesoporosity, the efective dispersion of Cu nanoparticles onto the TiO 2 support exerted a signifcant infuence on their catalytic activities. Further, it was found that the resulted process led to the complete in situ reduction of Cu 2+ to Cu 0 , and fne dispersion of Cu 0 NPs on the surface of TiO 2 . Thus, no further pre-reduction of the catalyst was required. The optimized 20 wt% Cu@TiO 2 catalyst achieved about 94% nitrobenzene conversion with maximum aniline selectivity (> 98%), with enhanced stability where the catalyst was found to be active up to 15 h of continuous catalytic reactions. From the study, it is found that this approach is promis- ing and provides insights into the fundamental understanding on the importance of aerogel materials as versatile catalysts. Graphical Abstract Keywords In situ Cu reduction · Aerogel · Hydrogenation · Nitrobenzene · Aniline Extended author information available on the last page of the article