Design of N-doped graphene-coated cobalt-based nanoparticles supported on ceria

A straightforward preparation and detailed characterization of cobalt-based nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped graphene-type layers (NGr's) on ceria as support is described. Such advanced materials are provided by wet impregnation of ceria with nitrogen ligated–cobalt complexes and subsequent pyrolysis under inert conditions. Preliminary tests of these materials demonstrate their activity for industrially relevant catalytic hydrogenations of ketones.