LAUSR

A nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCDs)-decorated Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) supported gold nanoparticles (NPs) was employed in the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol under solvent-free and base-free conditions. Comprehensive characterizations revealed that the decoration of NCDs improved surface basicity of NCD/MgAl-LDH and was beneficial to the stabilization of gold NPs. Compared with MgAl-LDH supported gold catalyst, Au/NCD/MgAl-LDH showed much better catalytic activity, along with a turnover frequency of about 20175 h-1 for benzyl alcohol conversion. The promoted catalytic efficiency of the NCD/MgAl-LDH supported Au catalyst was mainly corelated with unique cooperation between surface hydroxyl arrays at the brucite-like lattice of MgAl-LDH matrix and highly dispersed NCDs, thereby favoring the adsorption and activation of alcohol hydroxyls. Furthermore, compared with Au/MgAl-LDH, Au/NCD/MgAl-LDH showed better structural stability, due to the strong Au-NCDs interactions. The primary...