An efficient hydrogenation catalyst in sulfuric acid for the conversion of nitrobenzene to p-aminophenol: N-doped carbon with encapsulated molybdenum carbide.

The transfer of catalytic function from molybdenum carbide to N-doped carbon has been tested by encapsulating molybdenum carbide with N-doped carbon using a one-pot preparation process. The outer layer of N-doped carbon, inert itself, exhibits high activity and excellent selectivity with molybdenum carbide as the catalyst for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to p-aminophenol in sulfuric acid.