Ordered mesoporous carbon loaded with NiCo₂O₄ as an electrocatalyst for electrocarboxylation of benzophenone

A series of ordered mesoporous carbons loaded with different contents of NiCo₂O₄ (X-NiCo₂O₄/OMC) were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and proposed as a catalyst for electrocarboxylation of benzophenone for the first time. The materials were characterized by many measurements, which showed mesoporous structures with high surface area, good dispersion and stability. What's more, the materials exhibit good electrocatalytic performance due to its good ability to capture CO₂ and accelerate reaction rate, which brought by redox couples (Ni³⁺/Ni²⁺, Co³⁺/Co²⁺) and vacancy defects of NiCo₂O₄. The optimal yield of methyl benzilate reaches 86% on 3-NiCo₂O₄/OMC.