Heteroatom-Doped Graphene for Efficient NO Decomposition by Metal-Free Catalysis

N, S, and B-doped graphene was fabricated by thermally treating graphene oxide with heteroatom-containing precursors and its catalytic behavior for NO decomposition reaction was evaluated. For the first time, the feasibility for heteroatom-doped graphene to be effectively used for decomposing NO was experimentally confirmed. The activity of different heteroatom-doped graphene follows the order: N-doped graphene > S-doped graphene > B-doped graphene. The electronegativity difference, specific area, and unique functional groups (pyridinic N and thiophene S) of the heteroatom-doped graphene play a crucial role in the catalytic performance. Furthermore, the effect of pyridinic N and thiophene S on the reaction mechanism was proposed. Pyridinic N and thiophene S can transfer extra electrons into π-antibonding orbit of NO, thus weakening N-O bond.