Simple synthesis of layered CeO2–graphene hybrid and their superior catalytic performance in dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene

In this work, we reported a facile synthesis of layered CeO2 nanomaterials on reduced graphene via using acrylamide (AM) as complex precipitant. The characterized results indicated that the CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with about 4–6 nm are dispersed uniformly on the surface of graphene and still keep same NPs size and similar layered morphology after calcination at 550 °C in the atmosphere of argon. The superior catalytic performance of the prepared CeO2–RGO-5 in dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene (EB) can be attributed to its high specific surface area offered by the unique two-dimensional layered structure and their steadily dispersed NPs obtained by adding of enough AM.