In-situ loading of nano-bimetallic catalysts onto coal tar pitch-based activated carbon fibers for efficient reduction of p-nitrophenol Dataset for 2024-2025.

Scanning electron microscope, an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM–EDS, FEI Nova Nano 450), and transmission electron microscope (TEM, FEI Talos F200x) were used to observe the surface morphologies and chemical composition of coal tar pitch-based ACF and catalysts. The specific surface area and pore structure of the coal tar pitch-based ACF and catalysts were measured using the physical adsorption system (Micromeritics ASAP 2020), which used N2 as the adsorbent and was degassed at 77 K and 200°C for 12 h. The specific surface area and average pore size were calculated using Brunauer–Emmet–Teller equation. In the adsorption-desorption curve graph, the horizontal axis represents Relative pressure, and the vertical axis represents volume adsorbed. In the pore size distribution graph, the horizontal axis represents Pore width, and the vertical axis represents Pore volume. The crystal structures of the catalysts were characterized by a rotating anode X-ray diffractometer (XRD, Japanese Rigaku Ultima IV) equipped with graphite-monochromatic Cu Ka radiation, with a scanning rate of 3°/min, ranging from 10° to 80°. In the XRD figure, the horizontal axis represents the scanning range, and the vertical axis represents the intensity. The elemental composition of catalysts was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, ESCALAB X+), using an Aluminium K-alpha X-ray source. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents Binding Energy and the vertical axis represents Intensity. By using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer to test the performance of coal tar pitch-based ACF and the catalyst-catalyzed nitrobenzene phenol, sodium borohydride was used as the reducing agent, and the reaction was carried out at 45℃. The ultraviolet data were measured at different reaction times.