CuO/NiO nanoparticles were synthesized in the presence of PEG400 by depositional in alkaline environment. CuO/NiO nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and EDAX. Results of XRD analysis show the crystal structure of Bunsenite (NiO) and Tenorite (CuO). The SEM photographs show granular and plate morphology of nanoparticles with high uniformity. The as-prepared nanoparticles are applied as catalyst in oxidation reaction. Effect of different parameters such as time, temperature, the kind of solvent and oxidant, and amount of oxidant on oxidation reaction were investigated in detail. The results show under the optimized reaction condition, between different substrates (cyclohexene, α-methyl styrene and styrene) using TBHP as oxidant, chloroform as solvent, and CuO/NiO as catalyst, 100% conversion of α-methyl styrene has been achieved where selectivity of acetophenone was 76%.

Keywords: oxidation, CuO/NiO nanoparticles, Catalysis.