Preparation of maghemite-mesoporous silica: core-shell influence in catalytic performance

Abstract

About a quarter of world production of monomers and chemical intermediates are produced by selective oxidation over solid catalysts and therefore, there is a great interest in basic and applied research in this area. Although the majority of catalysts used in industrial processes are well established, there is still possibilities for improvement both in engineering and in relation to the activity and properties of the catalyst. Thus, the search for more efficient catalytic processes, as well as the reagents which are less polluting and low-cost, heterogeneous catalysis makes one of the most advantageous due to high activity, selectivity, and the easy recovery of catalysts and reusability in a large number of cycles catalytic. In this context, magnetic materials (Fe2O3) have been widely studied due to its wide application as ferrofluids, pigments, data storage, biosensors, catalysts and others. On the other hand, the obtaining mesoporous matrix based on the presence of supramolecular assemblies of surfactants to direct the structures of inorganic mesostructure from solubilized inorganic precursors, and the macroscopic morphology and orientation of the pores can be controlled in most cases. These properties, combined with high hydrothermal stability, makes these materials excellent supports for catalysts with several potential applicatons. The main objective of this project is to study the influence of core-shell in performance catalytic in oxidation reactions. For this purpose, mesoporous silica containing maghemite nanoparticles into the pores will be prepared aiming at applications in the manufacturing of new catalysts. (AU)