ChemCatChem 2018-01-30

Designed meso-macroporous silica framework impregnated with copper oxide nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic performance

Rohini Kanwar, Rekha Bhar, Surinder Kumar Mehta

Index: 10.1002/cctc.201701630

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Abstract

Template efficacy of solid lipid nanoparticles for generating porous silica materials with the amalgamation of Cu functionalized CPC (as a co-emulsifier and as a metal source for generation of CuO oxide nanoparticles) has been explored. Impregnation of CuO nanoparticles (10-12 nm) onto the silica matrix proffers to be a propitious route for the fabrication of twin sized porous, highly active catalytic materials. The surface morphology and structural characterization of the synthesized CuO@meso-macroporous silica frame work was elucidated by TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, WD-XRF, XPS, SAXS, XRD and N2 adsorption-desorption studies. All the results have shown that there exists a structural network interconnecting the mesopores with macropores. The catalytic performance of the synthesized framework (ascribed-catalyst) was checked for two model reactions. For the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol, only 0.25% (w/v) catalyst was sufficient to accomplish the reaction in 6 mins giving 99.9% yield. On the other hand, the redox reaction of potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) and sodium thiosulfate has utilized 5% (w/v) catalyst and completed the reaction in 40 mins yielding 98.43%. Therefore, CuO@ meso-macroporous silica material could hold a great importance in the world of nano-catalysis owing to the present promising results.