Synthesis of core–shell-structured mesoporous silica nanospheres with dual-pores for biphasic catalysis

Abstract

By combining a sol–gel process and an oil–water biphase stratification, monodispersed core–shell structured mesoporous silica nanospheres with uniform size (∼150 nm), high surface area (738 m² g⁻¹), large pore volume (0.785 cm³ g⁻¹) and dual-pore channels (2.5, 7.3 nm) were successfully fabricated. This approach can also be used to prepare other core–shell mesoporous materials. After positioning metal nanoparticles (Pt NPs) in the inner cores and endowing the hierarchical silica nanospheres with interface-activity by hydrophobic modification (–CH₃), such materials could be utilized in biphasic catalysis. And owing to the increased reaction interface area and smart hierarchical mesostructure, the core–shell catalyst exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic efficiency in water medium hydrogenation reactions.