Short channeled Zr-Ce-SBA-15 supported palladium catalysts for toluene catalytic oxidation

Short channeled Zr-Ce-SBA-15 (ZCS) mesoporous materials were synthesized through hydrothermal routes without addition of mineral acids. 0.5 wt.% palladium was loaded on ZCS and SBA-15 via an ethanol reduction approach. Pd/ZCS possesses unique hexagonal platelet morphologies with short channels running parallel to the thickness in the range of 400–500 nm, while Pd/SBA-15 has a fibrous macrostructure with channels at the micrometer scale. Palladium species present in supports as well dispersed PdO nanocrystals with diameter of ca. 5–6 nm. Comparing with Pd/SBA-15, Pd/ZCS shows enhanced catalytic activity for toluene oxidation, which is ascribed to short channeled supports facilitating the molecular diffusion.

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► Short channeled Zr-Ce-SBA-15(ZCS) was synthesized without addition of mineral acids.
► ZCS possesses unique hexagonal platelet morphologies.
► Pd/ZCS catalysts were prepared by ethanol reduction approach.
► Palladium species well dispersed in supports as PdO nanocrystals of ca. 5–6 nm.
► Pd/ZCS catalysts show enhanced catalytic activity for toluene oxidation.