Dispersion of VOPO4·2H2O on different supports through exfoliation and their catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of cyclohexane

The VOPO4·2H2O phase has been exfoliated in 2-propanol and dispersed on different supports such as alumina, KIT-6, CeO2 and ZrO2 at 50% loadings and at different VPO/support ratios in the case of alumina. It has been found that the nature and amount of the support has a profound influence on the crystallinity and morphology of the dispersed VPO phase which in turn, has a marked effect on its catalytic activity for the oxidation of the cyclohexane.

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► Dispersion of VOPO4.2H2O on Al2O3, KIT-6, CeO2 and ZrO2 through exfoliation.
► Profound influence of support on crystallinity and morphology of dispersed VPO phase.
► Dispersed VPOs are good catalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol.
► VPO dispersed on Al2O3 with VPO/Al2O3 ratio of 1:1 shows highest catalytic activity.
► Lowest catalytic activity for VPO dispersed on KIT-6 in spite of high surface area.