A simple one pot synthesis of nano gold–mesoporous silica and its oxidation catalysis

A simple one pot synthesis strategy using a non ionic triblock copolymer P123 as reducing as well as templating agent has been employed to prepare nano gold particles incorporated in the pores of mesoporous silica catalyst. The catalyst is characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherms at 77 K and TEM. The presence of small gold nanopartilces (∼2–4 nm) clearly demonstrated that this strategy can be effective in incorporating Au inside mesochannels. The catalyst reduced at 300 °C in H2 was found to be active for oxidation reactions, such as CO oxidation, and benzyl alcohol.

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► 2–4 nm gold particles confined in the hexagonally oriented pore channels of mesoporous silica.
► One pot synthetic strategy for Au–mesoporous SiO2 catalyst, without any surface modification.
► Oxidation catalysis demonstrated after milder catalyst pre-treatment.