Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of highly ordered hexagonal and cubic composite monoliths

Well-defined order NiO-silica composites with large particle size-like monoliths, channel- and cage-like pores, and 2D hexagonal P6mm and 3D cubic Pm3n mesostructures were used as nanocatalysts to reproducibly oxidized pollutants such as aminophenols in aqueous solution. A key finding in our study was that our mesostructured NiO-silica catalysts retained the specific activity towards the oxidation reaction even after several regeneration/reuse cycles.