Mesoporous sulphated zirconia by liquid-crystal templating method

A series of sulphated zirconia (SZ) samples were prepared by the liquid-crystal templating (LCT) method, using linear alcohols with different alkyl chain length as co-solvents and neutral ammine as template. The type and duration of aging was also varied in order to study their effects on the catalytic activity and texture of the synthesized catalysts. These materials were characterized by ion chromatography for determination of sulphate content, nitrogen-adsorption measurements, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the sulphated zirconia catalysts were mesoporous and that their surfaces area and pore size distribution varied as a function of the synthesis conditions. In particular, we found a direct correlation between alkyl chain length of co-solvent and the pore size. The catalytic activity was tested in the toluene and anisole acylation and it was found to increase with the pore size.