Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Fe-MCM-41 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Mesostructured Fe-MCM-41 nanoparticles have been hydrothermally prepared for the first time with assistance of binary surfactants (CTAB and F127). The formation of nanoparticles consists of two steps, that is, the hydrolysis of silica precursor via catalysis by an acidic ferric salt, followed by facile assembly into mesostructured nanocomposites with cationic micelles by addition of condensation catalyst. In the hydroxylation of phenol with aqueous H2O2, Fe-MCM-41-NP displayed higher activity than a Fe-MCM-41 sample with normal particle size (Fe-MCM-41-LP).