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Hierarchically macro/mesostructured porous Au monoliths: simple synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance

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Abstract

We report an efficient, highly selective and low-temperature three-dimensional hierarchically macro/mesostructured porous gold monoliths catalyzed reaction process for one-step oxidation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide as the green oxidant. The porous catalysts were characterized before calcination by FTIR and TGA and after calcination by XRD, FESEM-EDX and BET techniques. The selectivity of phenol production from the one-step oxidation of benzene over porous gold catalysts can be enhanced by concise tuning of pore diameter and pore surface morphology. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the balance between the decomposition rate of H2O2 and benzene adsorption over the catalyst surface is responsible for the outstanding catalytic performance of the three-dimensional macro/mesoporous gold monoliths.

Graphical Abstract

The as-synthesized series of nanoporous gold monoliths were evaluated for the first time as alternative heterogeneous catalysts for the direct catalytic oxidation of benzene to phenol at low temperature. Therefore, it is of great interest to “switch-off” other time- and energy-consuming reactions and promote the hydroxylation of benzene with porous Au catalysts.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the UGC New Delhi for financial support through the Central University Fellowship (CUF) and Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF). The authors are thankful to Head, Department of Chemistry, Dr. Hari Singh Gour Central University Sagar (MP), India, for providing the necessary facilities. Our acknowledgment is incomplete without thanking our two faculty members Prof. T. S. S. Rao (D.Sc. Germany) and Dr. K. B. Joshi (Humboldt Fellow) for their valuable suggestions to carry out the work successfully.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanomaterials Discovery Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Dr. Hari Singh Gour Central University, Sagar (M.P), 470003, India

    Gowhar Ahmad Naikoo, Molly Thomas, Mehraj Ud Din Sheikh & Farid Khan

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  1. Gowhar Ahmad Naikoo
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  2. Molly Thomas
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  3. Mehraj Ud Din Sheikh
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  4. Farid Khan
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Correspondence to Farid Khan.

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All authors have approved the manuscript and agreed for submitting this original research in this esteemed journal. So, there is no conflict of interest.

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Naikoo, G.A., Thomas, M., Sheikh, M.U.D. et al. Hierarchically macro/mesostructured porous Au monoliths: simple synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 76, 599–607 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3810-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3810-5

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