An overview of studies on the highly dispersed uranium oxide species occluded within mesoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48 host materials

In this article we have consolidated our recent studies on anchoring of uranyl groups and encapsulation of highly dispersed nano-particles of α-U₃O₈ in mesoporous MCM samples. The size of uranium oxide crystallites and the binding of uranyl groups at framework sites of host matrix depended on the preparation method, viz. wet impregnation, exchange of template cations, and the hydrothermal route. These uranium species contributed individually to the catalytic oxidation of organic molecules, such as methanol, toluene and benzyl alcohol; the uranyl groups playing a more important role at lower reaction temperatures. Also, the size and the lattice oxygen of uranium oxide crystallites played a vital role, not only in the lowering of reaction onset temperature but also in deciding the nature and the reactivity of the transient surface species formed during the oxidation of above mentioned organics. For instance, the results of in situ IR spectroscopy experiments have shown that while larger-size U₃O₈ crystallites help in the growth of certain oxymethylene (–OCH₂) and polymerized oxymethylene (–OCH₂) _n species, adsorption of methanol on smaller size particles helped in the additional formation of formate-type complexes. Thus, a relationship was found between the size of uranium oxide crystallites, the nature of the transient species formed and the catalytic conversion of methanol to form CO₂, CO and methane. In addition, the uranyl ions anchored within the pore system of host matrix are found to serve as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for the sunlight-assisted deep oxidation of organic molecules in the vapor phase and at room temperature. The reaction mechanisms, accounting for the catalytic properties of occluded UO _x species without and in the presence of radiation, are discussed in the light of the above mentioned results.