A Highly Stable and Magnetically Recyclable Nanocatalyst System: Mesoporous Silica Spheres Embedded with FeCo/Graphitic Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles and Pt Nanocatalysts

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal an Asian journal, 2015-12, Vol.10 (12), p.2755-2761
• Main Authors: Kim, Da Jeong, Li, Yan, Kim, Yun Jin, Hur, Nam Hwi, Seo, Won Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; graphitic shell; Hydrogenation; magnetic nanoparticles; mesoporous materials; nanocatalysts; Nanoparticles; Porous materials; Silica
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201500773

We have developed a highly stable and magnetically recyclable nanocatalyst system for alkene hydrogenation. The materials are composed of mesoporous silica spheres (MSS) embedded with FeCo/graphitic shell (FeCo/GC) magnetic nanoparticles and Pt nanocatalysts (Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS). The Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS have superparamagnetism at room temperature and show type IV isotherm typical for mesoporous silica, thereby ensuring a large enough inner space (surface area of 235.3 m2 g−1, pore volume of 0.165 cm3 g−1, and pore diameter of 2.8 nm) to undergo catalytic reactions. We have shown that the Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS system readily converts cyclohexene into cyclohexane, which is the only product isolated and Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS can be seperated very quickly by an external magnetic field after the catalytic reaction is finished. We have demonstrated that the recycled Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS can be reused further for the same hydrogenation reaction at least four times without loss in the initial catalytic activity. Recyclable nanocatalyst system: Mesoporous silica spheres (MSS) embedded with both FeCo/graphitic shell (FeCo/GC) magnetic nanoparticles and Pt nanocatalysts (Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS) are reported for the first time. The Pt‐FeCo/GC@MSS system is demonstrated to be an excellent recyclable nanocatalyst for the hydrogenation of cyclohexene.