A novel mixed cationic-nonionic surfactant templating approach for the synthesis of mesoporous niobium containing silica - a promising epoxidation catalyst

摘要

A new niobium-containing mesoporous material, denoted as NbSM-3, was prepared by mixed cationic-nonionic surfactant templating approach and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), sorption measurements and temperature-programmed reduction (H_2-TPR) techniques. The new catalysts were tested in the liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant at 318 K and there were found to possess a high selectivity towards epoxide.