Synthesis of Mesoporous Nickel-Silica Hollow Microspheres Catalysts and Its Catalytic Performance

Abstract

The mesoporous nickel spheres catalysts with tunable chamber structures have been successfully prepared by liquid phase reduction of Ni₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ microspheres at 120°C, which are synthesized by the reaction between Ni(Ac)₂·4H₂O and SiO₂ microspheres via a self-template approach. This material with large BET surface area (158 m²/g) exhibits good catalytic activity and high selectivity in nitrobenzene hydrogenation reaction. The selectivity rate of the phenylamine reached to 99.85% and the conversion rate of the nitrobenzene was almost up to 100%, showing the potential application in the catalyst industry.

Keywords:

• Composites
• microporous materials
• chemical synthesis
• catalytic properties