Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (3): 529-535.doi: 10.1007/s40242-024-4055-z

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Design and Synthesis of NiO@Co3O4@ZSM-5 Heterogeneous Multitask Hollow Structures for Tandem Catalysis

Muhammad Waqas   

  1. Interdisciplinary Research Center for Refining and Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
  • Received:2024-03-04 Online:2024-06-01 Published:2024-06-01
  • Contact: Muhammad Waqas,E-mail:muhammad.waqas@kfupm.edu.sa E-mail:muhammad.waqas@kfupm.edu.sa
  • Supported by:
    The authors would like to express their gratitude to the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for the support that they have provided.

Abstract: Precipitation and impregnation procedures unevenly distribute metals on zeolite, limiting chemical transformation in Lewis-acid, Brönsted-acid and metal-catalyzed tandem reactions. Although, heterogeneous multitask transition metals oxides@zeolites are promising catalysts for sustainable processes; nevertheless, synthesis is fascinating and complex. Herein, the construction of purposely designed multitask materials segregated in selective shells reveals the remarkable spatial organization of metals-zeolite, resulting in them being suitable for a wide range of tandem reactions. The synthesis of multi-site catalysts begins with a universal wet chemistry approach that yields nickel oxide (NiO) crystals. Then, the NiO crystals are stabilized using cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, followed by achieving cross-linking carbon growth by emulsion polymerization of glucose in hydrothermal treatment to yield uniformed NiO@carbon spheres (NiO@CSs). Next, sequential adsorption of cobalt cations and colloidal ZSM-5 (1% in H2O, mass fraction), followed by calcination in air, yielded NiO@cobalt oxide@zeolite denoted as NiO@Co3O4@ZEO hollow spheres. The hollowing mechanism and materials segregation within shells are revealed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The finding advances the rational synthesis of heterogenous core-shell hollow structures for various gas phase catalytic tandem reactions to yield valuable chemicals.

Key words: Multifunctional, Core-shell hollow spheres, Gas-phase reaction, Valuable chemical