Synthesis and catalytic activity of Cu-incorporated MCM-41 with spheres-within-a-sphere hollow structure

Cu-incorporated ordered hexagonal mesoporous silicates (Cu-MCM-41) with spheres-within-a-sphere hollow structure have been synthesized using thermoreversible polymer hydrogel methylcellulose (MC) and cationic surfactant as co-templates, which have been characterized by scanning electron micrograph (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron micrograph (TEM), and N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The obtained results indicate that the morphology of Cu-incorporated MCM-41 materials is "spheres-within-a-sphere" hollow structure, which is very similar to that of the alveolus. In benzene hydroxylation with H2O2, the hollow spheres show much higher catalytic activity than particles of Cu-MCM-41.