Pd nanoparticles were successfully introduced into the channels of mesoporous silica MCM-41 with their dispersion well-tuned. We identified the dual role played by CTAB, which was critical for both the micelle template and Pd grafting, leading to the formation of a highly active Pd-MCM-41 nanocomposite for catalysing the Suzuki reaction.

Anionic platinum carbonyl cluster has been ion paired with cinchonidium groups that are chemically bound to the surface of MCM-41 and fumed silica. In the hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate or acetophenone the fumed silica-based catalyst gives zero enantioselectivity, but under optimum conditions enantiomeric excesses of > 90 and ∼ 40%, respectively, are obtained with the MCM-41-based catalyst.

Ti-MCM-41 was synthesized at pH 3, 7 and 11. The titanium content was determined by AAS and found to be 4%, 3.2% and 4.5%, respectively. In order to increase the titanium content in Ti-MCM-41, Ti(IV) ions were grafted onto TiMCM-41 using TiCl4 in toluene and Ti(OBu)4 in ethanol. The incorporation of Ti was determined to be 28% and 30%, respectively. The oxidation of olefins such as cyclopentene...

A novel nanocomposite ZnFe(2)O(4)-TiO(2)/MCM-41 (ZTM) was synthesized by a sol-gel method and characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N(2) adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry. The results confirmed the incorporation of ZnFe(2)O(4)-TiO(2) nanoparticles inside the pores of th...

Ammonium borohydride, NH(4)BH(4), has a high hydrogen content of ρ(m) = 24.5 wt% H(2) and releases 18 wt% H(2) below T = 160 °C. However, the half-life of bulk NH(4)BH(4) at ambient temperatures and pressures, ~6 h, is insufficient for practical applications. The decomposition of NH(4)BH(4) (ABH(2)) was studied at variable hydrogen and argon back pressures to investigate possible pressure media...

The direct and indirect methods in solvent media and grinding method in a solvent-free media were used to prepare the MCM-41/ZnO and MCM-48/ZnO photocatalysts. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles were put into MCM-41 and MCM-48 substrates and there were ZnO crystallites as secondary phase in the extra framework of mesoporous materials. The decrease of surfa...