Synthesis of Pd-CoxOy Hybrid Nanostructure-Encapsulated Hollow Silica Nanospheres through Reverse Microemulsion Systems and Their Application as Efficient Hydrodechlorination Catalysts

Pd-CoxOy heteroaggregate-encapsulated hollow porous silica nanoreactors (Pd-CoxOy@HPSNs) were synthesized by a reverse microemulsion system. The key design of the developed reverse microemulsion system is to use poly-(ethyleneimine) in the water droplets as the void templates for silica deposition and for anchoring the catalytic functionality inside the hollow silica nanospheres. The synthesized Pd-CoxOy@ HPSNs contain -3 nm Pd-CoxOy hybrid nanostructures in -10 nm central cavities of silica nanospheres and illustrated a significantly promoted efficiency for hydrodechlorination of a series of chlorophenols into phenols under mild reaction conditions. The catalytic enhancement of Pd-CoxOy@HPSNs is ascribed to the synergistic effect between Pd and CoxOy and the protection of silica shells to the inner catalytic functionality.

Automated summary

Pd-CoxOy heteroaggregate-encapsulated hollow porous silica nanoreactors (Pd-CoxOy@HPSNs) were synthesized using a reverse microemulsion system. The synthesized Pd-CoxOy@HPSNs showed enhanced efficiency in the hydrodechlorination of chlorophenols due to the synergistic effect between Pd and CoxOy and the protection provided by the silica shells.