Three-dimensional ordered mesoporous cobalt oxides: Highly active catalysts for the oxidation of toluene and methanol

Three-dimensional (3D) ordered mesoporous cubic Co3O4 (denoted as Co-KIT6 and Co-SBA16) were fabricated adopting the KIT-6- and SBA-16-templating strategies, respectively. It is shown that Co-KIT6 and Co-SBA16 possessed large surface areas (118-121 m(2)/g), high oxygen adspecies concentrations, and good low-temperature reducibility. Over Co-KIT6 at space velocity = 20,000 mL/(g h), 90% toluene and methanol conversions were achieved at 180 and 139 degrees C, respectively. The excellent catalytic performance of Co-KIT6 and Co-SBA16 was associated with their larger surface areas, higher oxygen adspecies concentrations, better low-temperature reducibility, and 3D ordered mesoporous structure. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.