Shape-Dependent Basicity of Nanoscale La2O2CO3 Catalysts in the Dimethyl Carbonate Synthesis from Propylene Carbonate with Methanol

La2O2CO3 as a promising solid base catalyst for transesterification reaction has been widely investigated in heterogeneous catalysis. In this study, we synthesized a series of La2O2CO3 with controllable morphologies including nanosheets, nanorods, and nanoparticles exposed different crystal facets by a simple aqueous solution route, and then then explored the shape effect of La2O2CO3 on the catalytic performance of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from transesterification of propylene carbonate (PC) with methanol. As expected, a La2O2CO3 nanosheets catalyst had the highest turnover frequency than nanoparticles and nanorods. The observed La2O2CO3 shape effect in catalysis was associated with its basicity. Characterization results revealed that the highest amount of strong basic sites on the surface of La2O2CO3 nanosheets predominantly exposed (001) planes were responsible for the higher catalytic activity.

Automated summary

In this study, a series of La2O2CO3 catalysts with controllable morphologies were synthesized through an aqueous solution route, and the shape effect on catalytic performance in esterification reaction was explored. The La2O2CO3 nanosheets catalyst showed the highest turnover frequency, attributed to the highest amount of strong basic sites predominantly exposed on its surface.