Rational Design and Construction of Monolithic Ordered Mesoporous Co3O4@SiO2 Catalyst by a Novel 3D Printed Technology for Catalytic Oxidation of Toluene

Here, we report a novel 3D printed layered ordered mesoporous template that can encapsulate active Co-MOFs species in a confined way to achieve the goal of monolithic catalyst. The monolithic OM-Co3O4@SiO2-S catalyst can maintain a macroscopic porous layered structure and a microscopic ordered mesoporous structure. This monolithic OM-Co3O4@SiO2-S catalyst has excellent catalytic performance (T-90 = 236 degrees C), water resistance, and thermal stability in the catalytic combustion of toluene. The catalytic performance of the monolithic OM-Co3O4@SiO2-S catalyst is much better than that of many monolithic catalysts reported in the former. Among them, the introduction of binder aluminum phosphate (AP) can effectively enhance the rheological properties of the printing ink, achieve the purpose of ink writing monolithic layered porous material, enrich the acidic point of the monolithic catalyst, and increase the number of reactive oxygen species. This work reveals a novel monolithic catalyst forming strategy that can combine the advantages of ordered mesoporous materials with active species to form macro-layered porous materials and provide ideas and an experimental basis for the elimination of VOCs in industrial applications.

Automated summary

A novel 3D printed layered ordered mesoporous template is developed to encapsulate active species in a confined way, leading to the formation of a monolithic catalyst. The resulting catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance and stability in the combustion of toluene, highlighting its potential in industrial VOCs elimination.