Synthesis, characterization and catalysis of Ce-MCM-41

The cerium-containing MCM-41 (Cc-MCM-41) has been synthesized by direct hydrothermal method. The low-angle XRD patterns revealed the typical five majorpeaks of MCM-41 type hexagonal structures. The interplanar spacing d(100) = 38.4 A was obtained that can be indexed on a hexagonal unit cell parameter with a(o) = 44.3 A which was larger than that of pure siliceous MCM-41 (Si-MCM-41). Transmission electron micrograph shows the regular hexagonal array of uniform channel characteristics of MCM-41. The BET surface area of Ce-MCM-41 was 840 m(2)/g, which is much reduced as compared to that of Si-MCM-41, with the pore size of 26.9 A and mesopore volume of 0.78 cm(3)/g were measured by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm at 77 K. Along with the results, the synthesized Ce-MCM-41 exhibited a well-ordered MCM-41-type mesoporous structure with the incorporation of cerium. Using Ce-MCM-41 as a support, the Rh (0.5 wt%) catalyst exhibited very high activity for the NO/CO reactions.