High hydrothermal stability of mesoporous Ni-phyllosilicate spherical particles

We report mesoporous nickel-phyllosilicate spherical particles with very high hydrothermal stability. Mesoporous nickel-silica samples were prepared with a surfactant by a facile one-pot sol-gel reaction under ammonia basic conditions. Ni/Si molar ratio was adjusted as 0.3, 1, and 9. Hydrothermal stability was investigated inside distilled water at 100 °C both under a static condition inside a convection oven for 8 weeks and a reflux condition for 4 weeks. The crystal structure of mesopore framework was analyzed using X-ray diffraction before and after the hydrothermal treatment. Spherical particle shape and pore characterization were thoroughly investigated using transmission- and scanning electron microscopy as well as nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm after the hydrothermal treatment. Thermal stability and elemental electronic state were also analyzed using thermogravimetric analyzer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In this work, it is strongly suggested that mesoporous nickel-phyllosilicate particles can be used as a reusable catalyst and a versatile catalytic support material in various chemical industry including oil company.