Synthesis and catalytic advantage of a hierarchical ordered macroporous KIT-6 silica

Ordered mesoporous silicas are important technological materials in catalysis, sorption and separation science, however new architectures are desired to improve in-pore accessibility. Here we report the first synthesis of an ordered macroporous KIT-6, obtained by optimizing the ratios of Pluronic P123: sodium dodecyl sulfate cosurfactants, and a 400 nm polystyrene nanosphere macropore template. The macroporous KIT-6 possesses 370 nm macropores in a face-centered cubic arrangement, surrounded by a silica framework comprised of cubic Ia3¯d three-dimensional, intertwined 5 nm mesopore channels. Propylsulfonic acid (PrSO3H) functionalization affords a macroporous KIT-6 solid acid catalyst whose hierarchical pore network permits rapid diffusion and esterification of fatty acids, conferring a five-fold enhancement for palmitic acid esterification compared with a conventional mesoporous PrSO3H/KIT-6, and 33% rate enhancement vs. an ordered macroporous PrSO3H/SBA-15.