Super-acid sulfated/zirconium-containig nanostructured carbons

Abstract

In this work, we report the successful preparation of a superacid mesoporous carbon functionalized with sulfated zirconia (SZr-C). SZr-C has a surface area of approximately 1300 m2 g-1, and the total pore volume of 0.94 cm3g-1, composed mainly of mesoporous with an average pore size of 3.5 nm. The composition of the surface and the chemical states of the elements did reveal Zr isolated species. According to the data collected by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), of pyridine desorbed at various temperatures, the total number of acidic sites was 2.36 mmol/g and the distribution in weak- medium, strong and super acidic sites was determined. The activity in the methylation of aniline indicated that the acid sites are strong, and have not redox properties.