Method for obtaining metal oxides supported on mesoporous silica particles

A method for preparing metal oxides supported on mesoporous silica particles comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a solution of at least one metal salt, wherein the metal is selected from a group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt and Au;
• b) providing a solution of at least one complex forming agent, wherein the at least one complex forming agent is of the general formulae (I)
• Y3Si(CH2)n—X (I)
• wherein:
• X is a complexing functional group,
• Y is —OH or a hydrolysable moiety selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, and acyloxy, and
• n is ≥1;
• c) mixing the metal salt solution of step a) and the complex forming agent solution of step b) to obtain a metal precursor solution with a pH value between 6-12, which functional group/metal ratio is ≥1;
• d) adding a buffered solution containing at least one pore structure directing agent (SDA) (or template) adjusted to a pH range between 2 and 8;
• e) mixing the metal precursor solution of step c) and the buffered template solution of step d) to obtain a buffered metal precursor-template-mixture;
• f) adding at least one alkali silicate solution to the metal precursor-template
• mixture of step d) at room temperature to obtain a silica-supported metal complex, at a pH adjusted to a range between 4 and 8;
• and
• g) calcining of the silica-supported metal complex of step f) under air to obtain the supported metal oxide mesoporous silica particles.