A Facile Route to Prepare PbZr Nanocomposite Catalysts for the Efficient Synthesis of Diphenyl Carbonate

Abstract

Diphenyl carbonate is a versatile chemical intermediate and key building block for the synthesis of polycarbonates. A facile route to prepare PbZr nanocomposites were developed using different precipitants to investigate the effect on the catalytic activity of the solid acid catalysts. The structure–performance relationship of the nanocomposites, dispersion of active components and structure stability, and the catalytic performance were thoroughly analyzed. The results showed that there existed the interaction between Zr and Pb, which induced the homogenous dispersion of Pb and high surface acid sites that could enhance the catalytic activities. Among the catalysts, PbZr–NH4OH represented the best catalytic performance and superior stability, indicating that NH4OH was more favorable compared with sodium hydroxide, ammonium carbonate and urea. The research provides a valuable reference in a wide range application of nanocomposite preparation for the effective and clean production of various carbonates.