Facile synthesis of sweet corn like Sm2O3 and their catalytic performance for 2-azidoalcohol synthesis

Abstract

In this work, we report a systematic studies of synthesis, crystal growth mechanism of Sm2O3 sweet corns and their applications as a catalyst. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy that the morphology of Sm2O3 composed with sweet corn like structure (pH=9) in borosil glass bottle to sweet corn like particles synthesized in hydrothermal conditions (pH=12). Further, the morphology and crystallinity were also studied by the transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and it’s clearly consistent with the field emission scanning electron microscopy observations. X-ray diffraction patterns point out the existence of pure cubic phase in Sm2O3 sweet corn and no other impurity was found. The X-ray diffraction study indicates the presence of Sm2O3 phases. The Brunauer- Emmett-Teller surface area increased and reach around 14.1m2/g when an increase in synthesis time from 8h to 12h while further increase in synthesis time had a negative effect on the surface area. Furthermore, 0.67mmolg−1 the total numbers of acid sites per gram of Sm2O3 sweet corn was determined by simple titration with an n-butylamine solution in the presence of an indicator. To test the potential applications of Sm2O3 sweet corn, they are used as catalysts for epoxide opening reactions. We hope this simple and cost effective approach can extend in the development of novel morphologies for possible applications.