One-pot Synthesis of Inorganic–Organic Hollow Microsphere Solid-Acid Catalysts in a W/O Microemulsion System

Abstract

Abstract Acid-supporting hollow microspheres were successfully prepared through a novel synthetic procedure on the introduction of a catalytic active species in the void space; one-pot synthesis was achieved by addition of 12-tungstophosphoric acid to the aqueous phase in a water-in-oil emulsion and simultaneous formation of a polyorganosiloxane shell (precursors are in oil phase) through sol–gel reactions. The resulting solid was porous and was active as solid-acid catalyst as shown by vapor-phase dehydration of ethanol.