Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Dispersed Molybdenum Carbides in Mesoporous Silica

Abstract

Highly dispersed molybdenum carbides in MCM-41 mesoporous silica are synthesized by temperature-programmed carburization and are characterized. Two methods of preparation are examined: (i) insertion of molybdenum during the synthesis of the MCM-41 silica and (ii) postsynthesis incorporation into a MCM-41 silica matrix by the incipient wetness method. Propene transformation (hydrogenation and metathesis) was used as a probe reaction; the observed catalytic behavior can be explained as a result of the preparation method, i.e., of the relative strength of interaction between the molybdenum oxide precursor and the support.