Synthesis of HKUST-1 embedded in SBA-15 functionalized with carboxyl groups as a catalyst for 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol

In this paper, the carboxyl group functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 (SBA-15C), was firstly prepared by one-step co-condensation, then the HKUST-1 functionalized composite material (HKUST-1@SBA-15C) was synthesized in situ through the copper ions adsorbed by the carboxyl group (-COOH). The physicochemical properties of the composite material were characterized by FT-IR, TG, BET, XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM. The results indicated that HKUST-1 had been successfully embedded into the pores of SBA-15C through the -COOH groups on its surface. The stability and catalytic activity of the composite material were studied in the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4. The catalytic performance of the composite material was not significantly reduced after 4 times reuse.