MCM-41-supported double metal cyanide nanocomposite catalyst for ring-opening polymerisation of propylene oxide

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 24; no. 3
• Main Authors: Cao, Xiaoyan, Wang, Kaijun, Mao, Qifan, Gu, Zhenggui, Wang, Fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal structure; Cyanides; Fabrication; Fourier analysis; Fourier transforms; Green chemistry; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Inorganic Chemistry; Ketones; Lasers; Materials Science; Molecular weight; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Photoelectrons; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Polypropylene; Polypropylene glycol; Propylene glycol; Propylene oxide; Research Paper; Ring opening polymerization; Scanning electron microscopy; Thermal stability; Thermogravimetry; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction; Zinc; Synchronous dropping method; Organic ligands; MCM-41@DMC; Synthesis; Nanocomposite catalyst; Poly(propylene glycol)
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-022-05443-1

The fabrication of low-cost, recyclable, reusable, and heterogeneous catalysts is of considerable significance for green chemistry. In this study, a nanocomposite catalyst, MCM-41-supported Zn–Co double metal cyanide (MCM-41@DMC), was prepared using the synchronous dropping method. Thereafter, the composition, crystal structure, complexing state, morphology, and thermal stability of the catalyst were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, and thermogravimetry. The effects of different organic ligands on the catalytic activity of samples were evaluated, and the results showed that ethyl acetoacetate exhibited the best catalytic activity owing to its ketone coordination. The use of the MCM-41 support was beneficial for improving the catalytic activity because it reduced the crystallinity and substantially increased the external specific surface area of the catalyst. The experimental results pertaining to the use of the MCM-41@DMC catalyst in the fabrication of polypropylene glycol showed that the conversion of propylene oxide and molecular weight reached 90.6% and 2900, respectively. This study provides a new strategy for the green synthesis of poly(propylene glycol) products.