Characterization of mesoporous catalyst supports on microreactor walls

Abstract We fabricated and characterized mesoporous silica thin films on microreactor walls in order to perform more efficient heterogeneous catalytic reactions by using the mesoporous silica as a catalyst support. The structures of the films formed on the microreactor walls were characterized by comparing them with those of films formed on planar substrates under various conditions. Cross-section observations revealed that 120 nm thick SBA-16 films with a 3D cubic structure were uniformly coated across the microreactor. Furthermore, the microreactor was employed for a heterogeneous catalytic reaction in an organic solvent to determine its suitability. An aluminum-doped SBA-16 film was formed in the same manner inside the microreactor as a catalyst, although pure SBA-16 has little catalytic activity. The results of a cyanosilylation reaction showed that the reaction rate varied with the reactant flow rate. The specific characteristics are also discussed using a mathematical model of the mass transfer inside microreactors.