Mesoporous solid acid catalyst composed of Nb–Mo oxide was prepared via a hydrothermal synthesis employing ammonium niobium oxalate and hexaammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate as the precursors. The assembly of fine particles with diameters of 20–34 nm was observed by field emission–scanning electron microscopy. The Nb–Mo oxide has mesopores with diameters of 1.6–2.0 nm. It was possible to tune size of the primary particles and diameter of the mesopores by changing Mo/Nb ratio. The Nb–Mo oxide exhibited high activity in Friedel–Crafts alkylation.

The temperature (T) dependences of the emission spectra and lifetimes of octahedral hexanuclear molybdenum(II) ([{Mo₆Cl₈}Cl₆]²⁻ = [1]²⁻), rhenium(III) ([{Re₆S₈}Cl₆]⁴⁻ = [2]⁴⁻), and tungsten(II) clusters ([{W₆Cl₈}Cl₆]²⁻ = [3]²⁻) in crystalline or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) phases were studied. The emission spectrum of the cluster showed a lower-energy shift upon heating from 3 to 70 K, while that shifted gradually to higher-energy above 70 K. The emission spectral shifts of the cluster upon T-elevation accompanied sharp (<50 K) and gradual decreases (>50 K) in the emission lifetime. Such T-dependent emission characteristics, commonly observed for these three cluster complexes, were analyzed by assuming the contribution of the emissions from the excited triplet state spin-sublevels. The large T dependences of the emission lifetimes and spectra of the hexanuclear Mo(II), Re(III), and W(II) clusters can be understood by a single context of the contributions of the emissions from the excited triplet state spin-sublevels.

Alumina-supported LaMnO₃ (LaMnO₃/Al₂O₃) catalysts with various dispersion and locations were prepared by utilizing the alumina pore structures. LaMnO₃ perovskite oxides were selectively deposited in and/or outside the pore of γ-Al₂O₃ support by controlling the deposition methods. The LaMnO₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts were characterized and their catalytic activities for propane oxidation were investigated. X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and catalytic studies confirmed the formation of a perovskite structure on the alumina support. The catalytic activity for propane oxidation strongly depended on the preparation method, and the perovskite catalysts deposited in the inside pore of alumina exhibited higher activity than those deposited on the outside pore of alumina. The surface area of perovskite oxides on support was quantitatively evaluated by temperature-programmed desorption of CO₂. The trend for the surface areas of LaMnO₃ on γ-Al₂O₃ estimated by the method was consistent with the trend of the rate for complete propane oxidation normalized by catalyst weight, whereas the rate normalized by the surface area of perovskite oxide was almost independent of the dispersion, crystallite sizes, and deposition methods. The activity of LaMnO₃/Al₂O₃ with the intrapore deposition was almost independent of calcination temperatures ranging from 650 to 1000 °C, in marked contrast with the extrapore deposition catalysts, whose activities greatly decreased with increasing calcination temperatures. For the intrapore deposition catalysts, the highest activities were obtained when the loading level was 20 wt % and decreased with a further increase in the loading level. At high loading levels (40 wt %), extrapore deposition of LaMnO₃ on the intrapore deposition catalysts improved their activities for propane oxidation.

Mo-Containing SBA-1 mesoporous molecular sieves synthesized under strongly acidic conditions exhibited catalytic performance, superior to that of Mo-impregnated pure silica SBA-1 or silica gel, for the partial oxidation of methane with oxygen as an oxidant.

In this study, a new Zn coordination polymer (Zn-CP), hereafter, 1Zn, was successfully assembled in a solvothermal system, exhibiting one-dimensional extended chains. 1Zn morphologies were controlled by temperature and surfactants. In addition, the catalytic performance of 1Zn microsized CP was investigated. Knoevenagel condensation after 4 h afforded a conversion of 86%, and a conversion greater than 96% was obtained for 4-chlorobenzaldehyde and 4-bromobenzaldehyde because of their electron-withdrawing ligands. In addition, excellent selectivity was achieved for the degradation (64% conversion) of malachite green in aqueous solution. The microcrystal morphology affected the conversion, and a relative catalytic mechanism was proposed. The developed strategy of shape-controlled assembled CPs will certainly enhance new potential applications of micro-CPs.

In this work, we have prepared alumina-embedded mesoporous silica and investigated their molybdenum (Mo) adsorption properties. To synthesize such materials, mesoporous silica particles were firstly synthesized via a soft-templated approach followed by the introduction of aluminium butoxide into the mesopores, which was converted into alumina by heat treatment at high temperatures. The obtained alumina-embedded mesoporous silica samples (Al_x-MPS) were characterized by low- and wide-angle X-ray diffractions, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of Al/Si ratios and calcination temperature on their Mo adsorption properties were also carefully investigated by using the batch method. The experimental results showed the following trend in Mo adsorption capacity in relation to the calcination temperature: 750 °C > 600 °C > 900 °C > 1050 °C and Al/Si molar ratio: Al_0.1-MPS < Al_0.3-MPS < Al_0.5-MPS < Al_0.6-MPS.

Large pore mesoporous carbon materials (MCA) have been prepared from AlSBA-15 templates synthesized at different temperatures. The obtained materials have been unambiguously characterized by XRD, HRTEM, and N₂ adsorption. It has been found that the specific surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of the MCA materials are higher as compared to CMK-3 mesoporous carbon.

Mesoporous poly(melamine–formaldehyde) (mPMF) is a versatile solid adsorbent owing to its mesoporous network structure and rich nitrogen-containing functional groups. Herein, a facile method was reported for the first time to make mPMF by polycondensation between melamine and formaldehyde in ethylene glycol at 170 °C for 48 h. The resulting mPMF possesses high nitrogen content (50.28%), a mesoporous fibrous framework, a uniform pore size (ca. 12.6 nm), a high BET surface area (334.5 m² g⁻¹), a large pore volume (1.06 cm³ g⁻¹), and good thermal stability (T_dec > 400 °C). Its application in wastewater treatment was demonstrated by the adsorption of various water contaminants.