Reverse microemulsion assisted synthesis of copper nano-catalyst for highly selective toluene oxidation

The emerging reverse microemulsion technique offers a precise nanofabrication method for intricate nanostructures. Surfactant provides a stable microemulsion, wherein precursors are dissolved. Subsequent resin assisting results in finely patterned nanostructures. This study focuses on creating copper nanoparticles evenly dispersed on titania using varying copper loadings (5%, 10%, and 15% wt) and Brij-35 as the surfactant. Characterization via XRD, FESEM, EDAX, HRTEM, and physisorption reveals CuO/TiO<inf>2</inf> nanospheres with different copper loadings. The catalysts were used for the liquid-phase selective oxidation of toluene, producing benzoic acid as the major product. The CuO/TiO<inf>2</inf> nanocomposite displayed exceptional performance, with the highest toluene conversion rate (97.02%) and benzoic acid selectivity (98.14%) compared to other nanocomposites. The catalyst’s stability and recyclability across five cycles were attributed to the strong copper oxide-titania interaction. The findings suggest this nanocomposite material as a promising candidate for catalytic applications, offering high selectivity and consistent toluene conversion rates.