Titanium-containing mesoporous Ti-FDU-12: synthesis, characterization, and catalytic application in styrene oxidation

Introduction: Microporous titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) catalysts exhibit excellent activity in selective oxidation reactions but are limited by restricted diffusion when processing bulky molecules. Mesoporous titanium-containing materials offer improved accessibility to active sites, and the three-dimensional face-centered cubic FDU-12 structure is particularly advantageous for mass transport. Materials and methods: A novel titanium-containing mesoporous material, Ti-FDU-12, was synthesized via a direct one-step hydrothermal method. The structural, textural, and physicochemical properties were systematically characterized. The catalytic performance was evaluated using styrene oxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as a model reaction. Results: The synthesized material exhibited a highly ordered face-centered cubic mesoporous structure consistent with that of FDU-12. Titanium loading influenced the mesostructural and textural properties while preserving the ordered framework. Spectroscopic characterization confirms the incorporation of titanium species into the mesostructured silica matrix, with partial anatase formation only at the highest titanium loading. In catalytic testing, Ti-FDU-12 demonstrated measurable activity in the oxidation of styrene, confirming the accessibility and functionality of the incorporated titanium active sites. The product distribution was found to depend on the titanium content. Conclusions: The direct one-step hydrothermal synthesis provides a simple and effective route for preparing Ti-FDU-12 with well-defined mesoporosity and catalytically active titanium species. The well-defined structure and active titanium sites enable catalytic oxidation of styrene, highlighting its potential for selective oxidation reactions and providing a platform for further catalyst design and structure/activity relationship studies.