Synthesis and characterization of nickel and cobalt species within SBA-15

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 was synthesized according to Zhao method. A mono and bimetallic of nickel/cobalt metal was successfully loaded into mesoporous SBA-15 to form 5% Co/SBA-15, 5% Ni/SBA-15 and 2.5%-2.5% Ni-Co/SBA-15. All the impregnated SBA-15 were synthesized via wetness impregnation method. After calcination, both nickel and cobalt present in the form of metal oxide of NiO and Co3O4. The low angle XRD analysis showed that all the synthesized catalyst possessed a hexagonal unit cell reflection of short channeled SBA-15. The mesoporous structure also was well preserved even after Ni and Co loading. This result was agreed with the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis which indicated all catalysts have type IV isotherm. In addition, the TEM analysis also proved the presence of hexagonal channels in all synthesized catalysts.