Synthesis of Hollow Silica Nanotubes from Linear Metallosupramolecular Polyelectrolytes and Their Application as Catalyst Supports for Hydrogenation

In this study, we report a facile templating method to construct hollow silica nanotubes. In particular, bis-terpyridine is used to coordinate metal ions to form polymeric bis-terpyridine–metal complexes that further self-assemble into tubular organogels in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The following silica deposition on organogels and subsequent calcination give metal oxide-doped hollow silica nanotubes (M_xO_y-HSNs). Facilitated by the high coordination stability constants of bis-terpyridine with metal ions, a series of metal ions, such as Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn, could be used to form polymeric bis-terpyridine–metal complexes. The supported Pt/Fe_xO_y-HSNs exhibit good catalytic performance for hydrogenation of a series of substituted nitrobenzenes, showing that the obtained M_xO_y-HSNs could be used as catalyst supports due to their good textural properties.