Synthesis of Large Mesoporous-Macroporous and High Pore Volume, Mixed Crystallographic Phase Manganese Oxide, MnO/MnO Sponge.

The controlled synthesis of mixed crystallographic phase MnO/MnO sponge material by varying heating rates and isothermal segments provides valuable information about the morphological and physical properties of the obtained sample. The well-characterized MnO/MnO sponge and applicability of difference in reactivity of H and CO desorbed during the synthesis provide new developments in the synthesis of metal oxide materials with unique morphological and surface properties. We report the preparation of a MnO/MnO sponge using a metal nitrate salt, water, and Dextran, a biopolymer consisting of glucose monomers. The MnO/MnO sponge prepared at 1 °C·min heating rate to 500 °C and held isothermally for 1 h consisted of large mesopores-macropores (25.5 nm, pore diameter) and a pore volume of 0.413 mL/g. Furthermore, the prepared MnO/MnO and 5 mol %-Fe-MnO/MnO sponges provide potential avenues in the development of solid-state catalyst materials for alcohol and amine oxidation reactions.