Enabling synchronous activation of inner-core and mesoporous outer-shell of monodispersed Fe3O4@SiO2 by in-situ implanted MnOx to synergistically deliver enhanced catalytic activity

Herein, we report a facile synthetic method enabling the synchronously activated decoration of the inner core and mesoporous outer shell of monodispersed Fe 3 O 4 @meso-silica using in situ implanted MnO x . This approach can maintain the catalytic activity of the internal core without loss of its inherent magnetic properties even when undergoing calcination . The developed catalyst exhibits a well-defined core-shell configuration with a MnO x coating on an Fe 3 O 4 internal core and a MnO x -modified mesoporous outer shell, obtained via only a one-pot output cycle. The thin MnO x coating layer prevents excess oxidation of the unoxidized Fe 3 O 4 core during the annealing process. Additionally, the mesopores in the coated silica were synchronously functionalized by the assistance of dodecylamine (DDA) as surfactant because of the coordination effect of Mn 2+ and DDA molecules. The optimal nanocatalyst exhibits improved catalytic activity for styrene oxidation and recoverability due to its magnetic-responsive properties, in contrast to postsynthesized and shell-only functionalized catalysts.