This project focuses on synthes is of nanostructured bimetallic oxide modified silica as bifunctional catalysts. Silica gel which possesses large surface area will be synthesized via sol-qel method, It will be used as support of the designed catalysts. Bimeta llic oxides will be introduced into/onto silica via impregnation method. Ratio of the bimeta llic oxides to silica will be varied in the synthes is process. All the synth esized materials will be characterized and the ir catalytic activity will be evaluated through epoxidat ion reaction. Lastly. the structurakatalytic act ivity relationship of the prepared materials will be investigated. The role of bimetall ic oxides and their interaction with silica in formation of acidity in the catalyst will also be explored . It will contribute to the basic understanding of th e effect physico-chemica l prope rties such as parti cle size, functional groups. surface area , porosity , surface morphology to th e response cata lytic activity. The fundamental knowledge acquired will lead to novel nanostructured bifunctional catalyst in epoxidation reaction. With better unders ta nding of physic-chemical interaction among niobium. phosphate , titanium and silica, the degree of control in response can be increased. which eventually leads to bifunctional catalyst of improved catalytic performance and subsequently contributes to th e development of an excellent cata lyst in fine chemical indust ry. Recently, high surface area nanostruetured vanadium-phosphate modified silica-titan ia was reported as potential bifunctiona l cata lyst in epoxidation. The inte raction of vanadium-phosphate was crucia l for the formation of Bronsted acidity, while both vanadium titanium species played importa nt as oxidative sites. leading to an excellent bifunctional catalytic performance in alkene epoxidation reaction. Thus, it leads to an intensive research on synthesis of nanostructured bifunctional catalyst of bimetall ic oxides modified silica. The resu lted nanostructured materials could be excellent bifunctiona l cata lysts in alkene epoxidation reaction
