Selenium-directed synthesis of Pd nanoparticles on mesoporous silica-coated Fe3O4: An efficient magnetic catalyst for oxidative alkene cracking

By using selenium-directing technology, magnetic mesoporous silica-supported nano palladium catalyst (Pd/SiO2/Fe3O4-Se) for oxidative alkene cracking reactions could be synthesized in a relatively concise method. During the materials calcination process, decomposition and sublimation of selenium moieties of selenized Fe3O4 core could direct the formation of the micro-structures of nano materials more orderly, endowing the material overwhelmingly higher catalytic activity than the similar material prepared from unselenized Fe3O4. As the first report of synthesizing magnetic materials via the selenium-directing method, this work is of both science and application meanings and may inspire new ideas for the development of related novel materials. [Display omitted] •First report on Se-directed preparation of magnetic materials;•Preparing the magnetic materials in a relatively concise way;•Efficiently improved regularity of the material micro-morphology;•Efficiently enhanced catalytic activity of the material;•Unique and ordered wax-berry-like micro-morphology of the material.