Solvent-free, efficient synthesis of methyl phenyl carbonate over an SBA-15 loaded Pb–Bi bimetallic catalyst

Methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) is one of the versatile carbonates; in particular, it is an important component in lithium-ion batteries. In recent years, the catalytic synthesis of MPC has become an important topic, but the development of highly active catalysts is still challenging. In this study, SBA-15-loaded nano-sized Pb–Bi catalysts with different Pb/Bi molar ratios were prepared by deposition–precipitation to improve the efficiency and selectivity. To investigate the relationship between the structure and performance of the catalysts, XRD, BET, SEM-EDS, HRTEM, H2-TPR, and XPS characterization, as well as catalytic activity and stability tests, were conducted. Results revealed that Pb–Bi/SBA-15 can efficiently catalyze the synthesis of MPC under solvent-free conditions, with the highest catalytic activity obtained over 6 Pb–1Bi/SBA-15. SBA-15 with a large pore size and a high specific surface area was suitable as catalyst carrier, and the average diameter of Pb–Bi oxide particles was ∼3.57 nm. The addition of Bi led to the improved dispersion of active components, which were highly and evenly dispersed on the SBA-15 surface. Furthermore, an appropriate proportion of Pb and Bi on SBA-15 was conducive to the considerable enhancement of the catalytic activity. Besides, Pb–Bi/SBA-15 also exhibited good durability and recyclability, making it a promising catalytic material for the synthesis of various carbonates.