Responsive Janus Cage Reactor

A Janus silica cage was synthesized by selectively grafting an ionic liquid (IL) and poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) (lower critical solution temperature (LCST)≈32 °C) onto the exterior and interior sides of the mesoporous SiO₂ shell. The paramagnetic core inside the cavity is responsible for magnetic collection. The PW₁₂ O₄₀ ^3- anion is further conjugated onto the IL side by anion exchange. The Janus cage acts as a thermal-responsive reactor for catalytic oxidization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in the presence of H₂ O₂ . The sulfide in the model oil can be completely decomposed at 25 °C, whilst the oxidative products are more dissoluble in water and preferentially captured inside the Janus cage. The Janus cage reactor could be regenerated at high temperature above 32 °C after releasing the products.