Intercalation of aggregation-free and well-dispersed gold nanoparticles into the walls of mesoporous silica as a robust "green" catalyst for n-alkane oxidation.

Aggregate-free and well-dispersed gold nanoparticles were intercalated into the walls of mesoporous silica forming a nanoreactor demonstrating high catalytic activity for "green" alkane oxidation. The material is robust and can be recycled. The method may be developed to intercalate other metal or alloy nanoparticles into the walls of mesoporous silica.