doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.172535engZhu, KunmengGao, FuweiZhao, ZhiyangRen, JianLasobras, JavierShen, XiaodongCui, ShengMenéndez, MiguelUltra-high specific surface area spherical FePOx/SiO2 aerogel with excellent mechanical properties for the highly selective direct oxidation of CH4 to HCHOART-2023-135212Silica aerogels, characterized by their high porosity and substantial specific surface area, are suitable for applications as catalysts or catalyst supports. The simultaneous attainment of a substantial specific surface area and robust mechanical properties in aerogel materials remains a formidable challenge in material synthesis. Spherical FePOx/SiO2 aerogel materials were synthesized employing a combination of heating reflux, the sol-gel technique, and supercritical ethanol drying. These composites demonstrate an exceptional specific surface area, uniformly dispersed active components, shape controllability, and superior mechanical strength. A noteworthy enhancement in both specific surface area (1175 m2/g) and compressive modulus (7.56 MPa) surpasses many findings reported in extant literature. Under conditions of a reaction temperature at 650°C and a flow rate of 97.5 mL/min, the HCHO selectivity and yield for 4 wt.% FePOx/SiO2 aerogel were 18.3 and 4.2 times, respectively, higher than those of 4 wt.% FePOx/SiO2 particles. These composites manifest significant selectivity towards the direct catalytic oxidation of CH4 to HCHO.2023http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/13017310.1016/j.jallcom.2023.172535http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/130173oai:zaguan.unizar.es:130173info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2019-106196RB-I00JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS (2023), 172535 [24 pp.]by-nc-ndhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess