Rh　complexes　are　considered　as　the　most　promising　catalysts　for　formaldehyde　hydroformylation　since　they　can　achieve　higher　yields　of　glycolaldehyde　under　mild　conditions.　Although　heterogeneous　catalysts　are　convenient　to　separate,　Rh-based　heterogeneous　catalysts　usually　have　limited　catalytic　activity　in　hydroformylation　of　formaldehyde.　Here,　four　different　supports　(Al2O3,　SiO2,　SBA-15　and　HMS),　loaded　with　Rh　by　impregnation　method,　have　been　developed　for　formaldehyde　hydroformylation.　The　physico-chemical　properties　of　the　materials　have　been　investigated　by　means　of　complementary　techniques.　Due　to　the　presence　of　more　oxidized　rhodium　species　and　stronger　metal　support　interactions,　the　silica-based　catalysts　achieved　higher　formaldehyde　conversion　and　glycolaldehyde　selectivity　than　Rh/Al2O3.　Moreover,　SBA-15　and　HMS　zeolites　were　synthesized　by　adjusting　the　structure　of　the　silica　support.　Thus,　the　selectivity　of　94.8%　for　glycolaldehyde　and　a　remarkable　glycolaldehyde　yield　of　52.7%　over　Rh/SBA-15　catalyst　was　obtained　due　to　its　larger　surface　area,　suitable　pore　structures　and　higher　dispersion　of　Rh　species.　©　2023,　The　Author(s)　under　exclusive　licence　to　Associação　Brasileira　de　Engenharia　Química.