Designing the next generation of advanced multicomponent materials through mechanochemical synthesis

Abstract

The global demand on eco-friendly process and products has driven the scientific and industrial research towards a more sustainable chemistry while materials with enhanced performances and improved properties are also required. Despite the impressive success of conventional techniques for materials design, classical solvent and thermal-based approaches are still solvent and energy-intensive. Moreover, the number of multicomponent materials, which are attractive for technological relevant applications, enabled by such approaches remains limited. Thus, the need for alternative routes that are capable of generation highly active materials in an environmentally benign framework is therefore imperative. This is the case of the transformations induced by mechanical milling, yielding advanced materials such as metal nanoparticles (NPs) and metal-oxides nanoparticles for catalytic and energy applications. Mechanochemistry has attracted attention as an eco-friendly alternative for both academic and industrial chemistry and materials sciences, being recently labeled among the ten world-changing chemical innovations. However, the use of mechanochemistry in the bottom-up synthesis of metal NPs in its free form or supported over a solid matrix is still poorly explored, hiding the effective potential of technique. In the present project we aim to expand the use of the mechanochemical toolbox by exploring the bottom-up synthesis of mono-, multimetallic NPs and oxide-supported nanostructures under milling conditions. The parameters that influence the structure of the final materials (size, morphology, etc.) will be identified by carefully studying the reaction conditions, particularly the milling-associated parameters. Additionally, we will investigate the mechanisms of NP formation using state-of-art characterization techniques, enabling to control the mechanosynthesis of the nanostructures. Finally, the most interesting candidate materials will be testes as catalysts. This will enable establishing a structure-property relationship paving the way for the rational design of a new generation of highly active advanced materials in the solid state. (AU)