Development of catalysts with controlled three-dimensional pore structure

Abstract

The production of tailored properties materials to a given application is crucial for the development of increasingly efficient processes. In heterogeneous catalysis, there is great interest in materials with high diffusion of reagents and high dispersion of the active phase throughout the material volume. To combine these functions in a single material, it is essential to develop new production routes that are versatile, reproducible, and that allow easy control of the structure. This project aims to develop a methodology to produce Au and Cu catalysts supported on silica with controlled porosity in a single step through the sol-gel method accompanied by phase separation. The metallic precursors will be incorporated during the gelatinization of the support to obtain nanoparticles with high dispersion in porous support in a few steps. A systematic study of the relationship between the composition and the final structure of materials will be carried out, aiming to determine the best conditions for the production of materials with controlled properties and high catalytic activity. The three-dimensional structure of the materials will be characterized by a high-resolution imaging technique called X-ray Ptychography Computed Tomography in the Cateretê beamline at Sirius. The combination of 3D images with high phase contrast will allow obtaining unprecedented details of the shape and dispersion of porous catalysts and will be of great contribution to the field of materials science and catalysis. Furthermore, a set of experimental techniques will be employed to establish the correlation of the synthesis parameters end the materials structure, property, and activity. (AU)