Oxide-supported nanoparticles prepared by solid-state mechanochemical route

Abstract

In the context of better materials to perform a greener chemistry, metal-supported nanoparticles have a central role as active materials for fundamental transformations including CO2 conversion and energy harvesting. To keep the whole process as green and sustainable as possible, the use of non-traditional synthetic techniques also became mandatory. For instance, mechanochemical means has also became more relevant for the preparation of a diversity of chemicals and materials in solvent-free, solid-state conditions upon the use of mechanical energy. In this project we explore the bottom-up mechanochemical synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles supported on metal-oxides. Plasmonic nanoparticles such as Au and Ag as well as catalytic ones such as Pd will be prepared by the chemical reduction of the metal precursor over industrially relevant ZnO and Al2O3, and optically active MoO3 and WO3 oxides. The synthetic procedure is expected to generate highly active defective materials, suitable for catalytic and electrocatalytic applications. The nanostructures will be fully characterized to understand the relationship between the synthesis conditions, the structure and the activity, targeting the fine tune of nanoparticles' design. (AU)