Metal nanoparticles, such as palladium, grafted on Lewis acid metal oxide supports show high activity in hydrogenation, but are susceptible to sintering under catalytic conditions.  Structural inhomogeneity prevents a full mechanistic understanding of the relationship between structure and function.Atomic layer deposition allows for atomic control of film thickness and can deposit a wide array of materials.  Using ALD, Pd nanoparticles are deposited on metal oxide supports. A blocking agent is added to the Pd nanoparticles.  Al3O2 is deposited around the blocking agent Pd complex creating a well-defined wall.  The blocking agent is removed leaving Pd nanoparticles surrounded by Al2O3 bowls.  Bowl size is directly controlled by the blocking agent.  DRIFTS, XPS, Raman, TEM, SAXS and XANES were used to characterize the nanobowls.  In situ spectroscopy of the well-defined nanobowl catalytic systems will be explored in the future.

Catalytic nanobowls synthesized using atomic layer deposition

240th National Meeting (2010)

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