Our work is directed towards preparing supported catalysts from nanoparticles prepared using solution synthesis techniques.  PAMAM dendrimers offer a means of templating finely dispersed mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles in solution.  Particle compositions unavailable through traditional syntheses can be prepared, and in some cases it is possible to control particle morphologies (e.g. core-shell vs. well-mixed nanoparticles).  It is desirable to maintain mild dendrimer removal conditions to preserve metastable nanoparticle structures.  Detailed investigations of thermal treatments applied to dendrimer templated  Au nanoparticles indicate relatively mild temperatures (150 � 250 �C) can be used to prepare appropriately active catalysts. We are also developing catalyst metrics that allow for simple, facile, and chemically meaningful comparisons between catalysts in order to understand the effects of heterometal incorporation into Au nanoparticles.  These metrics include Michaelis-Menten approaches to reaction kinetics, CO heat of adsorption measurements via infrared spectroscopy, and Hammett studies.  The kinetic metrics in particular provide opportunities for understanding how heterometals and supports might affect the catalytic active site on Au nanoparticles.  Recent work with supported Au, Ni-Au, Pd-Au, and Co-Au nanoparticle catalysts will be highlighted as examples of the available synthetic techniques and the utility of various catalyst metrics.

Dendrimer templates and catalyst metrics for supported Au and Au-M catalysts

244th National Meeting (2012)

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