Nanoparticles (NPs) with non-equilibrium configurations have been synthesized with the aid of microwave irradiation. Microwave-assisted synthesis has allowed for the successful and facile alloying of two metals that are classically immiscible. It has also been possible to tune the composition of these NPs in order to have an impact on the kinetics of hydrogenation catalytic processes performed. It has been observed that due to ensemble effects, alloyed NPs of Rh and other noble metals (Ag & Au) are catalytically more active than pure Rh NPs for hydrogenation catalysis. Thus, cost effective catalysts have been synthesized by diluting a precious metal such as Rh with abundant and relatively inexpensive metals, also yielding higher turnovers even when one of the metals is catalytically inactive.

Unusual noble metall alloy nanoparticles for enhanced and cost-effective hydrogenation catalysis

247th National Meeting (2014)

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