Colloid templated porous materials (CTPM) exhibit a set of highly advantageous properties for catalytic applications including unique architectural features and photonics. For example, the pore size, inter-pore connectivity, composition of the CTPM matrix and inclusion of additional functional building blocks (e.g. metal nanoparticles, MNPs) can be predesigned and achieved. However, synthetic routes to control simultaneously the spatial distribution of functional NPs within the porous matrix, their accessibility and stability are not developed yet. Herein we describe a material platform based on hybrid CTPMs featuring a high degree of control over the composition of the various components and placement of the functional nanoparticles. Our approach is based on the co-assembly of MNP-decorated polymer colloids as sacrificial templates and a matrix precursor material.  Removal of the polymer via calcination produces a fully interconnected porous network with MNPs present exclusively at the pore-matrix interface, which in turn results in superior mass transport within the catalyst and improved accessibility of the MNPs. Importantly, the composition, morphology and size of the MNPs can be predesigned for specific catalytic reactions, preserved during the fabrication processes and maintained by matrix stabilization during operation. The versatility and catalytic performance of these types of materials will be demonstrated for a number of selective chemical transformations using metal oxide supported bimetallic nanoparticles as well as for full combustion of organics. The presented approach creates immense possibilities in terms of the catalyst composition towards efficient and selective chemical transformations in a sustainable and material-efficient way.<br/>

Rational design of nanostructured supported catalysts for environmental and energy applications

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.