Industrial flaring is becoming a major cause for concern as a source of carbon dioxide emissions from methane combustion. Metallic nanomaterials are a promising and cost-effective solution towards alternative catalytic routes, such as methane to methanol conversion, due to their high surface area to volume ratio. In this work, an optimum synthetic route for trimetallic nanoalloys is sought, which will then be tested and tuned for methane conversion. PdAuCo nanoalloys were chosen for potentially enhanced synergistic effects, benefitting from the known superior activity of palladium, combined with economic and electronic balances via incorporation of cobalt and gold. The synthesis of PdAu nanoalloys has been previously established; incorporation of cobalt metal to afford alloyed trimetallic materials is challenged by the magnetic properties and ease of oxidation of cobalt. Microwave irradiation is utilized to assist the reactions. Synthetic parameters evaluated in this study include choice of solvent, metal precursors, capping agents, and reducing agents. The size, morphology, distribution, and composition of the nanoparticles are crucial features for best performance. Main characterization methods include powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The development of novel metal oxide supports as co-catalysts is also under investigation. Once the optimum synthetic route for preparation of trimetallic alloyed nanostructures is selected, catalytic studies will be conducted to evaluate the materials’ performance for methane conversion.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of ternary nanoalloys for catalytic applications

ACS Spring 2022

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