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The Key Role of Nanocasting in Gold‐based Fe 2 O 3 Nanocasted Catalysts for Oxygen Activation at the Metal‐support Interface
Author(s) -
García Tomás,
López José M.,
Solsona Benjamín,
Sanchis Rut,
Willock David J.,
Davies Thomas E.,
Lu Li,
He Qian,
Kiely Christopher J.,
Taylor Stuart H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201900210
Subject(s) - catalysis , materials science , calcination , oxide , metal , nanoparticle , microporous material , mesoporous material , chemical engineering , oxygen , propane , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering , composite material
Abstract The total oxidation of propane, a representative Volatile Organic Compound, has been studied using gold‐based α‐Fe 2 O 3 catalysts. Catalysts consisting of gold nanoparticles confined in nanostructured Fe 2 O 3 prepared by a nanocasting route present the highest catalytic activity for propane total oxidation, and the activity is significantly greater than those of gold‐based catalysts where iron oxide supports are prepared by other conventional methods, such as calcination. Detailed characterisation and Density‐functional theory (DFT) studies have been undertaken in order to explain the enhancement in catalytic properties. The presence of confined gold nanoparticles on the nanocast Fe 2 O 3 facilitates the production of highly reactive oxygen vacancies at the metal‐support interface, increasing the catalyst performance. Both the development of a microporous/mesoporous structure in the iron oxide support and the presence of a mixed surface phase of Si and Fe oxides, seem to be key parameters, being both features inherent in the nanocasting process from silica templates. Additionally, the catalytic activity is enhanced due to other positive effects, which are closely related to the nanocasting preparation method: i) a higher contact surface area between partially confined small gold nanoparticles in the internal mesoporosity of the nanostructured support and the metal oxide and; ii) a more reducible support due to the presence of more active surface lattice oxygen.