Nanoparticle-doped Mesoporous Silicates / Synthetic Developments and Applications in Catalysis

This proposal seeks to build upon DWB's discovery of a general route to nanoparticle-doped, nanostructured silicates that uses simple and off-the-shelf reagents in a true liquid crystal templating methodology. The proposal is in two, linked parts. In the first, the general methodology will be extended to: encompass a wider range of metals; exert control over particle size and metal oxidation state; employ block co-polymer templates to access cubic pore morphologies and to extend the preparation of bimetallic particles. The second part focuses on real-world catalytic applications using catalysts produced using this methodology, namely automotive exhaust emission control and selective hydrogenation of allylic species.