Stabilization of metal nanoparticles by their confinement on curved supports
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
The discovery and understanding of the reactivity of metal nanoparticles and their potential applications is slowly transforming our World due to their unique chemical and physical properties. However, their implementation is mainly limited by their tendency to agglomerate and sinter into bigger and more stable particles, losing their exceptional characteristics. The aim of this project is to stabilize metal nanoparticles using morphologically engineered supports overcoming the diffusion challenges faced by conventional stabilization approaches, specially relevant in catalytic applications. The potential of this new type of metal nanostructured catalyst will be explored in areas of green chemistry, environment and energy applications.
Planned Impact
The outcomes of this project are expected to bring a series of benefits to the academic community, industry and manufacturing sectors in the UK and worldwide as well as more wide-ranging societal benefits including environmental sustainability, economy and education. The academic impact is already considered in the Case for Support. The other main beneficiaries are identified below. The pathways to promote and enhance these impacts are considered in the Pathways to Impact section.
- Economy: The chemical industry represents a key part of the UK economy counting for 21% of its GDP and supporting over 6 million jobs. Most of the chemical processes at an industrial scale are carried out in the presence of catalysts and therefore, the implementation of the outcomes of this project (stabilized nanostructured catalysts with enhanced reactivities) is expected to have a great impact in the global and UK economy in the medium and long-term. Reduced operational costs are expected from the reduced amount of active scarce metals contained in the catalysts. Their high stability is also translated in a longer life reducing the need and costs of fresh catalysts. Development of alternative chemical processes and optimization of existing ones using nanostructured catalysts with enhanced activities and selectivities will also reduce the capital costs (smaller reactors and separation units) as well as operational costs (energy consumption).
- Students: The development of my expertise during this project will be reflected in my personal knowledge and consequently in the quality of my teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students. These students will develop awareness about cutting-edge research in areas beyond traditional engineering and understanding of their impact in daily applications. School students will also be secondary beneficiaries due to their interaction during university outreach activities. Science promotion, awakening scientific vocations and nurturing of current and future researchers are amongst the expected benefits via education. Current students will become the next leaders expanding the impact of current research into the future.
- Society: Catalysis, in general, impacts a wide range of applications from water treatment, energy, food industry, healthcare, oil-derivatives, plastic production, etc. Advances in the catalysis field, like the one detailed in this proposal, will potentially lead to improved atom efficiency, reduced energy consumption and waste production, sustainable use of scarce resources and the development of new sustainable technologies. These progresses will result in societal benefits such as the reduction of pollutants into the atmosphere and rivers/seas, sustainable development (national and internationally), better use of resources, etc, which will reduce the environmental impact of human activities leading to an enhanced quality of life and welfare.
- Economy: The chemical industry represents a key part of the UK economy counting for 21% of its GDP and supporting over 6 million jobs. Most of the chemical processes at an industrial scale are carried out in the presence of catalysts and therefore, the implementation of the outcomes of this project (stabilized nanostructured catalysts with enhanced reactivities) is expected to have a great impact in the global and UK economy in the medium and long-term. Reduced operational costs are expected from the reduced amount of active scarce metals contained in the catalysts. Their high stability is also translated in a longer life reducing the need and costs of fresh catalysts. Development of alternative chemical processes and optimization of existing ones using nanostructured catalysts with enhanced activities and selectivities will also reduce the capital costs (smaller reactors and separation units) as well as operational costs (energy consumption).
- Students: The development of my expertise during this project will be reflected in my personal knowledge and consequently in the quality of my teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students. These students will develop awareness about cutting-edge research in areas beyond traditional engineering and understanding of their impact in daily applications. School students will also be secondary beneficiaries due to their interaction during university outreach activities. Science promotion, awakening scientific vocations and nurturing of current and future researchers are amongst the expected benefits via education. Current students will become the next leaders expanding the impact of current research into the future.
- Society: Catalysis, in general, impacts a wide range of applications from water treatment, energy, food industry, healthcare, oil-derivatives, plastic production, etc. Advances in the catalysis field, like the one detailed in this proposal, will potentially lead to improved atom efficiency, reduced energy consumption and waste production, sustainable use of scarce resources and the development of new sustainable technologies. These progresses will result in societal benefits such as the reduction of pollutants into the atmosphere and rivers/seas, sustainable development (national and internationally), better use of resources, etc, which will reduce the environmental impact of human activities leading to an enhanced quality of life and welfare.
People |
ORCID iD |
Laura Torrente Murciano (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Torrente-Murciano L
(2014)
Enhanced Au?Pd Activity in the Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide using Nanostructured Titanate Nanotube Supports
in ChemCatChem
García T
(2015)
Enhanced H2O2 production over Au-rich bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticles on ordered mesoporous carbons
in Catalysis Today
Torrente-Murciano L
(2014)
Formation of hydrocarbons via CO2 hydrogenation - A thermodynamic study
in Journal of CO2 Utilization
Hill A
(2014)
In-situ H2 production via low temperature decomposition of ammonia: Insights into the role of cesium as a promoter
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Puértolas B
(2015)
In-situ synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in tandem with selective oxidation reactions: A mini-review
in Catalysis Today
Bishopp S
(2014)
Insights into biphasic oxidations with hydrogen peroxide; towards scaling up
in Green Chem.
Torrente-Murciano L
(2013)
Shape-dependency activity of nanostructured CeO2 in the total oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
López J
(2015)
The prevalence of surface oxygen vacancies over the mobility of bulk oxygen in nanostructured ceria for the total toluene oxidation
in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Description | We developed a new theory for the stabilisation of metal nanoparticles on curved supports. This created a completely new pathway for the synthesis of catalysts. |
Exploitation Route | These findings are highly valuable to the catalysis community for the understanding of metal nanoparticle agglomeration on surfaces, one of the key reasons behind the deactivation of catalysts in industry, costing millions of pounds to the sector. |
Sectors | Chemicals Energy Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | The findings have provided the foundations for a new manufacturing technology for metal nanoparticles and catalysts for their use in electronic, healthcare and catalytic applications. We are currently engaging with industry for the implementation of these findings on their current catalytic systems. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | EPSRC Early Career Fellowship |
Amount | £956,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/L020432/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | SASOL |
Organisation | Sasol Technology |
Department | SASOL Technology UK Limited |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are developing novel stable catalysts based on cobalt nanoparticles |
Collaborator Contribution | SASOL is co-supervising a PhD student (CASE Award) providing general information about cobalt-based catalysts and access to their experimental capabilities. |
Impact | Not outcomes yet. |
Start Year | 2013 |