The sol-gel entrapment of noble metals in hybrid silicas: a molecular insight.
BACKGROUND
Why are metal nanoparticles sol-gel entrapped in ORMOSIL so active and stable? In other words, why ORMOSIL-entrapped metal nanoparticles are more active and selective than many heterogenized counterparts, including silica-entrapped noble metals?


RESULTS
Unveiling specific interactions between MNPs and the molecular structure of ORMOSIL, this work investigates subtle structural aspects through DRIFT spectroscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
The results point to interactions between entrapped Pd and Pt nanocrystallites with the organosilica sol-gel cages similar to those taking place in enzymes.
Centro de Química-Física Molecular and IN - Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Complexo I, Av, Rovisco Pais 1, Lisboa 1049-001, Portugal. lilharco@ist.utl.pt.
Alexandra
A
Fidalgo
Rosaria
R
Ciriminna
Luís
L
Lopes
Valerica
V
Pandarus
François
F
Béland
Laura M
LM
Ilharco
Mario
M
Pagliaro