Highly dispersed non-noble metals by electrostatic interaction

The research group extensively uses the chemisorption-hydrolysis (CH) approach and developed a procedure for the preparation of supported copper catalysts on a wide variety of amorphous mesoporous oxides and mixed oxides, showing the formation of very high dispersed copper species.

Methods based on electrostatic interactions represent a convenient trade-off as they combine the simplicity of impregnation techniques with high metal dispersion, even at high metal loading. This technique moreover grants the formation of a very well dispersed oxidic phase, with particle size one order magnitude higher with respect to the one obtained with traditional Impregnation techniques.

The use of the chemisorption-hydrolysis approach is now going to be extended also to other non-noble supported metals such as Cobalt and Iron.

References:
[1] F. Boccuzzi, A. Chiorino, G. Martra, M. Gargano, N. Ravasio, B. Carrozzini, “Preparation, characterisation and activity of Cu/TiO₂ catalysts. I. Influence of the preparation method on the dispersion of Cu/TiO₂”, J. Catal, 1997, 165(2), 129-139.
[2] F. Boccuzzi, S. Coluccia, G. Martra, N. Ravasio, “Cu/SiO2 and Cu/SiO2-TiO2 catalysts: I. TEM, DR UV-Vis-NIR, and FTIR characterisation”, J. Catal, 1999, 184(2), 316-326.
[3] F. Zaccheria, N. Scotti, M. Marelli, R. Psaro, N. Ravasio, “Unravelling the properties of supported copper oxide: can the particle size induce acidic behaviour?”, Dalton Transactions, Perspective, 2013, 42(5), 1319-1328.