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Title: High-Temperature-Stable and Regenerable Catalysts: Platinum Nanoparticles in Aligned Mesoporous Silica Wells

Journal Article · · ChemSusChem (Online)

We report the synthesis, structural characterization, thermal stability study, and regeneration of nanostructured catalysts made of 2.9 nm Pt nanoparticles sandwiched between a 180nm SiO2 core and a mesoporous SiO2 shell. The SiO2 shell consists of 2.5 nm channels that are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the SiO2 core. The nanostructure mimics Pt nanoparticles that sit in mesoporous SiO2 wells (Pt@MSWs). By using synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering, we were able to prove the ordered structure of the aligned mesoporous shell. By using high-temperature cyclohexane dehydrogenation as a model reaction, we found that the Pt@MSWs of different well depths showed stable activity at 500°C after the induction period. Conversely, a control catalyst, SiO2-sphere-supported Pt nanoparticles without a mesoporous SiO2 shell (Pt/SiO2), was deactivated. We deliberately deactivated the Pt@MSWs catalyst with a 50nm deep well by using carbon deposition induced by a low H2/cyclohexane ratio. The deactivated Pt@MSWs catalyst was regenerated by calcination at 500°C with 20% O2 balanced with He. After the regeneration treatments, the activity of the Pt@MSWs catalyst was fully restored. Our results suggest that the nanostructured catalysts—Pt nanoparticles confined inside mesoporous SiO2 wells—are stable and regenerable for treatments and reactions that require high temperatures.

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1132273
Report Number(s):
IS-J 8187
Journal Information:
ChemSusChem (Online), Vol. 6, Issue 10; ISSN 1864-564X
Publisher:
ChemPubSoc Europe
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English