Efficient Synthesis of Monodisperse Metal (Rh, Ru,
Pd) Nanoparticles Supported on Fibrous Nanosilica (KCC-1) for Catalysis
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Abstract
We report a simple and sustainable
protocol for the synthesis of
monodisperse rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), and palladium (Pd) metal
nanoparticles supported on fibrous nanosilica (KCC-1). In this protocol,
use of expensive dendrimers was replaced by inexpensive polyethylenimine
(PEI) to produce highly monodispersed supported metal nanocatalysts.
First, KCC-1 was covalently functionalized by PEI and then metal(II)
salts were loaded on KCC-1-PEI material to have complexation of metal
ions with amines of PEI. Reduction of metal(II) ions by NaBH<sub>4</sub> yielded metal(0) nanoparticles supported on KCC-1. As-synthesized
metal nanoparticles supported on PEI functionalized KCC-1, named KCC-1-PEI/Rh,
KCC-1-PEI/Ru, and KCC-1-PEI/Pd, were characterized by transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) for particle size and their distribution,
N<sub>2</sub> sorption studies for surface area, pore sizes and pore
volume, thermogravimetric analysis for PEI loading, and solid state
NMR for its covalent attachment. These nanocatalysts were then evaluated
for the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene and styrene. They showed
good catalytic activities under mild pressure, at room temperature
and notably in a very short period of time. Catalysts were also recyclable
several times with negligible loss of activity, indicating their good
stability that is due to PEI functionalization as well as fibrous
nature of KCC-1 support