Heterogeneous Catalytic Activity of Platinum Nanoparticles Hosted in Mesoporous Silica Thin Films Modified with Polyelectrolyte Brushes

Abstract

Platinum nanoparticles of 3 nm diameter were included in mesoporous silica thin films by controlling the mesopore surface charge with a short polymer brush. This metal-polymer-mesopore nanocomposite presents high catalytic activity toward ammonia oxidation at low temperatures with 4.5% weight platinum loading. An anomalous partial selectivity toward nitrous oxide is observed for the first time, which can be traced back to the synergy of the particles and modified surface. This effect opens a path toward the design of nanocomposite catalysts with highly controlled environments, in which the size- and function-controlled cavities can be tuned in order to lower the reaction barriers.

Multilayered Materials Comprising Mesoporous Thin Films and Metal Nanoparticles

“…Many of these complex architectures based on MPTF alone or combined with metallic NP have been tested for applications that take advantage of their special properties. In particular, these materials have been used as optical sensors, Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) based sensors, catalysts, photocatalysts, photochromic materials, and for nonlinear optics …”

Thermosensitive Cation‐Selective Mesochannels: PNIPAM‐Capped Mesoporous Thin Films as Bioinspired Interfacial Architectures with Concerted Functions

“…This is another example of the importance of managing charge matching and steric effects between the monomer and the mesopore surface in the design of mesopore‐polymer nanosystems. In previous work, the combination of cationic monomers and silanolate surfaces leads to partial to complete pore filling through monomer pre‐concentration and preferential polymerization within the mesopores . The use of a monomer containing a weak acid phosphate group partially hydrolyzed led instead to polymerization within the pores and on top of the film surface…”

Multicompartment Microreactors Prevent Excitotoxic Dysfunctions In Rat Primary Cortical Neurons

“…[18] We recently reported platinum nano particle (Pt-NP)-based microreactors as support for neuroblasts, using the human neuroblastoma-derived SH-SY5Y cell line. [19] Although it was already known that Pt-NP were efficient catalysts for the conversion of H 2 O 2 into water and oxygen [20] and able to convert NH 4 + into nitric oxide (NO), [21] this was the first work exploring the potential application of these nanoparticles in the biomedical field, in the context of cell mimicry and artificial cells.…”