Capping agent-free highly dispersed noble metal nanoparticles supported in ordered mesoporous carbon with short channels and their catalytic applications

Abstract

Homogeneously dispersed small noble metal nanoparticles such as Pt and Au supported on ordered mesoporous carbon nanospheres have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method without using any capping agent and further post-treated with reducing agent. The average sizes of the Pt and Au nanoparticles are estimated to be ∼1.7 and ∼5 nm. The small size of the nanoparticles and short length channels of mesopores greatly improve their catalytic properties. As proof-of-concept, the catalytic performances of the mesoporous metal/C composites are investigated using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol as a model reaction. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the obtained catalysts for oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid in the presence of O₂ at 60 °C is also investigated. The results demonstrate that such mesoporous carbon supported metal nanoparticles can be used as reusable catalysts with high catalytic activity.