Defective Pt nanoparticles encapsulated in mesoporous metal–organic frameworks for enhanced catalysis†
Abstract
Highly dispersed ultrafine defective Pt nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in the mesopores of MIL-101 were successfully achieved for the first time through a facile chemical dealloying approach. PtCo alloy NPs inside the mesoporous MIL-101 were firstly formed via a double-solvent method and the Co species were subsequently selectively etched by diluted nitric acid to achieve the defective Pt NPs. Compared with PtCo alloy NPs, the as-prepared defective Pt NPs showed an improved catalytic activity towards the hydrogenation of nitroarenes under mild conditions.