journal article·2022-11Open access

Templated encapsulation of platinum-based catalysts promotes high-temperature stability to 1,100 °C

Aisulu Aitbekova, Chengshuang Zhou, Michael L. Stone, Juan Salvador Lezama-Pacheco, An-Chih Yang, Adam S. Hoffman, Emmett D. Goodman, Philipp Huber, Jonathan F. Stebbins, Karen C. Bustillo, Peter Ercius, Jim Ciston, Simon R. Bare, Philipp N. Plessow, Matteo Cargnello

Nature Materials· Volume 21· Issue 11

Abstract

Stable catalysts are essential to address energy and environmental challenges, especially for applications in harsh environments (for example, high temperature, oxidizing atmosphere and steam). In such conditions, supported metal catalysts deactivate due to sintering-a process where initially small nanoparticles grow into larger ones with reduced active surface area-but strategies to stabilize them can lead to decreased performance. Here we report stable catalysts prepared through the encapsulation of platinum nanoparticles inside an alumina framework, which was formed by depositing an alumina precursor within a separately prepared porous organic framework impregnated with platinum nanoparticles. These catalysts do not sinter at 800 °C in the presence of oxygen and steam, conditions in which conventional catalysts sinter to a large extent, while showing similar reaction rates. Extending this approach to Pd-Pt bimetallic catalysts led to the small particle size being maintained at temperatures as high as 1,100 °C in air and 10% steam. This strategy can be broadly applied to other metal and metal oxides for applications where sintering is a major cause of material deactivation.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Catalytic Processes in Materials Science · Catalysis and Hydrodesulfurization Studies · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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