Nanostructured Heterogeneous Catalysts: A Route to Higher Control of Active Sites

Abstract

Bottom-up approaches for the synthesis of nanostructured heterogeneous (electro-) catalysts, via the colloidal deposition route combined with nanostructured catalyst supports, have been investigated in this thesis. Colloidal gold nanoparticles have been selected as a case study in view of their promising catalytic properties for oxidation reactions, as well as their ability to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide under electrocatalytic conditions. Benzyl alcohol aerobic oxidation was selected as a test reaction of choice to characterize the catalytic properties of the colloidal gold nanoparticles under investigation, in view of the extensive literature available on this topic. Furthermore, practical experience with this reaction and colloidal gold nanoparticles had already been gained in the Catalysis Engineering group, reflected by a previous publication involving dodecylamine-capped gold nanoparticles...