Synthesis of Nano-engineered Catalysts Consisting of Co3O4 Nanoparticles Confined in Porous SiO2

Abstract

Here we exploit zeolitic imidazolate frameworks ZIF-67 and ZIF-8 as precursors to obtain nanorattle catalysts with Co3O4 nanoparticles confined inside porous SiO2 shells. The method is simple and uses zeolitic imidazolate frameworks as both structural templates and sacrificial precursors. Nanorattle catalysts of different sizes and metal loadings are designed by varying the Co/Zn ratio in the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks. It is possible to obtain different metal loadings by introduction and removal of Zn using evaporation. Moreover, all produced catalysts contained small Co3O4 nanoparticles. Finally, the different catalysts are tested in CO oxidation to demonstrate the effect of variations as a proof of concept. Thus, the use of metal–organic frameworks to control properties in nanorattle catalysts proposes an alternative method for the preparation of novel catalysts and shows a new pathway for synthesis of nanostructured materials.