The production of ultra clean coal by chemical demineralisation

Abstract

Core-shell templates containing an encapsulated Au nanoparticle in a mesoporous silica ([email protected]2) or nonporous silica ([email protected]2) shell structure were made. The silicas were then covered with carbon by CVD using toluene and the silica was removed using HF. [email protected] and [email protected] were both characterized by PXRD, HRTEM, TGA, BET and ICP-OES. The [email protected] yolk–shell composite exhibited excellent catalytic activity and reusability (10 cycles) for the reduction of p-nitrophenol with conversion of up to 97% in 8 min. Heat treatment of [email protected] at 800 °C/4 h/N2 did not alter the morphology or the catalytic activity significantly.