Nano-Confinement Effects in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Datta, Abheek (2016) Nano-Confinement Effects in Heterogeneous Catalysis. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

PDF (PhD thesis of Abheek Datta (10RS011)) 10RS_011_Abheek_Datta_Thesis.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (13MB)

Abstract

The preset work started with a discussion bout the general ideas about nanoscience and nanotechnology and their common applications in various fields in the first chapter. The synthesis techniques of functional nanomaterials especially catalyst materials and substrate scopes are described. Thereafter the basic materials which are used to prepare catalysts studied for this thesis i.e. Pd nanoparrticles (NPs), SiO2 and carbon are discussed in detail. In chapter 2 the synthesis and application of Pd-SiO2 microcubes towards heterogeneous Suzuki-Miyaura C-C coupling are discussed. In chapter 3 the effect of total confinement on the catalytic activity of Pd NPs towards methanol electrooxidation (MeOx) is discussed. In chapter 4 the activity of metal-free catalysts in MeOx reaction is discussed especially the effect of N and S doping in porous elemental carbon and its impact on the catalytic activity. In chapter 5 the synthesis and electrochemical application of metal free carbon dots (Cdots) are discussed. The C-dots with an anti-oxidant molecule 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural (5- HMF) trapped inside them act exceptionally well as heterogeneous catalysts towards electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In chapter 6 synthesis of a composite of Pd NPs and carbon nanowhiskers (CNWs) and their employment towards the electrochemical reduction of CO2 is discussed. The effect of confinement on the activity of this catalyst towards the same reaction is also examined and discussed. Overall it is well manifested that using confinement approach for making novel catalysts, significant outcomes in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis can be achieved. The activity of these new generation materials can be controlled by one or all of the following strategies i.e. housing the NPs in the selective location, exclusive confinement of the metal NPs, heteroatom doping in metal free carbon, entrapment of active molecules inside nanostructures, combination of catalytic activity of metal and metal-free substrates. There is a huge possibility for the strategically prepared potential catalysts to take the performance of the heterogeneous catalyst to the next level.

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