The Synthesis of Novel Multifunctional Metal Clusters, Complexes and Colloids
The important structural feature of chemical nanoparticle precursors is a preformed metal core of exact (clusters and complexes) or well-defined (colloids) dimensions, allowing control of the resulting nanoparticle size. Such nanoparticle precursors are made in solution, utilizing a wide range of techniques that allow a good degree of control over important features of the product. Deposition of such pre-synthesized nanoparticles onto various solid supports from solution offers immense advantages over alternative methods in producing uniform nanoparticle layers and patterns and also for covering complex 3-D surfaces.
Colloids
Focus:
- Production of highly purified and stable nano-sized metal colloids, such as mixed-metal colloid systems involving a “noble” metal (Pd, Pt, Ru) and another element.
- Au-based and mixed metal Au containing colloids of various sizes.
Polynuclear Metal Clusters and Complexes
Focus:
- Design and synthesis of polynuclear clusters and complexes with controlled chemical composition and properties of the ligand shell periphery;
- Exploration of the effective methodologies for anchoring such clusters and complexes onto various surfaces.
Support-assisted Cluster Synthesis
Focus:
- The rich surface chemistry of porous materials with controlled composition and pore size makes them a unique reaction medium for cluster synthesis. An additional benefit here is that the product cluster is already pre-supported.
Catalytic Studies
Focus:
- Nanoparticle-based catalysts fabricated using chemically pre-synthesised nanoparticle precursors immobilized on porous supports (bulk and micro-structured films for micro-channel reactors) in a controlled fashion will be tested in a range of industrially important reactions extending recent success with hydrogenation and epoxidation reactions. The systematic study of the catalyst and its activity and selectivity will be carried out in light of the structure of such catalysts.
- Gold nanoparticles as key elements of heterogeneous catalysts: Inspired by our recent success with catalyzing selective oxidation using very small gold nanoparticles (Nature 454, 981-983 21 August 2008) this theme will be expanded into wider and systematic study of gold-containing catalysts for industrially relevant processes. Expressions of interest in research projects in this area are welcome.
Nanotechnology applications
Control and structure-property relationships.
Focus:
- Fabrication of carbon nanotubes and nanofibres (CNTs and CNFs) and other materials, such as ZnO, by using metal nanoparticles of well-defined size and composition as catalysts.
- I hope to develop an insight into the control of particle sintering, which will enable elucidation of relationships between chemical structure, size, composition and properties of the nanoparticle precursors and the performance of the resulting nanoparticles as catalysts.
The fabrication of nano-structured materials using metal nanoparticles.
Focus:
- To investigate the controlled thermal and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of CNTs and other materials on various substrates, including 3-D matrices (fibres, wires, porous materials) and thermally sensitive materials (membranes, polymers) using the above-mentioned chemical nanoparticle precursors as catalysts.
Fabrication of patterned arrays over large surface areas.
Focus:
- To develop catalyst-patterning techniques and optimise growth conditions for the fabrication of arbitrary arrays of nanotubes and other materials for use in Nano-Bio and Engineering applications. Here, chemical modification of the produced nanostructured arrays could be essential for the development of working prototypes.