Metalic nanoparticles confined in Brazilian smectic clays

• Grant number: 12/11633-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: August 15, 2012
• End date: August 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Rolando Valenzuela Diaz
• Grantee: Francisco Rolando Valenzuela Diaz
• Visiting researcher: Remita Bosi Hynd
• Visiting researcher institution: Laboratoire de Chimie Physique (LCP), France
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Clay minerals are abundant natural materials that can be used in different fields such as catalysis. In particular, smectic clays are attracting increasing attention because they can be used as hosts for preparation of nanoparticle/clay nanocomposites. Clay minerals have a very strong swelling and adsorption capacity. Thanks to these properties, they can be impregnated with metal nanoparticles in their interlamellar space. Nanoparticles of small sizes or of various shapes can be intercalated. Thus, exploring the properties of clay minerals to develop metal/clays composite materials can result in conception of new nanostructured materials with applications in catalysis, electrocatalysis, sensors and optics. The obtained nanocomposites can display new physicochemical properties and have industrial applications. The objectives of the present proposal is to synthesize metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag, Pt, Pd) of controlled size and shape in Brazilian smectic clays (bentonite chocolate clay) by radiolysis. The nucleation/growth process of the nanoparticles in clays will be studied. The physicochemical properties of these new composites will be investigated. These new composites can have applications in catalysis, electrocatalysis (fuel cells), and in the fields of sensors, packages and optics. (AU)