Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-05-30

Supported Nanoparticles for Catalysis: Genesis and Dynamics in the Liquid Phase

Objective

Supported metal nanoparticles are used as catalysts to accelerate and steer chemical conversions to produce, e.g. transportation fuels, chemicals and medicines. Albeit of eminent importance, supported metal catalysts are almost exclusively synthesized in liquid-phase processes that are often considered ‘an art rather than a science’. Although recent results from our laboratory and others on the fundamentals of catalysts synthesis have led to many new insights, the lack of methodology to investigate directly the formation of supported nanoparticles in the liquid phase hampers progress.
The key objective of this proposal is to image and thereby obtain a detailed understanding of both the genesis (synthesis) and the dynamics (catalysis) of supported metal nanoparticles in the liquid phase with nanometer resolution and in real time. To this end we will combine two recent developments: (1) a liquid-phase in situ cell for use in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with (2) the element specificity of a Chemi-STEM that provides element specific images with nanometer resolution.. In this way we will image in the liquid phase the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles on a support. As support we plan to use materials with ordered porosity that allow imaging of genesis of nanoparticles in liquid confined in nanopores. The key objective of this proposal will be addressed in four projects (1) acquisition and implementation of a liquid-phase cell within a Chemi-STEM which is then used to study (2) ion adsorption of noble metal complexes onto silica and zeolites followed by liquid-phase reduction to form metallic nanoparticles, (3) crystallization of metal nitrates in nanopores of silica and carbon, (4) dynamics of palladium nanoparticles in liquid-phase catalysis.
The new insights will move catalysts synthesis ‘from art to science’ and provide control over the properties of supported nanoparticles to arrive at novel catalysts for sustainable processes.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2013-ADG
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant

Host institution

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
EU contribution
€ 2 500 000,00
Address
HEIDELBERGLAAN 8
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands

See on map

Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0