CataLysis – Joint Colloquium: Prof. Silvia Gross
We are very happy to welcome within the Joint Online Colloquium Series of the CataLysis network:
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Padova, Italy
“Exploring the Chemical Parameters Space for the Low Temperature Sustainable and Rational Synthesis of Crystalline Inorganic Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Conversion”
The CataLysis Network cordially invites all who are interested to the lecture.
The link to the video conference will be circulated within the CataLysis Network via E-Mail.
Abstract
The possibility to orient and steer the chemico-physical and structural evolution of inorganic nanomaterials by tuning the experimental conditions of the synthesis is currently a major endeavour in the field of inorganic synthesis chemistry. In this framework, the resort to unconventional synthesis conditions discloses exciting perspectives in orienting, inter alia, the morphogenesis and the final structure of the crystalline materials. Analogously, the paradigms of green and sustainable chemistry are currently catalysing sharply growing interest in all fields of chemistry. In particular inorganic chemistry represents an exciting playground for the design and optimization of sustainable routes and the implementation of green chemistry paradigms to inorganic chemistry represents one of most bewitching developments.
In this framework, in these last years, in our group we have explored different low temperature (T< 150°C) and sustainable wet chemistry and colloidal routes, namely i. hydrothermal routes, ii. miniemulsion, iii. microfluidic synthesis and iv. combination thereof, to prepare different inorganic functional nanomaterials for heterogeneous catalysis and energy conversion in crystalline form, by exploiting the unconventional experimental conditions disclosed by the different methods, i.e. non standard temperature and pressure in the former case, the confined space inside the miniemulsion-generated droplets or in microchannels in the latter ones. The obtained materials ranged from ferrites [1] and manganites [2], to pure and doped metal oxides, sulphides, and halogenides, to metal/metal oxide nanocomposites, to supported metal nanoparticles. The adopted wet chemistry routes ranged from 1) miniemulsions [3] to 2) coprecipitation combined with hydrothermal route to 3) microfluidic [4] and 4) classical colloidal routes. Exciting results could be achieved by the combination of the above mentioned routes [5] and by a systematic exploration of the broad parameters landscape. The structural evolution as a function of time and temperature has been also followed by using different analytical methods. In view of a more sustainable approach to materials synthesis, the synthetic efforts have been supported by Design of Experiments approaches [6]. This contribution provides an overview of the pros and cons of the proposed routes for the obtainment of targeted inorganic colloids, also outlining as the role of a combination of analytical tools can unravel the complex interplay among experimental parameters and microstructure of the materials.
- S. Diodati, S. Gross et al. Nano Res., 2014, 7, 1027-10422
- A. Minelli, S. Gross et al. J. Mater Chem C, 2017, 5, 3359-3371
- P. Dolcet, S. Gross et al. J Mater Chem, 2012, 22, 1620-1626
- Tajoli F. et al. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2020, 12, 44074
- A. Antonello, S. Gross et al. Chem Mater, 2017, 29, 985-997
- C. Mazzariol, L. Salmaso, S. Gross et al. Sustainable Chemistry, 2022, 3(1), 114-130