Nano Express
Fabrication of a form- and size-variable microcellular-polymer-stabilized metal nanocomposite using supercritical foaming and impregnation for catalytic hydrogenation
Author affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, National DongHwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
2 Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Tao-Yuan, 32023, Taiwan
3 Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Feng Chia University, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan
Citation and License
Nanoscale Research Letters 2012, 7:283 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-283
Published: 31 May 2012Abstract
This article presents the fabrication of size-controllable and shape-flexible microcellular high-density polyethylene-stabilized palladium nanoparticles (Pd/m-HDPE) using supercritical foaming, followed by supercritical impregnation. These nanomaterials are investigated for use as heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts of biphenyls in supercritical carbon dioxide with no significant surface and inner mass transfer resistance. The morphology of the Pd/m-HDPE is examined using scanning electron microscopy images of the pores inside Pd/m-HDPE catalysts and transmission electron microscopy images of the Pd particles confined in an HDPE structure. This nanocomposite simplifies industrial design and operation. These Pd/m-HDPE catalysts can be recycled easily and reused without complex recovery and cleaning procedures.
