Artículos SCI

An easy solvothermal route has been developed to synthesize the first mesoporous Er₂O₃-TiO₂ mixed oxide spherical particles composed of crystalline nanoplatelets, with high surface area and narrow pore size distribution. This synthetic strategy allows the preparation of materials at low temperature with interesting textural properties without the use of surfactants, as well as the control of particle size and shape. TEM and Raman analysis confirm the formation of nanocrystalline Er₂O ₃-TiO₂ mixed oxide. Mesoscopic ordered porosity is reached through the thermal decomposition of organic moieties during the synthetic process, thus leading to a template-free methodology that can be extended to other nanostructured materials. High specific surface areas (up to 313 m ₂g_-1) and narrow pore size distributions are achieved in comparison to the micrometric material synthesized by the traditional sol-gel route. This study opens new perspectives in the development, by solvothermal methodologies, of multifunctional materials for advanced applications by improving the classical pyrochlore properties (magnetization, heat capacity, catalysis, conductivity, etc.). In particular, since catalytic reactions take place on the surface of catalysts, the high surface area of these materials makes them promising candidates for catalysts. Furthermore, their spherical morphology makes them appropriate for advanced technologies in, for instance, ceramic inkjet printers.

This work presents the synthesis of a nanostructured titania support and its subsequent utilization for the gold particles deposition and application in the reaction of the CO oxidation. A functionalized ionic liquid has been used as a templating agent for the titanium oxide synthesis resulting in a high specific surface nanostructured titania anatase. The as prepared support was then used for gold nanoparticles deposition without ionic liquid removal in order to study the possible role of the latter in the stabilization of the gold particles. The presence of ionic liquid in the catalysts results in an unusual catalytic behaviour—strong dependence on the presence of CO and changed kinetics and rate of oxidation.