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Updated: May 7, 2026

Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Gold Intercalated in the Walls of Mesoporous Silica
Published on: July 9, 2015
The sol-gel entrapment of noble metals in hybrid silicas: a molecular insight
Alexandra Fidalgo1, Rosaria Ciriminna, Luís Lopes
1Centro de Química-Física Molecular and IN - Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Complexo I, Av, Rovisco Pais 1, Lisboa 1049-001, Portugal. lilharco@ist.utl.pt.
Background:
Why are metal nanoparticles sol-gel entrapped in ORMOSIL so active and stable? In other words, why ORMOSIL-entrapped metal nanoparticles are more active and selective than many heterogenized counterparts, including silica-entrapped noble metals?
Results:
Unveiling specific interactions between MNPs and the molecular structure of ORMOSIL, this work investigates subtle structural aspects through DRIFT spectroscopy.
Conclusions:
The results point to interactions between entrapped Pd and Pt nanocrystallites with the organosilica sol-gel cages similar to those taking place in enzymes.

