Metallic Strontium as a Precursor of the Al₂O₃/SrCO₃ Xerogels Obtained by the One-Pot Sol-Gel Method

Two series of binary xerogel systems of Sr/Al with molar ratios of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 were synthesized by the sol-gel technique with metallic strontium component as a precursor. The influence of the metallic precursor on the properties of the final xerogel was determined. The properties of the gels were determined on the basis of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), low temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (TEM, SEM, and SEM/EDS). The Al₂O₃/SrCO₃ xerogels were tested as supports for platinum catalysts. Hydrogen chemisorption was used to determine the platinum dispersion of the Pt/Al₂O₃-SrCO₃ systems. The original method of synthesis allows to obtain highly dispersed and stable strontium carbonate phases that allow for obtaining a high (42-50%) dispersion of platinum nanoparticles.