NANOREACTORS IN CATALYSIS
Simakov A.
Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México (CNyN-UNAM), Ensenada, B.C., 22860, México.
One of the most ambitious targets in catalyst preparation is to design and produce catalysts with well defined catalytic properties through the development of multi-site catalysts involving single isolated sites for the different desired catalytic activities. Considerable efforts have been devoted to the fabrication of nanomaterials with well-defined morphologies for specific applications. This is the case of nanocapsules, that simultaneously provide the advantages of hollow and porous systems. Particular interest in the performance of chemical reactions in these confined environments has led to catalyst-containing hollow nanocapsules, so that a diffusional product/substrate exchange between the inner cavity and the bulk solution takes place in an efficient way. Thus, the design and synthesis of hollow/yolk-shell mesoporous structures (nanoreactors) with catalytically active ordered mesoporous shells can infuse new vitality into the applications of these attractive structures. The nanoreactor is the “confined space of nano level” where catalytic process including transport of reactants, reaction and transport of products could be performed. The nanoreactors are characterized with some nanoscale advantages common for nanoscale materials such as elevated surface/volume ratio, unique electronic properties, huge amount of low-coordinated sites and high homogeneity.
The current presentation is dedicated to the classification of the nanoreactors, methods of their fabrication and catalytic applications important for environmental protection and the processing of bio-renewables.
Summary of academic career
Andrey Simakov is a Faculty professor of the Nanocatalysis Department at ‘Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México’. He received his PhD in Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis from Boreskov Institute of Catalysis (Novosibirsk, Russia) in 1991. He is author of 5 patents and published more than 70 articles (cited more than 1000 times) dedicated to the study of the mechanistic aspects of the various heterogeneous catalytic reactions, important both for environmental protection and processing of bio-renewables, and biotechnological applications of structured materials as well. He is a member of SNI Mexico (III). His present scientific activities are dedicated to the development of new nanostructured materials with enhanced catalytic properties and a kinetic study of the heterogeneous catalysts with application of advanced experimental techniques in situ and operando. During last few years he focused on the design and characterization of nanomaterials based on the noble metals supported on different nanostructures such as nanotube, nanorods, nanozeolites and encapsulated into hallow nanospheres (nanoreactors).