Preparazione e caratterizzazione di nanocompositi aerogel per applicazioni catalitiche

The research has focused on the synthesis, characterization and catalytic process applications of nanocomposite aerogels, which are materials made out of an active nanophase dispersed in a highly porous matrix. Nanocomposites made of nanoparticles dispersed in a inert matrix have unique properties which mainly depend on composition, size and distribution of the nanoparticles and on morphology and porosity of the matrix. The sol-gel route is a successful technique for the synthesis of highly porous nanocomposite aerogels. Highly porous MFe2O4-SiO2 (M=Co, Ni and Mn) and FeCo(Ni)-SiO2 nanocomposite aerogels were synthesized thanks to the development and optimization of a new two-step sol-gel method followed by supercritical drying1. The samples were characterized by a multitechnique approach through conventional (thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, XRD, TEM, N2-physisorption at 77 K) and advanced (X-ray absorption spectroscopy, XAS) techniques. The FeCo(Ni)-SiO2 nanocomposite aerogels were successfully tested as catalysts for multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) production and for liquid fuels production by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis thanks to the collaboration with the Applied and Environmental Chemistry Department of the Szeged University (Hungary), the Chemistry Departiment of the “La Sapienza” Rome University and the Organic and Industrial Chemistry Departiment of the Parma University. Casula M.F. et al., Langmuir, 2007, 23, 3509-3512