Lecture
FRESH Lecture
- Prof. dr. Graham Hutchings (Cardiff University)
- Date
- Thursday 1 February 2018
- Time
- Location
-
Gorlaeus Building
Einsteinweg 55
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- GM4.13
Catalysis using gold-containing nanoparticles
Catalysis is of crucial importance for the manufacture of the goods and infrastructure necessary for the effective wellbeing of society. Catalysis, and in particular selective redox catalysis, continues to play a key role in the manufacture of chemical intermediates and there is a continuing requirement to design new effective redox catalysts. The identification that gold in nanoparticulate form is an exceptionally effective redox catalyst has paved the way for a new class of active catalysts.
Gold is the most active catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide at ambient temperature. It is also the most effective catalyst for the synthesis of vinyl chloride by acetylene hydrochlorination. Gold has recently been commercialized in China for this reaction. The synthesis of active catalysts will be described as well as their characterization. Aspects of the latest research on these topics will be presented.