Catalytic Activity of Hybrid Metal/Silicon and Metal/Silicon Dioxide Nanocomposites

Abstract

Here we demonstrate that H-terminated porous silicon (PSi) powders and layers can be utilized as highly efficient reductive templates for noble metal salts. The metal salt reduction results in a metal nanoparticle (NP) formation in the porous matrix of PSi. Gold NP formation has been monitored in-situ by measuring the plasmon resonance response. Pt NPs, formed in the pores of PSi, were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Furthermore, hybrid Pt/PSi nanocomposites exhibit a high catalytic activity for CO oxidation. Some of the samples were oxidized to obtain Pt/PSiOx nanocomposites for comparison of catalytic activity.