Weighing materials for synthesis preparation
Author: Jonathan Batey | Major: Chemistry | Semester: Summer 2024
My project aims to apply a mesoporous silica coating to individual gold nanocages. Gold nanocages have tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) which makes them extremely useful in catalytic applications. By coating the gold nanocage with a mesoporous silica shell we can stabilize the gold nanocages with the silica coating while allowing for small molecules to penetrate through the mesoporous channels to interact with the surface of the gold nanocages. If we can stabilize the gold nanocages and allow them to keep their catalytic ability, then we can apply this coating to the 3d transition metals. The 3d transition metals are of interest because they are more cost effective than noble metals, however they are much less stable. So, if we can stabilize gold nanocages we can apply this coating to the 3d transition metals in an effort to stabilize them and allow for surface catalysis.
When I first looked for a mentor, I was interested in physical chemistry. So, I looked at the different chemistry faculty members that were physical chemists and looked at their website and some of their published papers. From there I decided which ones dealt with projects that sounded interesting and found that I was interested in the work Dr. Chen was doing. So, I reached out to her and met with her in person, and she said she would love to have me in her group. Dr. Chen previously developed a rather straightforward way of synthesizing gold nanocages and I was trained in that synthesis. After getting comfortable synthesizing gold nanocages she expressed her interest in applying a silica coating to the cages and we decided this would be my project moving forward.
To accomplish my goal, I looked at previously published papers dealing with silica coatings. Reading literature took me some time to get used to because of the way the papers are organized and the jargon that is used. However, it did not take long until I was comfortable getting the information I needed. After reading and learning from previously reported synthesizes, I had to adjust earlier findings to coat gold nanocages which took some patience and perseverance. Many times, I ended up destroying the particles which required me to learn every aspect of the silica formation and etching mechanisms so that I could adjust and carry out my goal. Dr. Chen helped to explain different mechanisms and suggest ideas on how to move forward. She also taught me a lot about different techniques and instruments so that I could conduct my experiments. I also received aid in a similar manner from Deborah Okyere, Sarah York, and Ghazaleh Salmanian who are graduate students in the Chen group. Eventually, after many errors, I was successful in coating individual gold nanocages with a mesoporous silica shell.
To move forward I will use a model reaction, nitrophenol reduction, to see the effect the silica coating had on the catalytic ability of the gold nanocages. If the coating allowed the gold nanocages to retain or even improve their catalytic ability, then I will move on to the next part of my project. I will apply the developed silica coating procedure to copper nanoparticles to see if the synthesis will need adjustment and if the coating can stabilize the particles while allowing them to maintain their catalytic ability.