Silica‐Supported 1st Row Transition Metal (Nano)Catalysts: Synthetic and Catalytic Insight

• Published in: ChemCatChem 2023-06, Vol.15 (11), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Reina, Antonio, Carmona‐Chávez, Rodrigo, Pulido‐Díaz, Israel T., Martínez, Draco, Salas‐Martin, Karla P., Guerrero‐Ríos, Itzel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biomass-derived products; Catalysis; Catalysts; cobalt; Fine chemicals; heterogenized complexes; iron; Nanoparticles; nickel; Noble metals; Pore size; silica-based supports; Silicon dioxide; Surface stability; Transition metals
• ISSN: 1867-3880; 1867-3899
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202300285

The combination of first‐row transition compounds or nanoparticles with silica‐based supports offers a great possibility for catalyst design. In particular, iron, cobalt and nickel‐based materials rise in attention due to their availability, low cost and interesting reactivity, enabling transformations that are not possible with noble metals. Different support strategies exist where mesoporous silica‐based supports are of particular interest due to their morphology and stability. Their high surface area, tunable pore size and volume and both, thermal and chemical stability, are of great interest in terms of catalyst adsorption and reactants diffusion. The state of the art on the catalyzed transformations to attain fine chemicals is nowadays explored from a sustainable point of view. However, up to now, it is difficult to predict or understand the key features in silica supported first‐row transition metals‐based catalyst, despite the fact that there are widely applied. The rational tailoring of nanosized materials immobilized on silica‐based supports and their application in catalysis requires to be reviewed. Non‐Precious Metal Catalysts: Silica‐supported 1st row transition metal catalysts are suitable materials for the formation of fine chemicals including the valorization of biomass derivatives. The synergy between support and metal (nano)catalyst allows to obtain materials with adequate morphology, stability and interesting reactivity, at low costs. Herein, the rational design and tuning of those materials and their applications in biomass transformations are reviewed.