HIGHLY ANISOTROPIC DISTRIBUTION OF IRON NANOPARTICLES WITHIN MCM-41 MESOPOROUS SILICA

M.S.MORENO, M.WEYLAND, P.A.MIDGLEY, J.F.BENGOA, M.V.CAGNOLI, N.G.GALLEGOS, A.M.ALVAREZ AND S.G.MARCHETTI

MICRON

Elsevier

Año: 2006 vol. 37 p. 52 - 56

0968-4328

Electron microscopy techniques are used to visualize the spatial distribution of iron nanoparticles inside a mesoporous MCM-41 molecular sieve. Direct observation of the iron oxide nanoparticles by STEM-HAADF imaging reveals a highly non-uniform spatial distribution inside the mesopores. These particles are retained in the pores after a reduction treatment unlike the behavior found in other similar systems. It is found that thermal treatments induce changes in its morphology, creating nanowires from particle strings. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: STEM-HAADF; Mesoporous materials; Catalysis; Fe/MCM-41; Iron oxide nanoparticles