The effect of the metal particle size on NO2 reduction

BRUNO PASCUCCI; MARÍA M. BRANDA; PATRICIA GABRIELA BELELLI; SOL GUADALUPE OTERO

Montevideo

Congreso; QUITEL 2016, 42 nd International Congress of Theoretical Chemists of Latin Expression; 2016

Universidad de la República

The formation of NO x products is a consequence of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels being these oxides the most dangerous and harmful pollutants in our atmosphere. When NO x are combined with moisture they produce nitric acid, one of the major constituents of the acid rain and photochemical smog in the planet. One way of avoiding their formation is to achieve the reduction of NO x to innocuous products such as N 2 and O 2 . Some recent works [1] have proved that the use of metal nanoparticles significantly enhances the catalytic activity compared to extended surfaces. Moreover, several research groups have concluded that size plays a key role in the catalytic activity of the nanoparticle. In particular, while gold extended surfaces show low reactivity, small Au nanoparticles (1-6 nm) are extremely reactive materials [2].