A sintering-avoiding support

Catalysis Heterogeneous catalysts containing dispersed metal nanoparticles (NPs) on supports such as metal oxides or carbon can undergo sintering at high temperatures, a process in which the diffusion of metal atoms results in larger NPs with smaller surface areas. Chen et al . reduced a melt of NaBH4, NaNH2, and noble metal salts (Au, Pd, and Pt) to form metal NPs encapsulated by hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets. The supported NPs were released by washing away excess salt and could be loaded onto conventional supports such as alumina. The strong interaction of Pd NPs with these nanosheet supports allowed them to resist sintering up to 950°C and enabled their use for CO oxidation in the presence of water and hydrocarbons. ACS Cent. Sci. 6 , 1617 (2020).