Formation mechanism of highly dispersed semi-embedded ruthenium nanoparticles in porous carbon matrix determined by in situ temperature-programmed infrared spectroscopy

The carbonization process of a sucrose-RuCl3/SBA-15 composite towards a Ru-containing ordered mesoporous carbon (Ru-OMC) catalyst was studied by in situ temperature-programmed infrared spectroscopy to identify the stabilization role of organic carbon precursors during the formation of highly dispersed Ru nanoparticles. The results show that the formation of metal carbonyl species results in the formation of homogeneously distributed Ru nanoparticles, and the rigid silica support and carbon matrix around the Ru(CO)x complex can significantly avoid the sintering and agglomeration of Ru metal particles during elevated temperature thermal treatment. These results ultimately demonstrate that sucrose plays important roles in the formation of homogeneously distributed Ru nanoparticles in a porous carbon matrix.