A novel and simple in-situ reduction route for the synthesis of an ultra-thin metal nanocoating in the channels of mesoporous silica materials

An ultra-thin Pd nanocoating was synthesized in the pore channels of selectively modified mesoporous material SBA-15 by an in-situ reduction process. A signal at around 960 cm^-1 was observed in the SBA-CH₃ spectrum due to the complete removal of the surfactant after surface modification. It was observed that the incorporated Pd occupied a limited space and all of the nanopore channels of the host silica remained open. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD) pattern of Pd-SBA, indicates that the particle size of Pd in the pores of the host silica is in the range of a few nanometers.