Hybrid Mesoporous Silica/Noble-Metal Nanoparticle Materials—Synthesis and Catalytic Applications

Due to the uniform and stable pore structure, mesoporous silica has attracted increasing research attention as a catalyst support material. As a large family of mesoporous silica-supported materials, noble-metal nanoparticles supported on mesoporous silica catalysts have demonstrated desirable properties across a broad platform of reactions. In this review article, we first introduce systems of metal nanoparticles dispersed on mesoporous silica, and then, we focus on next generation systems, in which the noble metal is not supported on the mesoporous silica but rather entrapped/intercalated within the silica matrix, thus enhancing particle stability and in some cases, enhanced activity. Herein, research and future directions on both synthesizing hybrid noble-metal nanoparticles/mesoporous silica composite catalysts and their resultant properties will be discussed.