The effects of gold nanoparticles on isobutane oxidation by phosphopolyoxomolybdates and metal oxides

This thesis describes a new approach for the preparation of oxidation catalysts that contain pure gold nanoparticles on their surfaces and within their pore structures. The prepared gold nanoparticles were loaded onto phosphopolyoxomolybdate and metal oxide surfaces and the resulting catalysts were used for the partial and complete oxidation of isobutane. The process involved the initial formation of n-hexanethiol-stabilised gold nanoparticles, followed by addition of a solution of the stabilised gold nanoparticles in n-hexane to the solid catalyst and allowing adsorption to occur. Following this, thermolysis converted the n-hexanethiolate-stabilised gold nanoparticles to pure gold nanoparticles loaded on the catalyst surface by decomposition of the thiolate ligand from the gold nanoparticle surface.