Fabrication of Metal Nanowires via Replica Casting Using Mesoporous Silica as a Mold and Their Catalytic Application in Hydrogenation

The nanowire type metals as a pure component or alloy of Ni-Co were synthesized by nanocasting method using mesoporous silicas as a mold. The cylinder type mesopore channels of SBA-15 were infiltrated with Ni, Co salt (or mixed salt for alloy) solution, which was then converted to metal oxide during the calcination at 600 degrees C. They were reduced to their corresponding metal by H-2 treatment at 450 degrees C. The connected porous bundles of wire and the separated single metal wire were fabricated in a simple manner after dissolution of silica mold by NaOH solution, and H-2 treatment. The structure of metal nano wires has been confirmed by XRD and TEM analysis. Those metal wires exhibited well developed crystalline phases, and they could be applied as an efficient metal catalyst for the hydrogenation of organic compounds such as benzaldehyde and cyanobenzene.