N&N group members Xuesong Zhang, Pablo Guardia and Anna Roig published a new paper in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. It introduces a new method to create efficient hydrogen-producing catalysts using gold-platinum (AuPt) nanostructures. This research has been conducted alongside the former N&N member Miquel Torras, as well as the authors from the Catalan Institute for Energy Research (IREC) Jesús Chacón Borrero, Ren He and Andreu Cabot (the latter, also from ICREA).
Abstract: Functional materials with high porosity and hierarchical structures are highly demanded for numerous material applications. In this study a magnetic hybrid material derived from wood and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), was synthesized by microwave-assisted thermal decomposition. This novel in situfunctionalization approach resulted in a homogeneous distribution of the integrated inorganic component within the entire complex wood cell wall structure, which was previously not achieved. In a detailed investigation based on confocal Raman microscopy imaging, transmission electron microscopy, and optical microscopy the precipitated phase and the resulting hybrid structure were characterized. Magnetic measurements revealed the impact of the anisotropic wood scaffold on the integrated magnetic functionality and confirmed the isotropic superparamagnetic characteristics of the in situ precipitated nanoparticles. Therewith, it is clearly demonstrated, that the anisotropic properties of the obtained hybrid material result from the particle organization in the given spruce wood structure and no alteration of particle properties is induced by the presence of the lignocellulosic material.