Selective Generation of Multimetallic Catalytic Sites on Silica, Alumina, Titania, and Related Surfaces; Effective Deposition of Metals onto Aerogels, Xerogels, Zeolites, and Other Related Porous Supports

University of Utah Technology Commercialization Office
posted on 03/31/2011

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Invention Description: Metals and metal species are commonly used as catalytic agents in several processes that are of significant commercial interest. Using mixed-metal catalysts can have practical advantages such as higher activities, improved yields etc. The improved catalytic activity is the result of the combined synergistic effects of each of the constituent co-catalysts. Current methods produce randomly distributed metals or metal oxides. As a result, they can suffer from non-selective deposition across the support surface and may not aide in achieving the maximum yield. A method to facilitate deposition of materials on a substrate can be advantageous. This invention relates to targeted deposition of metals on a substrate. It describes a redox-targeting approach for selective delivery of one metal to another via a favorable reaction for producing mixed metal catalysts. This method avoids segregation of metals during processing procedures and leads to selective association of two metal species which can more effectively utilize the metals present.

Market Applications: Generation of more active mixed-metal catalysts aiding in cost control and performance of the final product in the over all process

Formation of conductive surfaces on non-conducting surfaces

Features, Benefit & Advantages:
The targeting and optional oxidation or reduction steps using treatment with selected metal complexes can be repeated in order to achieve a desired loading of each co-catalyst metal and to control the ratio between co-catalysts. This was not possible using the current methods.

Intellectual Property: A patent application (US 7,429,404) is issued for this technology with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Development Stage: This technology is available for licensing under exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Related Research & Publications:
Silica aerogel supported catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, Dunn, Brian C. ; Cole, Paul; Covington, Daniel; Webster, Matthew C.; Pugmire, Ronald J.; Ernst, Richard D.; Eyring, Edward M.; Shah, Naresh; Huffman, Gerald P., Applied Catalysis A: General, v 278, n 2, Jan 10, 2005, p 233-238

Dr. Ernst's web page: http://www.chem.utah.edu/directory/faculty/ernst.html

Dr. Eyring's web page: http://www.chem.utah.edu/directory/faculty/eyring.html

Keywords: Mixed metal catalyst.