Hybrid metal/silicon nanocomposite systems and their catalytic activity

In this work we studied the reduction of metal salts and their mixtures on extended hydrogen-terminated porous silicon surfaces. For these experiments we employed salts of Au, Ag, Pt and their mixtures. We show that the size and shape of resulting metal and metal alloy nanoparticles depends on the pore morphology. This has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy measurements and plasmon resonance experiments. Finally we demonstrate catalytic activity of formed Pt nanoparticles in PSi matrix via monitoring the conversion of carbon monoxide.