Synthesis of new RuO2@SiO2 composite nanomaterials and their application as catalytic filters for selective detection of gas sensors

RuO2@SiO2 nanomaterials have been prepared using hybrid mesostructured silica (EtO)2P(O)(CH2)3SiO1.5/xSiO2 (x = 9, 16) by anchoring the metal precursor Ru(COD)(COT) (COD = 1, 3-cyclooctadiene, COT = 1, 3, 5-cyclooctatriene) within the pores of the organized silica matrix taking profit of the phosphonate moieties followed by i) decomposition under dihydrogen at room temperature in THF to achieve ruthenium nanoparticles containing materials and ii) a solid state thermal treatment at 450°C under air. The so-obtained RuO2@SiO2 nanomaterials were evaluated as catalytic filters when deposited onto gas sensors for the preferential detection of propane in a multicomponent gas mixture propane/carbon monoxide/nitrogen dioxide. The Ru and RuO2 nanoparticles containing materials have been characterised by elemental analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption measurements and 31P and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).