Preparation and Characterization of Pt, Pd, Co and Pd-Co Metal Nanoparticles Uniformly Dispersed and Stabilized in Organically Modified Silicates via a Sol-Gel Process

Platinum, palladium, cobalt, and palladium-cobalt (Pd-Co) metal nanoparticles were individually dispersed and stabilized within organically modified silicates (ORMOSILs) using a sol–gel process. The silicate matrix was formed through the polymerization of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), effectively encapsulating the metal particles. In situ reduction of the corresponding metal ions resulted in varied enriched surface morphologies and compositions, depending on the specific metal nanoparticles incorporated. The prepared materials were comparatively characterized by FTIR, TEM, SEM, and XPS techniques.