Zeolite Confined Transition Metal Nanoclusters in Low Temperature Catalysis

Tremendous enhancement in catalytic activity and stability of the transition metal nanoclusters can be achieved by preparing them within the void spaces of zeolites. Zeolite-Y with highly ordered supercages of 1.3 nm size is a suitable host for transition metal(0) nanoclusters. Intrazeolite metal(0) nanoclusters of cobalt, nickel, copper, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium and gold can easily be prepared by a 2-step process at room temperature and used as catalysts for many industrially important reactions including the hydrogenation of olefins and aromatics, hydrogen generation from the hydrogen storage materials, carbon-carbon cross coupling, and oxidation of alcohols.