SnO2 nanoparticles functionalized in amorphous silica and glass

Two different routes to obtain SnO2 nanoparticles, undoped and doped with rare earth metals (Eu or Pr), are described herein. The first route was based on the polymeric precursor method that led to the obtainment of SnO2 nanoparticles dispersed in amorphous silica. The second route was simply the impregnation with SnCl4 aqueous solution of SiO2-CaO glass microparticles functionalized with hydroxyl (-OH) groups. The materials were characterized by N-2 physisorption, XRD, EDS and TEM analyses. We also present the results of catalytic experiments involving the nanocrystalline composites in ethanol steam reforming. The catalytic properties of the undoped composites with SnO2 supported on SiO2-CaO glass differ from their doped analogues, however, they were both selective towards ethylene formation, in contrast to the doped composite obtained by the polymeric precursor method. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved