[Ru(0)]@SiO₂ and [RuO₂]@SiO₂ Hybrid Nanomaterials: From Their Synthesis to Their Application as Catalytic Filters for Gas Sensors

Abstract [Ru(0)]@SiO 2 and [RuO 2 ]@SiO 2 hybrid nanomaterials are produced following a facile method consisting of the synthesis of size‐controlled ruthenium nanoparticles as elemental bricks. This route takes advantage of the organometallic approach and the use of a bifunctional ligand for the synthesis of ruthenium nanoparticles from [Ru(COD)(COT)](COD = 1,3‐cyclooctadiene, COT = 1,3,5‐cyclooctatriene) as metal precursor and (PhCH 2 ) 2 N(CH 2 ) 11 O(CH 2 ) 3 Si(OEt) 3 (benzenemethanamine) as stabilizer. Hydrolysis and polycondensation steps via a sol–gel approach lead to the formation of the silica materials containing the metal nanoparticles. A final calcination step in air at 400 °C yields the [RuO 2 ]@SiO 2 nanocomposites. Such hybrid nanomaterials display a good dispersion of the nanoparticles inside the silica matrix and interesting porosity properties making them attractive materials for catalytic applications. This is shown by using [RuO 2 ]@SiO 2 hybrid nanomaterials as catalytic filters for gas sensors.