Facile synthesis of supported AuNi and PtNi bimetallic nanomaterials and their enhanced catalytic properties

Bimetallic materials are of great interest in scientific research and applications due to their unique chemical and physical properties. Here, we report a solid strategy to prepare AuNi bimetallic nanoparticles in large spherical cages of ordered mesoporous silica with uniform size distribution (AuxNi/mSiO2). The surface chemical composition and catalytic performance of BMNPs (Bimetallic Nanoparticles) are precisely varied via confined inter-particle hetero-atom migration. The AuxNi/mSiO2 catalyst displayed greatly improved catalytic performance and excellent stability in gas-phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Moreover, the strategy has been successfully extended to the synthesis of PtyNi/mSiO2, which performed higher activity and selectivity compared to the monometallic Pt catalyst in CO oxidation.