Mesoporous Nanocrystalline Mixed Metal Oxides from Heterometallic Alkoxide Precursors: Cobalt–Nickel Oxide Spinels for Propane Oxidation

Uniform nanocrystalline mesoporous mixed cobalt–nickel spinel phases displaying unimodal pores in the 7–12 nm range and relatively high specific surface areas up to 83 m2/g were prepared by a novel low temperature synthesis approach in which the desired metal oxide stoichiometries were introduced on a molecular level by reacting heterometallic alkoxide precursors in the presence of supramolecular liquid crystalline phases. The resultant phases, composed mainly of ca. 8–11 nm uniform cobalt–nickel spinel nanoparticles, were highly promising as low‐temperature hydrocarbon combustion catalysts investigated in a model reaction of propane oxidation. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)