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 m(2)/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. (c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.