Digitized Honors Theses (2002-2017)

Date of Award

12-2014

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

BS

Department

Chemical Engineering

Faculty Mentor

Christy West

Abstract

Silica aerogels have been the subject of much study and speculation over the past several decades. Researchers strive to discover new applications of silica aerogels, as well as improve existing applications. An application of particular interest is that of catalytic support. New methods of synthesis continue to emerge, as well as modifications to older methods. This research focuses on how the addition of metal ions during the synthesis of a silica aerogel affects its surface characteristics and catalytic activity. Specifically, effects of metal ions on the rate of gelation, surface area, and atomic content of the gel are addressed. This project focuses primarily on the metals cerium and platinum. Cerium ions are good oxygen promoters for oxidation and reduction reactions, and platinum is an active catalyst for hydrogen enrichment reactions. A high dispersion of metal ions on the surface of silica aerogels will enhance their catalytic activity. Silica aerogels have been prepared, aged in ethanol with and without platinum and cerium salts, and dried in supercritical carbon dioxide. The specific surface areas of these gels were all in excess of 538 m2/g, suggesting that the presence of the salts did not adversely affect the formation of the gel network. However, an elemental analysis of these aerogels suggests that the composition is inconsistent throughout. Catalytic property testing using the water-gas shift reaction will be completed to further this research.

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