Synthesis of Hierarchical Porous Metals Using Ionic-Liquid-Based Media as Solvent and Template

It was found that nanodomains existed in the ionic liquid (IL)-based ternary system containing IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate (EmimBF4), IL 1-decyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate (DmimNO(3)) and water, and the size distribution of the domains varied continuously with the composition of the solution. A strategy to synthesize hierarchical porous metals using IL-based media as solvent and template is proposed, and the hierarchical porous Ru and Pt metals were prepared by the assembly of metal clusters of about 1.5 nm using this new method. It is demonstrated that the metals have micropores and mesopores, and the size distribution is tuned by controlling the composition of the solution. Porous Ru was used for a series of hydrogenation reactions. It has an outstanding catalytic performance owing to its special morphology and structure.