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Multimetallic Nanoshells for the Monitoring and Manipulation of Chemical Reactions

Detailed Technology Description

Multimetallic Nanoshells for Monitoring Catalytic Reactions

*Abstract

Challenge

Characterization of chemical reactions taking place at the surface of platinum group metals is of great important to the chemical industry. Existing methods either suffer from limitations imposed by reaction conditions or require expensive equipment and long analysis times.

Solution

This invention provides new sensors based on multimetallic nanoshell technology, which improve the ability to analyze chemical reactions on a surface and which potentially lead to light-driven chemical reactions. It has been demonstrated that these multilayer nanoshells can be used to monitor water purity by tracking the chemical reactions involved in the palladium-catalyzed degradation of chlorinated pollutants at room temperature.

Benefits

• High sensitivity (108 fold enhancement) 
• Surface-selective (Any chemical that binds to or reacts with the outer metallic layer of the nanoshells can be monitored.)
• Easy to implement
• Rapid-analysis

Features 

• Catalytically-active surface metal can be varied
• Simple synthesis of multimetallic nanoshells
• Can be used with any surface enhanced spectroscopic method
• Tunable optical resonance 
• Compatible with aqueous media

Market Potential / Applications 

• In-line monitoring of chemical reactions (catalyzed by Pt group metals)
• Monitoring the catalytic removal of trichloroethylenes and other chlorinated pollutants during ground-water remediation

Developments and licensing Status

A PCT patent application (WO 2009/061972) has been filed. This technology is available for license on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis from Rice University.

Rice Researcher

Dr. Michael Wong holds joint appointments as Associate Professor in both Rice University's Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Departments. He is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes for his work in the field of nanomaterials including the 2006 AIChE Young Investigator's Award, MIT Technology Review's TR35 Young Innovator Award, Rice's Hershel M. Rich Invention Award , and the 3M Non-tenured Faculty Award.

Dr. Naomi Halas is the Stanley C. Moore Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy at Rice. She also serves as the Director of the Rice University Laboratory for Nanophotonics. She was named a National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellow by the Department of Defense and is a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Kimberly Heck was a graduate student in the laboratory of Prof. Wong and earned her PhD from Rice in 2009. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at TAMU.

Technology Relevant Papers and Web Links

K. Heck, B. Janesco, G. Scuseria, N. Halas, and M. Wong, Observing Metal-Catalyzed Chemical Reactions in Situ Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy on Pd-Au Nanoshells, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130(49), 16592-16600 (2008)

M. A. Wong, P. Alvarez, Y. Fang, N Akcin, M Nutt, J. Miller, and K. Heck, Cleaner Water Using Bimetallic Nanoparticle Catalysts, J. Chem. Tech. & Biotech, 84, 158-166 (2009)

Wong web-site: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~che/people/faculty/wong/wong.html

Halas web-site: http://www.ece.rice.edu/people/faculty/halas

Inquiries to: Luba Pacala at lpacala@rice.edu or 713.348.5590

Country/Region

USA