Methods of preparing metal / metal oxide materials from nanostructured substrates and uses thereof

Abstract

A method can prepare a metal/metal oxide material from a nanostructure. The nanostructure can contain a first metal to form the metal oxide, and a reaction surface with a reducing agent on the reaction surface. A second metal is deposited onto the reaction surface to form a bimetallic product. The bimetallic product is calcined to form the metal/metal oxide material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing a metal/metal oxide material, the method comprising:
 providing a nanostructure, wherein the nanostructure comprises a first metal to form the metal oxide, and a reaction surface with a reducing agent on the reaction surface;   depositing a second metal onto the reaction surface to form a bimetallic product; and   calcining the bimetallic product to form the metal/metal oxide material.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent is an organic reducing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent is formate. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructure is aluminum formate, tin formate, mixed metal formate, cerium formate, doped cerium formate or cerium formate nanospheres. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent is bound to the reaction surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent forms a surface layer on the reaction surface of the nanostructure. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructure is cerium hydroxycarbonate or cerium hydroxycarbonate nanorods. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second metal forms a layer on a surface of the bimetallic product. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein depositing the second metal onto the reaction surface comprises reacting a metal salt of the second metal with the nanostructure, wherein the metal salt comprises the second metal in oxidized form. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the metal salt is in aqueous solution.