Patent ID: 7449423
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: B01J,B82Y,C10G

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a supported catalyst, comprising: (i) providing a source of catalyst atoms; (ii) providing a dispersing agent comprising a plurality of organic molecules that have at least one functional group capable of binding to the catalyst atoms; (iii) reacting the dispersing agent with the catalyst atoms in the presence of a solvent to form a catalyst complex in the form of a solution, colloid and/or suspension within the solvent; (iv) applying the catalyst complex together with the solvent or a later-added solvent to a support to yield an intermediate catalyst composition in which at least a portion of the plurality of catalyst atoms are in a non-zero oxidation state; and (v) heat treating the intermediate catalyst composition at a temperature of at least about 50° C. in an inert or oxidizing environment in order to maintain at least a portion of the catalyst atoms in the non-zero oxidation state, the method yielding the supported catalyst in which a plurality of nanocatalyst particles having a size less than about 100 nm are anchored to the support material.