CATALYTIC MATERIALS BY DESIGN

Recent activities of our group in the design of catalytic materials ar e briefly surveyed. Special attention is given to sol-gel-derived mixe d oxide aerogels and organic-inorganic hybrid gels, and to supported n oble metals with controlled particle size. Examples discussed embrace: organically modified titania-silica aerogels for the epoxidation of b ulky olefins, Ru-containing silica hybrid gels for the synthesis of fo rmic-acid derivatives, and colloid-derived supported gold catalysts wi th controlled metal particle size.