Gold nanoparticles promote the catalytic activity of ceria for the transalkylation of propylene carbonate to dimethyl carbonate

Abstract

A series of metal oxide nanoparticles with acid or basic properties exhibit low to moderate activity towards the transalkylation of propylene carbonate with methanol; deposition of gold nanoparticles on nanoparticulated ceria significantly increases the activity of this metal oxide towards transalkylation.