Nanomaterials have many unique improved properties such as: surface area (Sext), (σ) catalytic performance and electrical conductivity. There are two main approaches to the synthesis of nanomaterials: top-down and bottom-up. Currently, we are studying the controlled synthesis of nanomaterials by the bottom-up soft-template method.

In this specific ternary mixtures, surfactants can be disperse into specific orientations, creating variable dimensional-templates in-between the different ordering limits of liquid crystals and isotropic liquids (Fig. 1). In addition, we can choose whether the solvent inside and outside the surfactant templates will be water or an organic solvent. Hence the TDR can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic, respectively (Fig. 2).

This polymorphism characteristic allows us to tune different synthesis conditions in the reactor to obtain a wide range of nanomaterials with different morphologies.

We were able to synthesize both polystyrene and PEDOT polymers, metal oxides and aluminosilicate nanosheets.
The polystyrene and aluminosilicate were used as precursors in further synthetic paths to obtain heteroatom carbon and zeolite nanosheets, respectively. The heteroatom carbon nanoparticles are being tested in ORR reactions were we have been able to make significant improvements in the overall voltammetry of the reaction. Onset potential was reduced and half-wave potential was improved.
Furthermore, metal oxides nanoparticles were synthesized to improve the catalytic reaction of methane decomposition, increasing both yield of H2 and stability of the catalyst.