Gold Nanorods, Stabilized by a Mesoporous Silica Layer Used as Catalyst for the Selective Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde

Gold nanorods are used as a model system to investigate the stability during heat treatments and catalytic reactions. By directly coating the gold nanorods with a mesoporous silica layer, the metallic nanoparticles are stabilized during thermal treatments and catalytic reactions while being accessible for reactants.