Investigation of nanoparticle syntheses and their assembly onto alumina support

This thesis describes decomposition reactions of transition metal complexes such as ferrocene, other ferrocenyl moieties, and bimetallic ruthenim-cobalt complexes into nanoparticles. The decomposition of lanthanide-series complexes into nanoparticles, such as lanthanum oleate, are also described. Nanoparticles from the aforementioned reactions, as well as other cobalt-based nanoparticles, were assembled onto alumina supports in order to investigate and improve nanoparticle dispersion and nanoparticle-support interactions. The effect of support surface modifications on nanoparticle dispersion were also investigated. The behaviour of the nanoparticles on support at elevated temperatures in a reducing environment were consequently investigated.