Abstract: A method to prepare porous medium decorated with nanoparticles involves contacting a suspension of nanoparticles in an ionic liquid with a porous medium such that the particles diffuse into the pores of the medium followed by heating the resulting composition to a temperature equal to or greater than the thermal decomposition temperature of the ionic liquid resulting in the removal of the liquid portion of the suspension. The nanoparticles can be a metal, an alloy, or a metal compound. The resulting compositions can be used as catalysts, sensors, or separators.

Abstract: A method to preparing suspensions of metal or metal alloy nanoparticles in an ionic liquid involves the physical vapor deposition of a metal or a mixture of metals onto an ionic liquid. The method can be modified by the introduction of a reagent during or after formation of the suspension to yield nanoparticles of a metal salt. The nanoparticles can be isolated from the suspension by the thermal decomposition of the ionic liquid under conditions where the decomposition products are gaseous.

Abstract: A method to prepare porous medium decorated with nanoparticles involves contacting a suspension of nanoparticles in an ionic liquid with a porous medium such that the particles diffuse into the pores of the medium followed by heating the resulting composition to a temperature equal to or greater than the thermal decomposition temperature of the ionic liquid resulting in the removal of the liquid portion of the suspension. The nanoparticles can be a metal, an alloy, or a metal compound. The resulting compositions can be used as catalysts, sensors, or separators.