Ordered mesoporous and microporous molecular sieves functionalized with transition metal complexes as catalysts for selective organic transformations

Surface Chemical Engineering of a Metal 3D-Printed Flow Reactor Using a Metal-Organic Framework for Liquid-Phase Catalytic H2 Production from Hydrogen Storage Materials

The accurate positioning of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on the surface of other materials has opened up new possibilities for the development of multifunctional devices. We propose here a postfunctionalization approach for three-dimensional (3D)-printed metallic catalytic flow reactors based on MOFs. The Cu-based reactors were immersed into an acid solution containing an organic linker for the synthesis of MOFs, where Cu2+ ions dissolved in situ were assembled to form MOF crystals on the surface of the reactor. The resultant MOF layer served as a promising interface that enabled the deposition of catalytically active metal nanoparticles (NPs). It also acted as an efficient platform to provide carbonous layers via simple pyrolysis under inert gas conditions, which further enabled functionalization with organic modifiers and metal NPs. Cylindrical-shaped catalytic flow reactors with four different cell densities were used to investigate the effect of the structure of the reactors on the catalytic production of H2 from a liquid-phase hydrogen storage material. The activity increased with an increasing internal surface area but decreased in the reactor with the smallest cell size despite its high internal surface area. The results of fluid dynamics studies indicated that the effect of pressure loss becomes more pronounced as the pore size decreases.

Methane Oxidation to Methanol

The direct transformation of methane to methanol remains a significant challenge for operation at a larger scale. Central to this challenge is the low reactivity of methane at conditions that can facilitate product recovery. This review discusses the issue through examination of several promising routes to methanol and an evaluation of performance targets that are required to develop the process at scale. We explore the methods currently used, the emergence of active heterogeneous catalysts and their design and reaction mechanisms and provide a critical perspective on future operation. Initial experiments are discussed where identification of gas phase radical chemistry limited further development by this approach. Subsequently, a new class of catalytic materials based on natural systems such as iron or copper containing zeolites were explored at milder conditions. The key issues of these technologies are low methane conversion and often significant overoxidation of products. Despite this, interest remains high in this reaction and the wider appeal of an effective route to key products from C-H activation, particularly with the need to transition to net carbon zero with new routes from renewable methane sources is exciting.

Role and Effect of Meso-Structuring Surfactants on Properties and Formation Mechanism of Microfluidic-Enabled Mesoporous Silica Microspheres

We have shown in a previous work that the combination of the emulsion solvent evaporation technique and droplet-based microfluidics allows for the synthesis of well-defined monodisperse mesoporous silica microcapsules (hollow microspheres), whose size, shape and composition may be finely and easily controlled. In this study, we focus on the crucial role played by the popular Pluronic^® P123 surfactant, used for controlling the mesoporosity of synthesised silica microparticles. We show in particular, that although both types of initial precursor droplets, prepared with and without P123 meso-structuring agent, namely P123⁺ and P123^- droplets, have a similar diameter (≃30 μm) and a similar TEOS silica precursor concentration (0.34 M), the resulting microparticles exhibit two noticeably different sizes and mass densities. Namely, 10 μm and 0.55 g/cm³ for P123⁺ microparticles, and 5.2 μm and 1.4 g/cm³ for P123^- microparticles. To explain such differences, we used optical and scanning electron microscopies, small-angle X-ray diffraction and BET measurements to analyse structural properties of both types of microparticles and show that in the absence of Pluronic molecules, P123^- microdroplets divide during their condensation process, on average, into three smaller droplets before condensing into silica solid microspheres with a smaller size and a higher mass density than those obtained in the presence of P123 surfactant molecules. Based on these results and on condensation kinetics analysis, we also propose an original mechanism for the formation of silica microspheres in the presence and in the absence of the meso-structuring and pore-forming P123 molecules.

Advanced zeolite and ordered mesoporous silica-based catalysts for the conversion of CO2 to chemicals and fuels

For many years, capturing, storing or sequestering CO₂ from concentrated emission sources or from air has been a powerful technique for reducing atmospheric CO₂. Moreover, the use of CO₂ as a C1 building block to mitigate CO₂ emissions and, at the same time, produce sustainable chemicals or fuels is a challenging and promising alternative to meet global demand for chemicals and energy. Hence, the chemical incorporation and conversion of CO₂ into valuable chemicals has received much attention in the last decade, since CO₂ is an abundant, inexpensive, nontoxic, nonflammable, and renewable one-carbon building block. Nevertheless, CO₂ is the most oxidized form of carbon, thermodynamically the most stable form and kinetically inert. Consequently, the chemical conversion of CO₂ requires highly reactive, rich-energy substrates, highly stable products to be formed or harder reaction conditions. The use of catalysts constitutes an important tool in the development of sustainable chemistry, since catalysts increase the rate of the reaction without modifying the overall standard Gibbs energy in the reaction. Therefore, special attention has been paid to catalysis, and in particular to heterogeneous catalysis because of its environmentally friendly and recyclable nature attributed to simple separation and recovery, as well as its applicability to continuous reactor operations. Focusing on heterogeneous catalysts, we decided to center on zeolite and ordered mesoporous materials due to their high thermal and chemical stability and versatility, which make them good candidates for the design and development of catalysts for CO₂ conversion. In the present review, we analyze the state of the art in the last 25 years and the potential opportunities for using zeolite and OMS (ordered mesoporous silica) based materials to convert CO₂ into valuable chemicals essential for our daily lives and fuels, and to pave the way towards reducing carbon footprint. In this review, we have compiled, to the best of our knowledge, the different reactions involving catalysts based on zeolites and OMS to convert CO₂ into cyclic and dialkyl carbonates, acyclic carbamates, 2-oxazolidones, carboxylic acids, methanol, dimethylether, methane, higher alcohols (C₂₊OH), C₂₊ (gasoline, olefins and aromatics), syngas (RWGS, dry reforming of methane and alcohols), olefins (oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes) and simple fuels by photoreduction. The use of advanced zeolite and OMS-based materials, and the development of new processes and technologies should provide a new impulse to boost the conversion of CO₂ into chemicals and fuels.

Nanostructured silicate catalysts for environmentally benign Strecker-type reactions: status quo and quo vadis

Chemical processes are usually catalytic transformations. The use of catalytic reagents can reduce the reaction temperature, decrease reagent-based waste, and enhance the selectivity of a reaction potentially avoiding unwanted side reactions leading to green technology. Chemical processes are also frequently based on multicomponent reactions (MCRs) that possess evident improvements over multistep processes. Both MCRs and catalysis tools are the most valuable principles of green chemistry. Among diverse MCRs, the three-component Strecker reaction (S-3-CR) is a particular transformation conducive to the formation of valuable bifunctional building blocks (α-amino nitriles) in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, drug research, and organic materials science. To be a practical synthetic tool, the S-3-CR must be achieved using alternative energy input systems, safe reaction media, and effective catalysts. These latter reagents are now deeply associated with nanoscience and nanocatalysis. Continuously developed, nanostructured silicate catalysts symbolize green pathways in our quest to attain sustainability. Studying and developing nanocatalyzed S-3-CR condensations as an important model will be suitable for achieving the current green mission. This critical review aims to highlight the advances in the development of nanostructured catalysts for technologically important Strecker-type reactions and to analyze this progress from the viewpoint of green and sustainable chemistry.

Catalytic applications of graphene oxide towards the synthesis of bioactive scaffolds through the formation of carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds

During the past several decades, metal-based catalysis is one of the major and direct approaches for the synthesis of organic molecules. Nowadays, materials containing predominantly carbon element which are termed as carbocatalysts, become the most promising area of research to replace transition metal catalysts. In this context of carbocatalysis, the use of graphene oxide (GO) and GO-based materials are under spotlight due to their sustainability, environmental benignity and large scale-availability. The presence of oxygen containing functional groups in GO makes it benign oxidant and slightly acidic catalyst. This chapter provides a broad discussion on graphene oxide (GO) as well as its preparation, properties and vast area of application. The catalytic activity of GO has been explored in different organic transformations and it has been recognized as an oxidation catalyst for various organic reactions.

Enantioselective Allylic C-H Bond Oxidation of Olefins Using Copper Complexes of Chiral Oxazoline Based Ligands

This review article discusses historical and contemporary research studies of asymmetric allylic oxidation of olefins using homogeneous and heterogeneous copper complexes of various kinds of oxazoline-based ligands, until the end of 2021. It is revealed that this strategy is a powerful method to form a new stereogenic center bearing an oxygen substituent adjacent to an unchanged C=C bond. Enantioselectivities as well as chemical yields, and also the reactivity, are strongly dependent on the type of substrate, oxidant, the copper salt and its oxidation state, ligand structure, temperature, nature of the solvent, and additives such as phenylhydrazine and porous materials.

Supported metals on porous solids as heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of propargylamines

This perspective summarizes recent developments in the synthesis of propargylamines using porous solids (zeolites, MOFs and carbon) as supports/catalysts.

Activation and catalytic transformation of methane under mild conditions

In the last few decades, worldwide scientists have been motivated by the promising production of chemicals from the widely existing methane (CH₄) under mild conditions for both chemical synthesis with low energy consumption and climate remediation. To achieve this goal, a whole library of catalytic chemistries of transforming CH₄ to various products under mild conditions is required to be developed. Worldwide scientists have made significant efforts to reach this goal. These significant efforts have demonstrated the feasibility of oxidation of CH₄ to value-added intermediate compounds including but not limited to CH₃OH, HCHO, HCOOH, and CH₃COOH under mild conditions. The fundamental understanding of these chemical and catalytic transformations of CH₄ under mild conditions have been achieved to some extent, although currently neither a catalyst nor a catalytic process can be used for chemical production under mild conditions at a large scale. In the academic community, over ten different reactions have been developed for converting CH₄ to different types of oxygenates under mild conditions in terms of a relatively low activation or catalysis temperature. However, there is still a lack of a molecular-level understanding of the activation and catalysis processes performed in extremely complex reaction environments under mild conditions. This article reviewed the fundamental understanding of these activation and catalysis achieved so far. Different oxidative activations of CH₄ or catalytic transformations toward chemical production under mild conditions were reviewed in parallel, by which the trend of developing catalysts for a specific reaction was identified and insights into the design of these catalysts were gained. As a whole, this review focused on discussing profound insights gained through endeavors of scientists in this field. It aimed to present a relatively complete picture for the activation and catalytic transformations of CH₄ to chemicals under mild conditions. Finally, suggestions of potential explorations for the production of chemicals from CH₄ under mild conditions were made. The facing challenges to achieve high yield of ideal products were highlighted and possible solutions to tackle them were briefly proposed.

Theoretical characterization of zeolite encapsulated platinum clusters in the presence of water molecules

Zeolite encapsulated metal clusters have shown high catalytic activity and superior stability due to confinement effects, the synergy between acidic and metal active sites, and strong metal-zeolite interactions. In the present work, density functional theory calculations were employed to study the stability of encapsulated Pt_n (n = 1-6) clusters in the zeolitic frameworks including Silicalite-1 and H-MFI. It has been found that the metal-zeolite interaction becomes stronger with the increasing Pt_n cluster size for both zeolitic frameworks. The encapsulated Pt_n clusters in the vicinity of the Brønsted acid site (BAS) of H-MFI form more stable Pt_nH_x (x = 1, 2) clusters. The presence of water molecules around the encapsulated Pt₆ cluster further enhances its stability, while the oxidation states of the encapsulated Pt_n cluster are largely affected by the BAS site and the surrounding water molecules. As the water concentration increases, water dissociation becomes more facile on the Pt₆@Silicalite-1 cluster while an opposite trend is found over the Pt₆H₂@H-MFI cluster. The proton of the BAS site can be transferred to the encapsulated Pt₆ cluster via a hydronium cluster H⁺(H₂O)_n, leading to the formation of the Pt₆H₂@H-MFI cluster.

Integrated Cobaloxime and Mesoporous Silica-Supported Ruthenium/Diamine Co-Catalysis for One-Pot Hydration/Reduction Enantioselective Sequential Reaction of Alkynes

This study developed a cost-efficient hydration/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) process for the one-pot synthesis of valuable chiral alcohols from alkynes. During this process, the initial homogeneous cobaloxime-catalyzed hydration of alkynes was followed by heterogeneous Ru/diamine-catalyzed ATH transformation of the in-situ generated ketones, which provided varieties of chiral alcohols in good yields with up to 99% ee values. The immobilized Ru/diamine catalyst could be recycled at least three times before its deactivation in the sequential reaction system. This work shows a general method for developing one-pot asymmetric sequential catalysis towards sustainable organic synthesis.

Loading and Release of Charged and Neutral Fluorescent Dyes into and from Mesoporous Materials: A Key Role for Sensing Applications

The aim of this study is to determine the efficiency of loading and release of several zwitterionic, neutral, anionic and cationic dyes into/from mesoporous nanoparticles to find the optimum loading and release conditions for their application in detection protocols. The loading is carried out for MCM-41 type silica supports suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer (pH 7.4) or in acetonitrile, involving the dyes (rhodamine B chloride, rhodamine 101 chloride, rhodamine 101 perchlorate, rhodamine 101 inner salt, meso-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY), sulforhodamine B sodium salt and fluorescein 27). As a general trend, rhodamine-based dyes are loaded with higher efficiency, when compared with BODIPY and fluorescein dyes. Between the rhodamine-based dyes, their charge and the solvent in which the loading process is carried out play important roles for the amount of cargo that can be loaded into the materials. The delivery experiments carried out in PBS buffer at pH 7.4 reveal for all the materials that anionic dyes are more efficiently released compared to their neutral or cationic counterparts. The overall best performance is achieved with the negatively charged sulforhodamine B dye in acetonitrile. This material also shows a high delivery degree in PBS buffer.

A quinoxaline-based porous organic polymer containing copper nanoparticles CuNPs@Q-POP as a robust nanocatalyst toward C-N coupling reaction

A novel porous organic polymer (denoted by Q-POP) was successfully fabricated by free-radical copolymerization of allyl-substituted 2,3-di(2-hydroxyphenyl)1,2-dihydroquinoxaline, and divinylbenzene under solvothermal conditions and used as a new platform for immobilization of copper nanoparticles. The CuNPs@Q-POP nanocatalyst was prepared via incorporating of Cu(NO3)2 into the polymeric network, followed by the reduction of Cu2+ ion with hydrazine hydrate. The obtained materials were characterized through FT-IR, XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, ICP, TGA, SEM, HR-TEM, EDX, and the single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The results displayed that Q-POP and CuNPs@Q-POP possessed high surface area, hierarchical porosity, and excellent thermal and chemical stability. The as-synthesized catalyst was utilized for the Ullmann C-N coupling reaction of aromatic amines and different aryl halides to prepare various diarylamine derivatives. All types of aryl halides (except aryl fluorides) were screened in the Ullmann C-N coupling reaction with aromatic amines to produce diaryl amines in good to excellent yields (50-98%), and it turned out that aryl iodides have the best results. Besides, due to the strong interactions between CuNPs, N, and O-atoms of quinoxaline moiety existing in the polymeric framework, the copper leaching from the support was not observed. Furthermore, the catalyst was recycled and reused for five consecutive runs without significant activity loss.

Design and characterization of novel dirhodium coordination polymers – the impact of ligand size on selectivity in asymmetric cyclopropanation

Novel dirhodium coordination polymers are synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The catalysts exhibit good stability and excellent catalytic performance and selectivity in the cyclopropanation of diazooxindoles.

Gold nanoparticles grown on a hydrophobic and texturally tunable PDMS-like framework

A sol-gel analogue of PDMS was used to built hydrophobic siloxane supports, while confining gold nanoparticles.

Optimized Immobilization Strategy for Dirhodium(II) Carboxylate Catalysts for C-H Functionalization and Their Implementation in a Packed Bed Flow Reactor

Herein we demonstrate a packed bed flow reactor capable of achieving highly regio- and stereoselective C-H functionalization reactions using a newly developed Rh₂ (S-2-Cl-5-CF₃ TPCP)₄ catalyst. To optimize the immobilized dirhodium catalyst employed in the flow reactor, we systematically study both (i) the effects of ligand immobilization position, demonstrating the critical factor that the catalyst-support attachment location can have on the catalyst performance, and (ii) silica support mesopore length, demonstrating that decreasing diffusional limitations leads to increased accessibility of the active site and higher catalyst turnover frequency. We employ the immobilized dirhodium catalyst in a simple packed bed flow reactor achieving comparable yields and levels of enantioselectivity to the homogeneous catalyst employed in batch and maintain this performance over ten catalyst recycles.

Heterogeneous Single-Site Catalysts for C-H Activation Reactions: Pd(II)-Loaded S,O-Functionalized Metal Oxide-Bisphosphonates

Heterogeneous single-site catalysts contain spatially isolated, well-defined active sites. This allows not only their easy recovery by solid-liquid separation but also the detailed active site design similar to homogeneous catalysts. Here, heterogeneous Pd(II) single-site catalysts were assembled, based on mesoporous metal oxide-bisphosphonate materials as supports. This new family of hybrid organic-inorganic materials with tunable porosity was further functionalized with thioether ligands containing S,O-binding sites that enhance the activity of Pd(II) for C-H activation reactions. The structures of the resulting Pd(II) single-site catalysts were carefully analyzed via solid-state NMR spectroscopy, via texture analysis by N₂ physisorption, infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the immediate environment of the isolated Pd(II) active sites was studied with X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A clear relationship between the thioether ligand surface density and catalyst activity could be established. Significantly higher yields were obtained using highly porous metal oxide-bisphosphonate materials as supports compared to materials with lower porosities, such as conventional metal oxides, indicating that the high surface area facilitates the presence of isolated, well-accessible S,O-supported Pd(II) active sites. A wide scope of model substrates, including industrially relevant arenes, can be converted with high yields by the optimal heterogeneous Pd catalyst.

Pd/Xiang-Phos-catalyzed enantioselective intermolecular carboheterofunctionalization of norbornene and norbornadiene

A highly enantioselective Pd/Xiang-Phos-catalyzed carbohetero-functionalization of norbornene is described, giving a direct access to various chiral norbornane-fused dihydrofurans and dihydro-pyrroles. This synthetic methodology provides the first example of asymmetric carboetherification of norbornene, and also tolerates norbornadiene well.

Cu-Kojic Acid Complex Anchored to Functionalized Silica-MCM-41: A Promising Regioselective and Reusable Nanocatalyst for Click Reaction

Cu-Kojic acid (KA) complex anchored to functionalized silica-MCM-41 was synthesized via the process of postgrafting and introduced as an effective, new, reusable, and thermally resistant heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the clean synthesis of 1H-1,2,3-triazoles from Click reaction of 2-(azidomethyl)-5-benzyloxy-4-pyrone and azido Kojic acid with a variety of terminal alkynes in excellent yields. The structure of nanocatalyst was analyzed by ICP, BET, XRD, EDS, SEM, TGA, TEM, and FT-IR techniques.

Synthesis of Chiral Allylic Esters by Using the New Recyclable Chiral Heterogeneous Oxazoline-Based Catalysts

A new class of recyclable supported chiral heterogeneous ligands has been synthesized by the reaction of functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 with aliphatic- and aromatic-substituted chiral amino oxazoline ligands. The obtained chiral heterogeneous ligands were characterized by several techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and BET-BJH. The application of these new heterogeneous ligands in copper-catalyzed asymmetric allylic oxidation of olefins by using perester showed better yields up to 95% and better enantioselectivities up to 96% compared to the corresponding homogeneous catalysts. These findings can be considered as an important step in the advancement of green chemistry. Investigation of the recyclability of the catalysts confirmed that they were easily recovered and reused eight times without significant losses in reactivity, yield, and enantioselectivity.

Applications of Cu(0) encapsulated nanocatalysts as superior catalytic systems in Cu-catalyzed organic transformations

Recently, Cu nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated into various materials as supports (e.g., zeolite, silica) have attracted much devotion due to their unique catalytic properties such as high catalytic activity, intensive reactivity and selectivity through highly protective properties. Nowadays, the superior catalytic activity of Cu-NPs, encapsulated onto zeolite, silica and different porous systems, is extensively investigated and now well-established. As a matter of fact, Cu-NPs are protected from deactivation by this kind of encapsulation. Thus, their exclusion proceeds smoothly, and their recyclability is significantly increased. Cu-NPs have been used as potential heterogeneous catalysts in different chemical transformations. In this review, we try to show the preparation and applications of Cu(0) encapsulated nanocatalysts in zeolite and silica as superior catalytic systems in Cu-catalyzed organic transformations. In addition, the catalytic activity of these encapsulated Cu-NPs in different important organic transformations (such as hydrogenation, oxidation and carbon-carbon bond formations) are compared with those of a variety of organic, inorganic and hybrid porous bearing a traded metal ion. Moreover, the results from the TGA/DTA analysis and optical properties of Cu-complexes are demonstrated. The inherited characteristic merits of the encapsulated Cu-NPs onto zeolite and silica, such as their low leaching, catalytic activity, reusability economic feasibility and originality are critically considered.

Graphene-based carbocatalysts for carbon-carbon bond formation

Organic transformations are usually catalyzed by metal-based catalysts. In contrast, metal-free catalysts have attracted considerable attention from the viewpoint of sustainability and safety. Among the studies in metal-free catalysis, graphene-based materials have been introduced in the reactions that are usually catalyzed by transition metal catalysts. This review covers the literature (up to the beginning of April 2020) on the use of graphene and its derivatives as carbocatalysts for C-C bond-forming reactions, which are one of the fundamental reactions in organic syntheses. Besides, mechanistic studies are included for the rational understanding of the catalysis. Graphene has significant potential in the field of metal-free catalysis because of the fine-tunable potential of the structure, high stability and durability, and no metal contamination, making it a next-generation candidate material in catalysis.

Organic synthesis of high added value molecules with MOF catalysts

Recent examples of organic synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals in confined spaces of MOFs are highlighted and compared with silica-based ordered porous solids, such as zeolites or mesoporous (organo)silica. These heterogeneous catalysts offer the possibility of stabilizing the desired transition states and/or intermediates during organic transformations of functional groups and (C-C/C-N) bond forming steps towards the desired functional high added value molecular scaffolds. A short introduction on zeolites, mesoporous silica and metal-organic frameworks is followed by relevant applications in which confined active sites in the pores promote single or multi-step organic synthesis of industrially relevant molecules. A critical discussion on the catalytic performances of the different types of hybrid inorganic-organic catalysts in the synthesis of O- and N-containing acyclic and heterocyclic molecules has been presented.

CuII/H-USY as a regenerable bifunctional catalyst for the additive-free C–H amination of azoles

The use of the bifunctional Cu^II/H-USY catalyst for the direct amination of azoles under air and without additives has been disclosed.

Sustainable Protocol for the Reduction of Nitroarenes by Heterogeneous Au@SBA-15 with NaBH4 under Flow Conditions

A gold-incorporated SBA-15 catalyst was prepared by a solvent-free ball-milling approach. The catalyst showed high reactivity and selectivity in the reduction of a variety of nitroarenes to anilines operating in absolute EtOH with NaBH₄ as reducing agent. The catalyst was reused in batch conditions over five consecutive runs without any losses of activity or selectivity. Considering the high chemical stability and reusability of the catalytic system, a continuous-flow protocol was also investigated and defined to minimize the generation of waste and optimize the continuous reuse of the catalyst. Benefits of flow conditions were proven by turnover numbers that increased from 47.5 to 1902 and also by the minimization of both leaching (9.5 vs. 1 ppm) and E-factor values (8 vs. 23 in batch).

Microwave-Synthesized Platinum-Embedded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Dual-Modality Contrast Agents: Computed Tomography and Optical Imaging

Nanoparticle-based imaging contrast agents have drawn tremendous attention especially in multi-modality imaging. In this study, we developed mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for use as dual-modality contrast agents for computed tomography (CT) and near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging (OI). A microwave synthesis for preparing naked platinum nanoparticles (nPtNPs) on MSNs (MSNs-Pt) was developed and characterized with physicochemical analysis and imaging systems. The high density of nPtNPs on the surface of the MSNs could greatly enhance the CT contrast. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed the MSNs-Pt compositions to be ~14% Pt by weight and TEM revealed an average particle diameter of ~50 nm and covered with ~3 nm diameter nPtNPs. To enhance the OI contrast, the NIR fluorescent dye Dy800 was conjugated to the MSNs-Pt nanochannels. The fluorescence spectra of MSNs-Pt-Dy800 were very similar to unconjugated Dy800. The CT imaging demonstrated that even modest degrees of Pt labeling could result in substantial X-ray attenuation. In vivo imaging of breast tumor-bearing mice treated with PEGylated MSNs-Pt-Dy800 (PEG-MSNs-Pt-Dy800) showed significantly improved contrasts in both fluorescence and CT imaging and the signal intensity within the tumor retained for 24 h post-injection.