Amphiphilic block copolymers directed synthesis of mesoporous nickel-based oxides with bimodal mesopores and nanocrystal-assembled walls

Ordered mesoporous Fe-doped NiO with dual mesopores, high surface area and well-interconnected crystalline porous frameworks have been synthesized via solvent evaporation-induced co-assembly (EICA) method, by using PS-b-P4VP as structure-directing agent, Ni(acac)₂ and Fe (acac)₃ as binary inorganic precursor, and showed superior ethanol sensing performances with good sensitivity, high selectivity and fast response-recovery dynamics.     

Controllable synthesis of highly crystallized mesoporous TiO_2/WO_3 heterojunctions for acetone gas sensing

Mesoporous semiconducting metal oxides(SMOs) heterojunctions are appealing sensors for gas detecting.However,due to the different hydrolysis and condensation mechanism of every metal precursor and the contradiction between high crystallinity and high surface area,the synthesis of mesoporous SMOs heterojunctions with highly o rdered mesostructures,highly crystallized frameworks,and high surface area remains a huge challenge.In this work,we develop a novel "acid-base pair"adjusted solvent evaporation induced self-assembly(EISA) strategy to prepare highly crystallized ordered mesoporous TiO_2/WO_3(OM-TiO_2/WO_3) heterojunctions.The WCl_6 and titanium isopropoxide(TIPO) are used as the precursors,respectively,which function as the "acid-base pair",enabling the coassembly with the structure directing agent(PEO-b-PS) into highly ordered meso structures.In addition,PEO-b-PS can be converted to rigid carbon which can protect the meso structures from collapse during the crystallization process.The resultant OM-TiO_2/WO_3 heterojunctions possess primitive cubic mesostructures,large pore size(～21.1 nm),highly crystalline frameworks and surface area(～98 m~2/g).As a sensor for acetone,the obtained OM-TiO_2/WO_3 show excellent re sponse/recovery perfo rmance(3 s/5 s),good linear dependence,repeatability,selectivity,and long-term stability(35 days).     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of ordered mesoporous carbons containing nickel oxide nanoparticles using sucrose and nickel acetate in a silica template

New ordered mesoporous carbons containing nickel oxide nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by carbonization of sucrose in the presence of nickel acetate inside SBA-15 mesoporous silica template. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The NiO nanoparticles were embedded inside the mesoporous carbon framework due to the simultaneous pyrolysis of nickel acetate during carbonization. The electrochemical testing of the as-made nanocomposites showed a large specific capacitance of 230 F g⁻¹ using 2 M KOH as the electrolyte at room temperature. This is attributed to the nanometer-sized NiO formed inside mesoporous carbons and the high surface area of the mesopores in which the NiO nanoparticles are formed. Furthermore, the synthetic process is proposed as a simple and general method for the preparation of new functionalized mesoporous carbon materials, for various applications in catalysis, sensor or advanced electrode material.     

Solution-phase synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon as resonant-gravimetric sensing material for room-temperature H_2S detection

H_2S can cause multiple diseases and poses a great threat to human health.However,the precise detection of extremely toxic H_2S at room temperature is still a great challenge.Here,a facile solvent evaporation induced aggregating assembly(EIAA) method has been applied for the production of ordered mesoporous carbon(OMCs) in an acidic THF/H_2 O solution with high-molecular-weight poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene(PEO-b-PS) copolymers as the structure-directing agent,formaldehyde and resorcinol as carbon precursors.Along with the continuous evaporation of THF from the mixed solution,cylindrical micelles are formed in the solution and further assemble into highly ordered mesostructure.The obtained OMCs possesses a two-dimensional(2 D) hexagonal mesostructure with uniform and large pore diameter(～19.2 nm),high surface area(599 m~2/g),and large pore volume(0.92 cm~3/g).When being used as the resonant cantilever gas sensor for room-temperature H_2S detection,the OMCs has delivered not only a superior gas sensing performance with ultrafast re s ponse(14 s) and recovery(21 s) even at low concentration(2 ppm) but also an excellent selectivity toward H_2S among various common interfering gases.Moreover,the limit of detection is better than 0.2 ppm,indicating its potential application in environmental monitoring and health protection.     

Synthesis of morphology-controllable mesoporous Co3O4 and CeO2

Recently, extensive works have been devoted to the morphology control of mesoporous materials with respect to their use in various applications. In this paper, we used two kinds of mesoporous silica, SBA-15 rods and spheres as hard templates to synthesize morphology-controllable mesoporous metal oxides. By carefully controlling the loading of metal precursors in the mesopores of the hard template, mesoporous Co₃O₄ and CeO₂ with different morphologies, such as micrometer-sized rod, hollow sphere, saucer-like sphere, and solid sphere were conveniently obtained. The structural properties of these materials were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM and TEM. In addition, it is found that the differences observed in the textural properties of the two mesoporous metal oxides nanocasted from the same template can be attributed to the properties of metal precursors and the interaction between metal oxide and SiO₂. Thus-obtained mesoporous metal oxides with such special morphologies may have a potential application in the field of environmental catalytic oxidation.     

Ordered mesoporous alumina-supported metal oxides

The one-pot synthesis of alumina-supported metal oxides via self-assembly of a metal precursor and aluminum isopropoxide in the presence of triblock copolymer (as a structure directing agent) is described in detail for nickel oxide. The resulting mesoporous mixed metal oxides possess p6 mm hexagonal symmetry, well-developed mesoporosity, relatively high BET surface area, large pore widths, and crystalline pore walls. In comparison to pure alumina, nickel aluminum oxide samples exhibited larger mesopores and improved thermal stability. Also, long-range ordering of the aforementioned samples was observed for nickel molar percentages as high as 20%. The generality of the recipe used for the synthesis of mesoporous nickel aluminum oxide was demonstrated by preparation of other alumina-supported metal oxides such as MgO, CaO, TiO 2, and Cr 2O 3. This method represents an important step toward the facile and reproducible synthesis of ordered mesoporous alumina-supported materials for various applications where large and accessible pores with high loading of catalytically active metal oxides are needed.     

Facile synthesis of mesoporous WO3@graphene aerogel nanocomposites for low-temperature acetone sensing

Nanocomposites constructed by combining mesoporous metal oxides and graphene have received tremendous attention in wide fields of catalysis,energy storage and conversion,gas sensing and so on.Herein,we present a facile interface-induced co-assembly process to synthesize the mesoporous W03@graphene aerogel nanocomposites(denoted as mW03@GA),in which graphene aerogel(GA) was used as a macroporous substrate,mesoporous W03 was uniformly coated on both sides of graphene sheets through a solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly(EISA) strategy using diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene(PEO-b-PS) as a template.The resultant mW03@GA nanocomposites possess well-interconnected macroporous graphene networks covered by mesoporous W03 layer with a uniform pore size of 19 nm,high surface area of 167 m~2/g and large pore volume of 0.26 cm~3/g.The gas sensing performance of mW03@GA nanocomposites toward acetone and other gases was studied,showing a high selectivity and great response to acetone at low temperature of 150℃,which could be developed as a promising candidate as novel sensors for VOCs detection.     

Growth of Single‐Layered Two‐Dimensional Mesoporous Polymer/Carbon Films by Self‐Assembly of Monomicelles at the Interfaces of Various Substrates

Single‐layered two‐dimensional (2D) ultrathin mesoporous polymer/carbon films are grown by self‐assembly of monomicelles at the interfaces of various substrates, which is a general and common modification strategy. These unconventional 2D mesoporous films possess only a single layer of mesopores, while the size of the thin films can grow up to inch size in the plane. Free‐standing transparent mesoporous carbon ultrathin films, together with the ordered mesoporous structure on the substrates of different compositions (e.g. metal oxides, carbon) and morphologies (e.g. nanocubes, nanodiscs, flexible and patterned substrates) have been obtained. This strategy not only affords controllable hierarchical porous nanostructures, but also appends the easily modified and multifunctional properties of carbon to the primary substrate. By using this method, we have fabricated Fe₂O₃–mesoporous carbon photoelectrochemical biosensors, which show excellent sensitivity and selectivity for glutathione.     

Synthesis of mesoporous NiO with crystalline walls by a simple sol–gel route

Mesoporous NiO particles with crystalline walls were prepared by a simple sol-gel technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption–desorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to investigate the mesoporous NiO particles. The as-prepared mesoporous NiO possessed narrow pore in the range of mesopores and was stable up to 700 ^oC. Various characterization results showed that the mesostructure was formed through the aggregation of nanocrystals and stearic acid in the precursor played an important role in formation of the final mesoporous structures. Mesoporous Ni particles have also been successfully synthesized by reduction of the obtained mesoporous NiO at 700 ^oC for 30 min.     

General Self‐Template Synthesis of Transition‐Metal Oxide and Chalcogenide Mesoporous Nanotubes with Enhanced Electrochemical Performances

The development of a general strategy for synthesizing hierarchical porous transition‐metal oxide and chalcogenide mesoporous nanotubes, is still highly challenging. Herein we present a facile self‐template strategy to synthesize Co₃O₄ mesoporous nanotubes with outstanding performances in both the electrocatalytic oxygen‐evolution reaction (OER) and Li‐ion battery via the thermal‐oxidation‐induced transformation of cheap and easily‐prepared Co‐Asp(cobalt–aspartic acid) nanowires. The initially formed thin layers on the precursor surfaces, oxygen‐induced outward diffusion of interior precursors, the gas release of organic oxidation, and subsequent Kirkendall effect are important for the appearance of the mesoporous nanotubes. This self‐template strategy of low‐cost precursors is found to be a versatile method to prepare other functional mesoporous nanotubes of transition‐metal oxides and chalcogenides, such as NiO, NiCo₂O₄, Mn₅O₈, CoS₂ and CoSe₂.     

Highly Ordered Mesoporous Cobalt-Copper Composite Oxides for Preferential CO Oxidation

Highly ordered mesoporous cobalt-copper composite oxides were prepared by the nanocasting method with various Co and Cu ratios. The catalysts obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption–desorption, H₂-temperature programmed reduction, CO-temperature programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All of the catalysts had uniform mesopores and high surface areas. The distinct catalytic properties of these well-characterized mesoporous materials were demonstrated for preferential CO oxidation. It is found that the mesoporous cobalt-copper composite oxides, exhibited the higher catalytic activity for CO conversion and selectivity compared with the mesoporous Co₃O₄ and mesoporous CuO. Among these catalysts the mesoporous cobalt-copper catalyst with Co:Cu molar ratio of 70:30, shows the best catalytic activity and the broadest operating temperature “window” for the high CO conversion in the range of 125–200^oC. The higher catalytic activity was attributed to the higher CO adsorption and oxygen vacancies.     

Enhanced Electrochemical Capacitive Properties of Nickel‐Cobalt Oxide Nano‐flakes Materials

Nickel‐cobalt oxide nano‐flakes materials are successfully synthesized by a facile chemical co‐precipitation method followed by a simple calcination process. The studies show that the as‐prepared nickel‐cobalt oxides with different Ni/Co ratio are composed of NiO and Co₃O₄ compounds. The Co_0.56Ni_0.44 oxide material, which exhibits a mesoporous structure with a narrow distribution of pore size from 2 to 7 nm, possesses markedly enhanced charge‐discharge properties at high current density compared with the pure NiO and pure Co₃O₄. The Co_0.56Ni_0.44 oxide electrode shows a specific capacitance value of 1227 F/g at 5 mA/cm², which is nearly three times greater than that of the pure NiO electrode at the same current density.     

Mesoporous mixed metal oxides derived from P123-templated Mg-Al layered double hydroxides

We report the preparation of mesoporous mixed metal oxides (MMOs) through a soft template method. Different amounts of P123 were used as structure directing agent to synthesize P123-templated Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs). After calcination of as-synthesized LDHs at 500 °C, the ordered mesopores were obtained by removal of P123. The mesoporous Mg-Al MMOs fabricated by using 2 wt% P123 exhibited a high specific surface area of 108.1 m²/g, and wide distribution of pore size (2-18 nm). An investigation of the “memory effect” of the mesoporous MMOs revealed that they were successfully reconstructed to ibuprofen intercalated LDHs having different gallery heights, which indicated different intercalation capacities. Due to their mesoporosity these unique MMOs have particular potential as drug or catalyst carriers.     

Gas‐phase ligand exchange of select transition‐metal acetylacetonate and hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes

Gas‐phase ligand exchange reactions between M(acac)₂ and M(hfac)₂ species, where M is Cu(II) and/or Ni(II), were observed to occur in a double‐focusing reverse‐geometry magnetic sector mass spectrometer. The gas‐phase mixed ligand product, [M(acac)(hfac)]⁺, was formed following the co‐sublimation of either homo‐metal or hetero‐metal precursors. The gas‐phase formation of [Cu(acac)(hfac)]⁺ from hetero‐metal precursors is reported herein for the first time. The [Ni(acac)(hfac)]⁺ complex is also observed for the first time to form following the co‐sublimation of not only Ni precursors, but also from separate Ni and Cu precursors. The corresponding fragmentation patterns of these species are also presented, and the mixed metal mixed ligand product [NiCu(acac)₂(hfac)]⁺ is observed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

介孔氧化镍的合成、表征和在电化学电容器中的应用

以十二烷基硫酸钠为模板剂, 采用尿素为沉淀剂, 用均匀沉淀法, 适当控制尿素的水解速度, 制备具有介孔结构的氢氧化镍胶体, 在不同温度下焙烧处理得到孔分布集中的氧化镍介孔分子筛. 结果表明, 在523 K下焙烧得到的氧化镍BET比表面达到477.7 m²•g^－1. 结构表征还显示, 介孔氧化镍的孔壁为多晶结构, 其孔结构形成机理应为准反胶束模板机理. 循环伏安法表明用NiO介孔分子筛制备的电极有很好的电容性能. 与浸渍法和阴极沉淀法制得的NiO相比, 这种介孔结构的NiO能够大量用来制作电化学电容器电极, 并且保持较高的比电容量和良好的电容性能.     

真空辅助硬模板法制备三维有序介孔氧化钕

以介孔氧化硅KIT-6为硬模板,硝酸钕为金属源,分别在搅拌条件和真空条件下制备具有三维介孔结构的立方多晶氧化钕。采用XRD、TEM和氮气吸附-脱附技术对所得样品进行表征。结果表明,在真空辅助条件下制备所得的氧化钕较在搅拌条件下制备得到的氧化钕具有更规则的三维有序介孔结构,两者的比表面积分别为117和84 m.2g-1。     

反应吸附脱硫中有序介孔Cu-ZnO-l2O3吸附剂提高其饱和硫容

目前汽柴油中的含硫化合物是造成酸雨和PM2.5的重要原因之一.随着污染的日益严重,对汽柴油的深度脱硫受到越来越多的关注.环境保护组织颁布了较为严格的法律措施,规定硫含量低于10 ppm.然而,传统的加氢脱硫工艺(HDS)很难满足在深度HDS的同时辛烷值损失较少.为了减少辛烷值损失,脱硫技术和催化剂应具有较好的选择性.因此,在FCC汽油升级的过程中,减少辛烷值损失的超深度脱硫工艺是重要研究课题之一.目前,一些新型的深度脱硫技术包括吸附脱硫、氧化脱硫和生物脱硫.其中吸附脱硫具有高选择性、低能耗等优点,而反应吸附脱硫则被广泛研究和工业化生产.常见Ni/ZnO吸附剂利用高空速控制辛烷值损失,但频繁的再生过程影响催化剂的稳定性.目前,一种新型的Cu/ZnO吸附脱硫剂用于固定床中,具有较高的脱硫活性、稳定性和高选择性.目前,铜基吸附剂面临着ZnO的饱和硫容、稳定性及活性组分Cu结焦问题.Al2O3作为稳定剂可以提高反应活性和稳定性,其中有序介孔能够提供较大的比表面积、孔径、规整的孔结构和较好的分散活性组分的能力,从而有利于分子之间的扩散.本文利用一步溶剂蒸发自组装法合成了具有有序介孔的Cu-ZnO-Al2O3吸附剂.SXRD/WXRD结果,证实合成了具有有序介孔结构的Al2O3,且添加Cu和Zn物种后,其结构并未发生改变,但当Zn的添加量达到25 wt%时,其有序介孔结构发生改变.有序介孔的Cu-ZnO-Al2O3吸附剂具有较高的比表面积、孔容及孔径,添加过量的ZnO后,其比表面积明显降低.TEM和AADF-STEM结果发现,所制Cu-ZnO-Al2O3吸附剂具有规则的介孔结构,并且Cu,Zn,Al和O分散均匀,与XRD和BET结果一致.热重结果表明,有序介孔Cu-ZnO-Al2O3吸附剂具有较好的热稳定性.通过与商业Cu-ZnO-Al2O3吸附剂进行对比,有序介孔Cu-ZnO-Al2O3吸附剂具有较高脱硫活性、饱和硫容及稳定性.     

Planting of bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene) nickel upon silica to harvest NiO (<5 nm) nanoparticles in a silica matrix

Bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene) nickel [Ni(COD)₂] was employed as a nickel precursor to prepare nickel oxide nanoparticles upon high‐surface‐area mesoporous silica. Under protection of argon, Ni(COD)₂ was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to react with surface silanols of mesoporous silica SBA‐15, which formed a black powder after completion of the surface reaction. Calcination of the powder produced ultrafine NiO inside the mesoporous silica matrix, which was evidenced by X‐ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The thermogravimetric analysis suggests that NiO formation is a result of surface nickel species calcination, whereas structural characterization clearly show that NiO nanoparticles of <5 nm are evenly distributed inside the silica SBA‐15 matrix and mesoporosity is well preserved upon calcinations and NiO formation. The surface reaction between Ni(COD)₂ and surface silanols was found for the first time, and the method used here may be extended conveniently to prepare other metal oxide nanoparticles upon high‐surface‐area supports as well. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic possibilities and constraints of pure hydrogen production by a chromium,nickel, and manganese-based chemical looping process at lower temperatures

The reduction of chromium, nickel, and manganese oxides by hydrogen, CO, CH₄, and model syngas (mixtures of CO + H₂ or H₂ + CO + CO₂) and oxidation by water vapor has been studied from the thermodynamic and chemical equilibrium point of view. Attention was concentrated not only on the convenient conditions for reduction of the relevant oxides to metals or lower oxides at temperatures in the range 400–1000 K, but also on the possible formation of soot, carbides, and carbonates as precursors for the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide formation in the steam oxidation step. Reduction of very stable Cr₂O₃ to metallic Cr by hydrogen or CO at temperatures of 400–1000 K is thermodynamically excluded. Reduction of nickel oxide (NiO) and manganese oxide (Mn₃O₄) by hydrogen or CO at such temperatures is feasible. The oxidation of MnO and Ni by steam and simultaneous production of hydrogen at temperatures between 400 and 1000 K is a difficult step from the thermodynamics viewpoint. Assuming the Ni—NiO system, the formation of nickel aluminum spinel could be used to increase the equilibrium hydrogen yield, thus, enabling the hydrogen production via looping redox process. The equilibrium hydrogen yield under the conditions of steam oxidation of the Ni—NiO system is, however, substantially lower than that for the Fe—Fe₃O₄ system. The system comprising nickel ferrite seems to be unsuitable for cyclic redox processes. Under strongly reducing conditions, at high CO concentrations/partial pressures, formation of nickel carbide (Ni₃C) is thermodynamically favored. Pressurized conditions during the reduction step with CO/CO₂ containing gases enhance the formation of soot and carbon-containing compounds such as carbides and/or carbonates.     

In-situ carbonization approach for the binder-free Ir-dispersed ordered mesoporous carbon hydrogen evolution electrode

A binder-free Ir-dispersed ordered mesoporous carbon(Ir-OMC) catalytic electrode has been prepared through a designed in-situ carbonization method, which involves coating resorcinol and formaldehyde mixtures with iridium precursors onto the three-dimensional nickel foam framework, followed by insitu calcination in N_2 atmosphere at 800 ℃ for 3 h. This electrode shows a large surface area, ordered mesoporous structure and homogeneous distribution of metal nanoparticles. It presents good activity and stability towards hydrogen evolution reaction, which is attributed to the efficient mass and electron transport from the intimate contact among Ir nanoparticles, ordered mesoporous carbon matrix and 3 D conductive substrate. We hope that this in-situ carbonization synthetic route can also be applied to design more high-performance catalysts for water splitting, fuel cells and other clean energy devices.