The surface properties and the activities in catalytic wet air oxidation over CeO2-TiO2 catalysts

No-noble metal CeO₂-TiO₂ catalysts prepared by sol-gel method were developed and examined for catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of acetic acid. The structure of the catalysts was measured by BET, SEM, XRD, XPS and DTA-TG. We investigated the effect of the interactions of Ce and Ti on the structure of CeO₂-TiO₂ catalysts. The mechanisms of the relationships between the different content of Ti and the activity of CeO₂-TiO₂ catalysts were discussed. The results showed that the average crystal size of CeO₂ decreased and the surface areas increased; the low valence of Ce³⁺ increase, and the chemisorbed oxygen slightly decreased with the increase of Ti content on the surface of CeO₂-TiO₂ catalysts. The order of the activity in CWAO of acetic acid followed: Ce/Ti 1/1 > Ce/Ti 3/1 > Ce/Ti 1/3 > Ce/Ti 5/1 > CeO₂ > TiO₂ > no catalyst. In CWAO of acetic acid, the optimal atomic ratio of Ce and Ti was 1, and the highest COD removal was over 64% at 230 °C, 5 MPa and 180 min reaction time over Ce/Ti 1/1 catalyst. The excellent activity and stability of CeO₂-TiO₂ catalysts was observed in our study.     

Characterization and catalytic performance of pure and Li2O-doped CuO/CeO2 catalysts

Pure and Li₂O-doped CuO/CeO₂ catalysts calcined at 500 °C were prepared by impregnation method. The catalysts are characterized by DTA, TG-DTG, XRD, IR, TEM, nitrogen adsorption at −196 °C and the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide at 30 °C.The effects of molar ratio, heat treatment time and the doping on the structural, surface and catalytic properties of nanocrystalline Cu/Ce-mixed oxides system have been studied. It was found that the catalytic activity of ceria-supported copper oxide catalysts increased by increasing both the heat treatment time and dopant content. However, the pure Cu/Ce-mixed oxide solids containing 10 wt.% CuO exhibited the best performance. The characterization results indicated that the higher surface area, the formation of solid solution between copper and cerium oxides, and the high dispersion of copper species on the ceria were responsible for the high catalytic activity of the CuO/CeO₂ catalysts.     

Effects of CeO2-ZrO2 present in Pd/Al2O3 catalysts on the redox behavior of PdOx and their combustion activity

The ceria-zirconium-modified alumina-supported palladium catalysts are prepared using impregnation method with H₂PdCl₄ as Pd source, hydrazine hydrate as reducing agent. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts are characterized by BET surface area (BET), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) and temperature programmed oxidation (O₂-TPO) techniques, and their catalytic activities for the combustion of methane are examined. The results show that the palladium mainly exist in a highly dispersed PdO species on Ce-Zr-rich grains as well as Al₂O₃-rich grains surfaces, and a stable PdO species due to the strong interaction between PdO and CeO₂-ZrO₂ on the Ce-Zr/Al₂O₃ surfaces. The catalytic activity is strongly related to the redox behavior of PdO species highly dispersed on Ce-Zr-rich grains and Al₂O₃-rich grains surfaces, and the higher the reducibility of the PdO species, the higher the catalytic activity. The presence of Ce-Zr in Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst would inhibit the site growth of PdO_x particles and decomposition of PdO to Pd⁰, and the reoxidation property of Pd⁰ to PdO_x is significantly improved, which obviously increases thermal stability and catalytic activity of Pd/Ce-Zr/Al₂O₃ catalyst for the methane combustion.     

Synthesis of Au-CeO2/SiO2 catalyst via adsorbed-layer reactor technique combined with alcohol-thermal treatment

Au-CeO₂/SiO₂ was prepared via adsorbed-layer reactor technique combined with alcohol-thermal treatment. The catalytic performance in complete oxidation of benzene was investigated. TEM, Raman characterization showed that Au particles grew up obviously during alcohol-thermal process, while CeO₂ particles maintained 4 nm in diameter. The content of oxygen vacancies and adsorbed oxygen species on catalysts surface increased apparently. Alcohol-thermally treated Au-CeO₂/SiO₂ and CeO₂/SiO₂ showed similar change in catalytic performance, and were much superior to calcined CeO₂/SiO₂. Of alcohol-thermally treated and calcined CeO₂/SiO₂, initial temperatures of the reaction were 80 °C and 150 °C, respectively. The benzene conversions reached 85% and 40% at 300 °C.     

SiC/SiO2 coating for improving the oxidation resistive property of carbon nanofiber

The SiC/SiO₂ deposition was performed to improve the oxidation resistive properties of carbon nanofiber (CNF) from electrospinning at elevated temperatures through sol-gel process. The stabilized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were coated with SiO₂ followed by heat treatment up to 1000 and 1400 °C in an inert argon atmosphere. The chemical compositions of the CNFs surface heat-treated were characterized as C, Si and O existing as SiC and SiO₂ compounds on the surface. The uniform and continuous coating improved the oxidation resistance of the carbon nanofibers. The residual weight of the composite was 70-80% and mixture of SiC, SiO₂ and some residual carbon after exposure to air at 1000 °C.     

Selective CO oxidation in hydrogen-rich gas over CuO/CeO2 catalysts

A series of CuO/CeO₂ catalysts with different Cu-Ce compositions were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, H₂-TPR, CO-TPD, SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The effects of Cu-Ce composition and water vapor on the catalytic properties for the selective CO oxidation in the hydrogen-rich gas were investigated. The results indicated that CuO (10%)/CeO₂ catalyst remained the maximum CO conversion and selectivity at 140 and 160 °C, while the performance of CuO/CeO₂ catalysts deteriorated with the CuO molar ratio further increased. The interfacial CuO and CeO₂ interaction and synergistic effect enhanced the redox properties of CuO/CeO₂ catalyst and the highly dispersed copper species were proposed as the active sites for the selective CO oxidation. The blockage of catalytic active sites by absorbed water and the formation of CO-H₂O surface complexes reduced the activity of CuO (10%)/CeO₂ catalyst. The decreasing of surface lattice oxygen and absorbed oxygen species and the agglomeration of copper particles were the plausible interpretations for the deactivation of CuO (10%)/CeO₂ catalyst.     

Preparation of LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 cathode materials by urea hydrolysis coprecipitation

Layered LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ has been successfully synthesized via urea hydrolysis coprecipitation method. Well-crystallized LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ was obtained after calcinations of coprecipitation precursors and lithium salts at 450 °C for 3 h and following 900 °C for 10 h in air. Both the precursors and LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ powders show an agglomerated secondary structure with crystalline particles inside. The quasi-spherical morphology of the precursors was maintained during the calcinations. The first charge and discharge capacities of as-prepared LiNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ were 200 and 165mAh/g respectively. The discharge capacity of about 160mAh/g was retained after 10cycles for as-prepared samples.     

Stability of La2O3 and GeO2 passivated Ge surfaces during ALD of ZrO2 high-k dielectric

La₂O₃ grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and thermally grown GeO₂ are used to establish effective electrical surface passivations on n-type (1 0 0)-Ge substrates for high-k ZrO₂ dielectrics, grown by ALD at 250 °C substrate temperature. The electrical characterization of MOS capacitors indicates an impact of the Ge-surface passivation on the interfacial trap density and the frequency dependent capacitance in the inversion regime. Lower interface trap densities can be obtained for GeO₂ based passivation even though a chemical decomposition of the oxidation states occur during the ALD of ZrO₂. As a consequence the formation of a ZrGeO_x compound inside the ZrO₂ matrix and a decline of the interfacial GeO₂ are observed. The La₂O₃ passivation provides a stable amorphous lanthanum germanate phase at the Ge interface but also traces of Zr germanate are indicated by X-ray-Photoelectron-Spectroscopy and Transmission-Electron-Microscopy.     

Highly active Ce1−xCuxO2 nanocomposite catalysts for the low temperature oxidation of CO

A series of Ce_1−xCu_xO₂ nanocomposite catalysts with various copper contents were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method at low temperature without any surfactants, using mixed solutions of Cu(II) and Ce(III) nitrates as metal sources. These bimetal oxide nanocomposites were characterized by means of XRD, TEM, HRTEM, EDS, N₂ adsorption, H₂-TPR and XPS. The influence of Cu loading (5-25 mol%) and calcination temperature on the surface area, particle size and catalytic behavior of the nanocomposites have been discussed. The catalytic activity of Ce_1−xCu_xO₂ nanocomposites was investigated using the test of CO oxidation reaction. The optimized performance was achieved for the Ce_0.80Cu_0.20O₂ nanocomposite catalyst, which exhibited superior reaction rate of 11.2 × 10⁻⁴ mmol g⁻¹ s⁻¹ and high turnover frequency of 7.53 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ (1% CO balanced with air at a rate of 40 mL min⁻¹, at 90 °C). No obvious deactivation was observed after six times of catalytic reactions for Ce_0.80Cu_0.20O₂ nanocomposite catalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of pure and ZrO2-doped nanocrystalline CuO-NiO system

The physicochemical, surface and catalytic properties of pure and doped 0.25CuO-NiO solids prepared by sol-gel method were investigated. The dopant concentration was 2, 4 and 6 mol% ZrO₂. The solids investigated were calcined at 400 and 600 °C. The techniques employed were XRD, EDX, TEM, surface excess oxygen, nitrogen adsorption at −196 °C and catalytic oxidation of CO by O₂ using both static and flow methods. The results revealed that the investigated system dissolved 4 mol% ZrO₂ by heating at 400 °C. This process was accompanied by a significant increase in the S_BET and V_p with subsequent decrease in the (r) values of the doped adsorbent. ZrO₂-doping of the system investigated followed by calcination at 400 and 600 °C led to a considerable increase in its catalytic activity in CO oxidation by O₂ using static and flow methods. The doping process was not accompanied by any change in the activation energy of the catalyzed reaction.     

Immobilization of glucose oxidase using CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanoparticles as carrier

Aminated-CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared from primary silica particles using modified StÖber method. Glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ NPs via cross-linking with glutaraldehyde (GA). The optimal immobilization condition was achieved with 1% (v/v) GA, cross-linking time of 3 h, solution pH of 7.0 and 0.4 mg GOD (in 3.0 mg carrier). The immobilized GOD showed maximal catalytic activity at pH 6.5 and 40 °C. After immobilization, the GOD exhibited improved thermal, storage and operation stability. The immobilized GOD still maintained 80% of its initial activity after the incubation at 50 °C for 25 min, whereas free enzyme had only 20% of initial activity after the same incubation. After kept at 4 °C for 28 days, the immobilized and free enzyme retained 87% and 40% of initial activity, respectively. The immobilized GOD maintained approximately 57% of initial activity after reused 7 times. The K_M (Michaelis-Menten constant) values for immobilized GOD and free GOD were 14.6 mM and 27.1 mM, respectively.     

Photocatalytic activity of multielement doped TiO2 in the degradation of congo red

TiO₂ although considered a promising photocatalyst for the degradation of aqueous pollutants, it suffers from poor absorption in the visible region and hence requires ultraviolet (UV) light for activation. To make TiO₂ a visible active photocatalyst, multielement (C, N, B, and F) doping has been done. The synthesised CNBF/TiO₂ catalysts were calcined at different temperatures and characterized by XRD, BET surface area, UV DRS, XPS, HRSEM-EDAX, and TEM techniques. These catalysts found to show less band gap values when compared to bare TiO₂. These catalysts were tested for their catalytic activity towards the degradation of a textile dye - congo red (CR) under different reaction conditions. It was found that the photocatalytic activity was dependent on both doping of multielement and the calcination temperature of CNBF/TiO₂. The co-doped catalysts which were calcined at 400 °C and 600 °C (100% intensity in anatase phase) were found to be the best catalysts (100% decolourisation of CR in 21/2 h and 2 h respectively). TOC analysis carried out for the samples at the reaction time of 5 h showed very high percentage (83%) degradation of CR over CNBF/TiO₂ catalysts calcined at 600 °C when compared to the other catalysts calcined at different temperatures. CNBF/TiO₂ (1000 °C) showed very less photocatalytic activity due to the formation of rutile phase.     

Structure and dielectric studies of nano-composite Fe2O3: BaTiO3 prepared by sol-gel method

Nano-structure pure barium titanate (BaTiO₃) and that was doped with iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), have been prepared by sol-gel method, using barium acetate (Ba(Ac)₂) and titanium butoxide (Ti(C₄H₉O)₄), as precursors. The as-grown prepared samples by sol-gel technique were found to be amorphous, which crystallized to the tetragonal phase after synthesized at 750 °C in air for 1 h as detected from the XRD patterns. The XRD data were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The dielectric properties namely; dielectric constant (ε′) and loss tangent (tan δ) in the frequency range between 42 Hz and 1 MHz, at range of temperature 25-250 °C were investigated. The temperature dependence of ε′ and tan δ for the undoped and doped materials, at 1 kHz, was also investigated. As a result, tan δ increased rapidly with decreasing temperature below 125 °C (Curie temperature) while above this temperature, tan δ shows temperature independent. As a result, below and above Curie temperature, ferroelectric phase and paraelectric phase of BaTiO₃ can be obtained, respectively.     

Effect of heat treatment on morphology, crystalline structure and photocatalysis properties of TiO2 nanotubes on Ti substrate and freestanding membrane

Highly ordered titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanotubes were prepared by electrolytic anodization of titanium electrodes. Morphological evolution and phase transformations of TiO₂ nanotubes on a Ti substrate and that of freestanding TiO₂ membranes during the calcinations process were studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction microscopy. The detailed results and mechanisms on the morphology and crystalline structure were presented. Our results show that a compact layer exists between the tubular layer and Ti substrate at 600 °C, and the length of the nanotubes shortens dramatically at 750 °C. The freestanding membranes have many particles on their tubes during calcinations from 450 to 900 °C. The TiO₂ nanotubes on the Ti substrate transform to rutile crystals at 600 °C, while the freestanding TiO₂ membranes retain an anatase crystal with increasing temperature to 800 °C. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanotubes on a Ti substrate annealed at different temperatures was investigated by the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. Due to the anatase crystals in the tubular layer and rutile crystals in the compact layer, TiO₂ nanotubes annealed at 450 °C with pure anatase crystals have a better photocatalytic activity than those annealed at 600 °C or 750 °C.     

Effect of Li2O and CoO-doping of CuO/Fe2O3 system on its surface and catalytic properties

Physicochemical, surface and catalytic properties of pure and doped CuO/Fe₂O₃ system were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), nitrogen adsorption at −196 °C and CO-oxidation by O₂ at 80-220 °C using a static method. The dopants were Li₂O (2.5 mol%) and CoO (2.5 and 5 mol%). The results revealed that the increase in precalcination temperature from 400 to 600 °C and Li₂O-doping of CuO/Fe₂O₃ system enhanced CuFe₂O₄ formation. However, heating both pure and doped solids at 600 °C did not lead to complete conversion of reacting oxides into CuFe₂O₄. The promotion effect of Li₂O dopant was attributed to dissolution of some of dopant ions in the lattices of CuO and Fe₂O₃ with subsequent increase in the mobility of reacting cations. CoO-doping led also to the formation of mixed ferrite Co_xCu_1−xFe₂O₄. The doping process of the system investigated decreased to a large extent the crystallite size of unreacted portion of Fe₂O₃ in mixed solids calcined at 600 °C. This process led to a significant increase in the S_BET of the treated solids. Doping CuO/Fe₂O₃ system with either Li₂O or CoO, followed by calcination at 400 and 600 °C decreased its catalytic activity in CO-oxidation by O₂. However, the activation energy of the catalyzed reaction was not much affected by doping.     

Adsorption of CO, CO2 and NO molecules on a BaTiO3 (0 0 1) surface

Since the development of Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) technique, considerable attention has been devoted to various molecules adsorbed on various surfaces. Also, a new concept emerged with molecules on surfaces considered as nano machines by themselves. In this context, a thorough knowledge of surfaces and adsorbed molecules at an atomic scale are thus particularly invaluable. The present work describes the first Density Functional Theory (DFT) study of adsorption of CO, CO₂ and NO molecules on a BaTiO₃ surface following a first preliminary calculation of O and O₂ adsorption on the same surface. In the previously considered work, we found that a (0 0 1) surface with BaO termination is more stable than the one with TiO₂-termination. Consequently, we extended our study to CO, CO₂ and NO molecules adsorbed on a (0 0 1) surface with BaO termination. The present calculation was performed on a (1 × 1) cell with one monolayer of adsorbed molecules. Especially, a series of cases implying CO molecules adsorbed in various geometrical configurations has been examined. The corresponding adsorption energy varies in the range of −0.17 to −0.10 eV. The adsorption energy of a CO₂ molecule directly located above an O surface atom (called O_s) is of the order of −0.18 eV. The O-C distance length is then 1.24 Å and the O-C-O and O-C-O_s angles are 134.0° and 113.0°, respectively. For NO adsorption, the most important induced structural changes are the followings: (i) the N-O bond is broken when a NO molecule is absorbed on a Ba-O_s bridge site. In that case, N and O atoms are located above an O and a Ba surface atom, respectively, whereas the O-Ba-O_s and N-O_s-Ba angles are 106.5° and 63.0°, respectively. The N-O distance is as large as 2.58 Å and the adsorption energy is as much as −2.28 eV. (ii) In the second stable position, the NO molecule has its N atom adsorbed above an O_s atom, the N-O axis being tilted toward the Ba atom. The N-O_s-Ba angle is then 41.1° while the adsorption energy is only −0.10 eV. At last, the local densities of states around C, O as well as N atoms of the considered adsorbed molecules have also been discussed.     

Evolution of Si0.8Ge0.2 quantum dots during Si encapsulation

Surface structure, determined by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), surface morphology, determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and surface composition, determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of 20.0 nm Si_0.8Ge_0.2 quantum dots formed at 800 °C and encapsulated with 0-10 nm of Si at 500 °C and 800 °C are presented. It is observed that the quantum dot surface morphology changes during the Si encapsulation at 800 °C by the smoothing of the quantum dots. The height of the quantum dots decreases faster than can be accounted for from the amount of Si deposited, indicating that there is movement of material out of the quantum dots during the encapsulation process. Encapsulation at 500 °C results in a retention of the quantum dot surface morphology with increased Ge segregation compared to Si encapsulation at 800 °C. We conclude that the changing surface morphology at 800 °C is not the result of Ge segregation but due to intermixing resulting from the tensile strain of Si depositing on SiGe.     

Characterization of LaMnAl11O19 by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed NO and NO/O2

The nature of the NO_x species produced during the adsorption of NO at room temperature and during its coadsorption with oxygen on LaMnAl₁₁O₁₉ sample with magnetoplumbite structure obtained by a sol-gel process has been investigated by means of in situ FT-IR spectroscopy. The adsorption of NO leads to formation of anionic nitrosyls and/or cis-hyponitrite ions and reveals the presence of coordinatively unsaturated Mn³⁺ ions. Upon NO/O₂ adsorption at room temperature various nitro-nitrato structures are observed. The nitro-nitrato species produced with the participation of electrophilic oxygen species decompose at 350 °C directly to N₂ and O₂. No NO decomposition is observed in absence of molecular oxygen. The adsorbed nitro-nitrato species are inert towards the interaction with methane and block the active sites (Mn³⁺ ions) for its oxidation. Noticeable oxidation of the methane on the NOx⁻-precovered sample is observed at temperatures higher than 350 °C due to the liberation of the active sites as a result of decomposition of the surface nitro-nitrato species. Mechanism explaining the promoting effect of the molecular oxygen in the NO decomposition is proposed.     

The role of co-adsorbed O2 on the catalytic reduction of NO with C2H5OH on the surface of Pt(3 3 2)

The influence of pre-dosed O₂ on the catalytic reduction of NO with ¹³C₂H₅OH on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2) was investigated using Fourier transform infra red reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). We show that the oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH with O₂ is a very effective reaction, occurring at 150 K and giving rise to acetate. The presence of NO does not lead to any evident oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH irrespective of the annealing temperature. For the case of O₂ + ¹³C₂H₅OH + NO co-adlayers, oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH also takes place at 150 K. However, no new surface species that are supposed to be an intermediate for the production of N₂ are detected.The influence of O₂ on the production and desorption of N₂ is intimately related to both O₂ and ¹³C₂H₅OH coverage. The presence of pre-dosed O₂ does not greatly promote N₂ desorption. In fact, N₂ desorption is suppressed quantitatively with increasing O₂ coverage, after which unreacted, or left-over O atoms appear and remain on steps. It is concluded that the presence of pre-dosed O₂ does not play a role of activating reactants in the catalytic reduction of NO with ¹³C₂H₅OH on the surface of Pt(3 3 2).     

Influence of deposition temperature on the structural and morphological properties of Be3N2 thin films grown by reactive laser ablation

Be₃N₂ thin films have been grown on Si(1 1 1) substrates using the pulsed laser deposition method at different substrate temperatures: room temperature (RT), 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C. Additionally, two samples were deposited at RT and were annealed after deposition in situ at 600 °C and 700 °C. In order to obtain the stoichiometry of the samples, they have been characterized in situ by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS). The influence of the substrate temperature on the morphological and structural properties of the films was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that all prepared films presented the Be₃N₂ stoichiometry. Formation of whiskers with diameters of 100-200 nm appears at the surface of the films prepared with a substrate temperature of 600 °C or 700 °C. However, the samples grown at RT and annealed at 600 °C or 700 °C do not show whiskers on the surface. The average root mean square (RMS) roughness and the average grain size of the samples grown with respect the substrate temperature is presented. The films grown with a substrate temperature between the room temperature to 400 °C, and the sample annealed in situ at 600 °C were amorphous; while the αBe₃N₂ phase was presented on the samples with a substrate temperature of 600 °C, 700 °C and that deposited with the substrate at RT and annealed in situ at 700 °C.