Characterization and Catalytic Properties of Aerogel Chromium Oxide Supported by Alumina or Silica

Alumina or silica supported chromium oxide catalysts prepared by sol-gel technique have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, BET analysis, combined diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, EPR and reduction-extraction by ethane 1,2 diol. The results reveal the presence of Cr³⁺, Cr⁵⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ ions. Chromium species Cr⁶⁺ are isolated and atomically dispersed on the alumina support as free chromate CrO ₄ ^2– while on silica, dichromate or polychromate species like Cr₂O ₇ ^2– or Cr₃O ₁₀ ^2– predominate. Chromium oxide exhibits a better catalytic properties for paraxylene partial oxidation, when it is supported on alumina. The difference of oxidation states and degree of oligomerisation of chromium on the two supports affects the catalytic properties.     

CrOx/SiO2催化剂上丙烷在CO2气氛中脱氢反应的研究

采用XRD、UV-vis DRS、ESR和微分吸附量热等技术,考察了铬担载量分别为2.5、5和10wt%的CrO_x/SiO₂催化剂的结构、表面性质和氧化还原性能。结果表明,催化剂表面上存在多种Cr的氧化态和聚集形式。随着Cr担载量从2.5wt%到10wt%的逐渐增大,催化剂表面占主导地位的Cr物种由CrO₃单体转为多聚CrO₃和Cr₂O₃晶相。在CO₂气氛中催化剂对丙烷转化率和丙烯选择性的大小顺序为2.5wt%CrO_x/SiO₂>5wt%CrO_x/SiO₂>10wt%CrO_x/SiO₂,反应过程中的原位ESR和UV-visDRS测定结果表明,催化剂表面的反应活性中心为Cr⁵⁺,Cr⁵⁺可由催化剂预处理过程中Cr³⁺的氧化及丙烷反应过程中CrO₃单体的还原产生,在反应中CO₂可使Cr³⁺重新氧化为Cr⁵⁺.     

Dehydrogenation of Isobutane to Isobutene with Carbon Dioxide over SBA‐15‐Supported Chromia‐Ceria Catalysts

A series of SBA‐15‐supported chromia‐ceria catalysts with 3% Cr and 1%–5% Ce (3Cr‐Ce/SBA) were prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption, SEM, TEM‐EDX, Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, XPS and H₂‐TPR, and their catalytic performance for isobutane dehydrogenation with CO₂ was tested. The addition of ceria to SBA‐15‐supported chromia improves the dispersion of chromium species. 3Cr‐Ce/SBA catalysts are more active than SBA‐15‐supported chromia (3Cr/SBA), which is due to a higher concentration of Cr⁶⁺ species present on the former catalysts. The 3Cr‐3Ce/SBA catalyst shows the highest activity, which gives 35.4% isobutane conversion and 89.6% isobutene selectivity at 570 °C after 10 min of the reaction.     

Physicochemical and catalytic properties of sol gel-prepared copper-chromium oxides

Nanostructured copper-chromium oxides were prepared by the sol–gel process (SG) and were characterised by elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by their activity in methane combustion. A comparative study was made with copper chromites commercial catalysts. The as-synthesised copper chromites sample exhibited higher specific surface area (248 m² g⁻¹) with respect to commercial solids (42 m² g⁻¹). The surface quantitative analysis evidenced a Cr⁶⁺ enrichment for the SG catalyst (Cr⁶⁺/Cr³⁺=0.56) with respect to commercial sample (0.39), while the ratio of copper species Cu²⁺/(Cu° + Cu⁺) was the same in both solids. Catalytic activity of SG solids in methane combustion was found to be comparable to that of Pt/Al₂O₃ and superior to that of commercial copper chromites tested under the same conditions.     

Spontaneous passivity of amorphous bulk Ni–Cr–Ta–Mo–Nb–P alloys in concentrated hydrochloric acids

Rod-shaped amorphous bulk Ni–Cr–Mo-22 at.%Ta-14 at.%Nb–P alloys resistant to concentrated hydrochloric acids were prepared by copper-mold casting. Alloys of amorphous single phase and mixture of nanocrystalline phases in the amorphous matrix were all spontaneously passive in 6 and 12 M HCl and were immune to corrosion in 6 M HCl, although the corrosion weight loss was detected for heterogeneous alloys in 12 M HCl. Spontaneous passivation is due to presence of stable air-formed films in which chromium was particularly concentrated in addition to enrichment of tantalum and niobium. The angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that chromium and molybdenum are rich in the inner part of the film. The major molybdenum species is in the tetravalent state, although penta- and hexavalent state molybdenum is also included. The high corrosion resistance was interpreted in terms of the high stability of the outer triple oxyhydroxide, Cr_1−x−yTa_xNb_yO_z(OH)_3+2x+2y−2z, and the effective diffusion barrier of the inner Mo⁴⁺ and Cr³⁺ oxide layer. Contribution to the Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society, Symposium D: 9th International Symposium on Electrochemical/Chemical Reactivity of Metastable Materials, Warsaw, 17th-21st September, 2007.     

Ammoxidation of ethylene to acetonitrile over chromium or cobalt alumina catalysts prepared by sol–gel method

A series of Cr/Al₂O₃ and Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts were tested in the selective ammoxidation of ethylene to acetonitrile. Catalysts were prepared either by sol–gel method or by impregnation with chromium or cobalt acetylacetonate salts. Physicochemical properties of catalysts were accomplished by several techniques such as chemical analysis, physisorption of N₂, X-ray diffraction (XRD), ²⁷Al MAS NMR, UV–Visible diffuse reflectance (DRS) and Raman spectroscopy and temperature programmed reduction of H₂ (H₂–TPR). Textural analysis reveals that mesoporous materials with pronounced surface areas were obtained using sol–gel procedure while impregnation of the support produces a moderate decrease of its surface area and pore volume. XRD analysis confirms the presence of highly dispersed metal species which reside essentially on the surface and measure less than 4 nm. Furthermore, ²⁷Al MAS NMR shows that for xerogels, part of metal species occupies sites on/in A1₂O₃ in close vicinity of octahedral ²⁷Al. This, apparently, is not the case for aerogels. For Cr/Al₂O₃ catalysts, isolated Cr⁶⁺, mono and polychromate species were identified using DRS, Raman Spectroscopy and H₂–TPR which seem to play a key role in the ammoxidation of ethylene. Furthermore, for cobalt doped catalysts, CoAl₂O₄ was identified as active phase on the basis of DRS and H₂–TPR results. From the supercritical drying, it results generally better catalysts than catalysts calcined by ordinary procedure which leads to inactive agglomerated Co₃O₄ and CoO–Al₂O₃ phase.     

Preparation,characterization and activity evaluation of p–n junction photocatalyst p-NiO/n-ZnO

In this paper, p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO was prepared by the sol–gel method using Ni (NO₃)₂ and zinc acetate as the raw materials. The structural and optical properties of the p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS) and the fluorescence emission spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic reduction of Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ and photocatalytic oxidation of methyl orange (MO). The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO is much higher than that of ZnO on the photocatalytic reduction of Cr₂O₇ ²⁻. However, the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst is much lower than that of ZnO on the photocatalytic oxidation of methyl orange. Namely, the p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO has higher photocatalytic reduction activity, but lower photocatalytic oxidation activity. The heat treatment condition also influences the photocatalytic activity strongly, and the best preparation condition is about 400 °C for 2 h. Effect of the heat treatment condition on the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was also investigated. The mechanisms of influence on the photocatalytic activity were discussed by the p–n junction principle.     

Effect of chromium content on the properties of a microspherical alumina-chromium catalyst for isobutane dehydrogenation prepared with the use of a centrifugal thermal activation product of gibbsite

The states of chromium in both promoted and unpromoted alumina-chromium catalysts with various chromium contents prepared with the use of a centrifugal thermal activation product of gibbsite were studied in detail. The presence of five chromium species was found in the catalysts of this type: two Cr⁶⁺ and three Cr³⁺ species. The concentration of each particular chromium species depends on the total chromium content of the catalyst. Based on the experimental data, we hypothesized that highly disperse Cr³⁺ particles, the formation of which was completed at a chromium content of ∼7–9 wt %, are responsible for the catalytic activity of alumina-chromium samples in the reaction of isobutane dehydrogenation.     

Spin Crossover and Long-Lived Excited States in a Reduced Molecular Ruby

The chromium(III) complex [Cr^III(ddpd)₂]³⁺ (molecular ruby; ddpd=N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dipyridine-2-yl-pyridine-2,6-diamine) is reduced to the genuine chromium(II) complex [Cr^II(ddpd)₂]²⁺ with d⁴ electron configuration. This reduced molecular ruby represents one of the very few chromium(II) complexes showing spin crossover (SCO). The reversible SCO is gradual with T_1/2 around room temperature. The low-spin and high-spin chromium(II) isomers exhibit distinct spectroscopic and structural properties (UV/Vis/NIR, IR, EPR spectroscopies, single-crystal XRD). Excitation of [Cr^II(ddpd)₂]²⁺ with UV light at 20 and 290 K generates electronically excited states with microsecond lifetimes. This initial study on the unique reduced molecular ruby paves the way for thermally and photochemically switchable magnetic systems based on chromium complexes complementing the well-established iron(II) SCO systems.     

Effect of inorganic oxide supports on the activity of chromium‐based catalysts in ethylene trimerization

Novel heterogeneous catalysts were prepared using immobilization of bis(2‐decylsulfanylethyl)amine–CrCl₃ (Cr‐SNS‐D) on various supports, namely commercial TiO₂, Al₂O₃ and magnetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles, to yield solid catalysts denoted as support@Cr‐SNS‐D. The structure of the catalysts was confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, N₂ adsorption–desorption and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. The surface areas of Al₂O₃@Cr‐SNS‐D, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cr‐SNS‐D and TiO₂@Cr‐SNS‐D catalysts were determined to be 70, 23 and 41 m² g^?1, respectively. A decrease in surface area from that of the supports clearly establishes accurate immobilization of Cr‐SNS‐D catalyst on the surface of the parent carriers. The loading of Cr was determined to be 0.02, 0.16 and 0.11 mmol g^?1 for Cr‐SNS‐D supported on TiO₂, Al₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄@SiO₂, respectively, using ICP analysis. After preparation and full characterization of the catalysts, ethylene trimerization reaction was accomplished in 40 ml of dry toluene, at 80°C and 25 bar ethylene pressure and in the presence of methylaluminoxane (Al/Cr = 700) within 30 min. The supported chromium catalysts were found to be efficient and selective for the ethylene trimerization reaction. The highest activity (74 650 g_1‐hexene g_Cr^?1 h^?1), as well as no polyethylene formation during reaction processes, was observed when TiO₂ was used as the catalyst support.     

Reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia over complex vanadium and chromium oxides

Catalytic properties of -Al₂O₃ -supported complex vanadium and chromium oxides V_2–x Cr _x O_5– (0 < × s 1.3), amorphous to X-rays, in the reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia were studied. Vanadium exists in these catalysts mostly in a pentavalent state and chromium exists as Cr³⁺ and Cr⁶⁺. As the content of chromium in the catalysts increases, the optimal temperature of the process decreases, and the degree of conversion of nitrogen oxides increases.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 339–342, February, 1996.     

Controlling Cr3+/Cr4+ concentration in single-phase host toward tailored super-broad near-infrared luminescence for multifunctional applications

Full control on the valence of the active ions in solids to improve properties is the central topic of chemistry and materials. Cr³⁺ and Cr⁴⁺ ions generally emit wavelength-different near-infrared (NIR) light. Here, we have developed a chromium valence-controllable single-phase phosphor, Mg₂GeO₄:Cr³⁺,Cr⁴⁺ to achieve super-broad NIR luminescence. High Li ⁺ content charge compensators can stabilize Cr³⁺, whereas high-temperature sintering tends to facilitate the formation of Cr⁴⁺. Through fine adjusting the synthesis conditions, pure Cr³⁺ or Cr⁴⁺ luminescence can be obtained with peak emission locating at 935 nm and 1190 nm, respectively. Super broad band dual emission spanning from 650 nm to 1600 nm is realized via fully controlling the concentration ratio of Cr³⁺ to Cr⁴⁺ in a single host. By measuring the transmission spectra of several foodstuff illuminated by our phosphors, non-destructive analysis in food safety areas can be realized. This study provides a new strategy for exploiting super broad band NIR luminescent materials.     

Novel Dendritic PNP Chromium Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, and Performance on Ethylene Oligomerization

Three dendritic PNP ligands with ethylenediamine, 1,4‐butanediamine, 1,6‐diaminohexane as bridged groups are synthesized in good yields, respectively. Three dendritic PNP chromium complexes ( C1  –  C3 ) are prepared with the ligands and chromium(III ) chloride tetrahydrofuran complex (CrCl₃(THF )₃) as materials. The dendritic PNP ligands and the synthetic chromium complexes are fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. All chromium complexes activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO ) exhibited moderate activities on ethylene oligomerization (7.90 × 10⁴ – 2.15 × 10⁵ g (mol Cr h)⁻¹] and had better selectivity for C₆ and C₈ oligomer, reaching up to 81%. The chromium complex ( C1 ) activated with diethylaluminium chloride (Et₂AlCl) has higher catalytic activity than the chromium complex C1 activated with MAO , although the chromium complex ( C1 ) activated with Et₂AlCl had lower selectivity for C₆ and C₈ oligomer. The effects of solvent and reaction parameters on ethylene oligomerization are also studied using the chromium complex C1 as pre ‐ catalyst and MAO as co ‐ catalyst. Under optimized conditions ([complex] = 2 μmol, Al/Cr = 500, 25 °C, 0.9 MP a ethylene, 30 min), the catalytic activity of complex C1 in toluene is 2.15 × 10⁵ g (mol Cr h)⁻¹ and the selectivity for C₆ and C₈ oligomer is 36.76%. In addition, the structure of complexes significantly affects both the catalytic activity and the selectivity on ethylene oligomerization.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone initiated with different ruthenium derivatives: Kinetics and mechanism studies

End‐functionalized polyesters have been synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone (CL) initiated with five different ruthenium derivatives in the presence of a series of alcohols as transfer agents. Mechanistic studies were performed for ROP of CL with RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ ( I ), TpRuCl(PPh₃)₂ ( II ), and TpRuCl(PHPh₂)(PPh₃) ( III ) as catalysts in the presence or absence of benzyl alcohol (BzOH). Obtained molecular weights are proportional to CL/BzOH ratio, but there is not a direct relationship with CL/ruthenium complex ratios. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed the existence of benzyl ester end‐groups. Catalysis involves (a) dissociation of ruthenium complexes, (b) coordination of the lactone CL, (c) coordination of the BzOH with the formation of a metal alkoxide, (d) transfer from the alkoxyl ligand to the coordinated lactone, and (e) ring‐opening of CL by oxygen‐acyl bond cleavage. The proposed mechanism is supported by ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and MALDI‐TOF analysis of the polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6926–6942, 2006     

Template synthesis and characterization of diaza dioxa macrocyclic nanosized cobalt(II) complex dispersed within nanocavity of zeolite-Y

Nanocavity microreactor containing 15- and 16-membered diaza dioxa Schiff-base cobalt(II) complexes “[Co(Et[15]N₂O₂)]²⁺, [Co(Pr[16]N₂O₂)]²⁺, [Co(Ph[15]N₂O₂)]²⁺ and [Co(Ch[15]N₂O₂)]²⁺” have been prepared by the template synthesis of diamine (1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,2-diaminobenzene or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane) with [(1,3-bis(2-carboxyaldehydephenoxy)propane)cobalt]²⁺;[Co(BCAPP)]²⁺@NaY within the pores of zeolite-Y. The nanosized cobalt(II) complex were entrapped in the supercage of Y-zeolite by a three-step process in the liquid phase: (i) exchange of Co(II) ions with NaY in water solution, (ii) reaction of Co(II)–NaY with excess BCAPP in methanol; [Co(BCAPP)]²⁺@NaY; (iii) template synthesis of [Co(BCAPP)]²⁺@NaY with diamine. The new nanosized complex entrapped in the nanocavity of zeolite Y was characterized by several techniques: chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV–Vis, XRD, BET, DRS, XPS, TGA).     

Synthesis,structure, optical and magnetic properties of [CrL(X)3], {L = 4′-(2-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine; X = Cl,N3, NCS}

Three complexes of composition [CrL(X)₃], where L = 4′-(2-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and X = Cl⁻, N₃⁻, NCS⁻ are synthesized. They are characterized by IR, UV–Vis, fluorescence, EPR spectroscopic, and X-ray crystallographic studies. Structural studies reveal that the Cr(III) ion is coordinated by three N atoms of L in a meridional fashion. The three anions occupy the other three coordination sites completing the mer-N₃Cl₃ (1) and mer-N₃N₃ (2 and 3), distorted octahedral geometry. The Cr–N2 has a shorter length than the Cr–N1 and Cr–N3 distances and the order Cr–N(NCS⁻) < Cr–N(N₃⁻) < Cr–Cl is observed. They exhibit some of the d–d transitions in the visible and intra-ligand transitions in the UV regions. The lowest energy d–d transition follows the trend [CrLCl₃] < [CrL(N₃)₃] < [CrL(NCS)₃] consistent with the spectrochemical series. In DMF, they exhibit fluorescence having π → π^∗ character. All the complexes show a rhombic splitting as well as zero-field splitting (zfs) in X-band EPR spectra at 77 K.     

Catalytic performance of silica-supported chromium oxide catalysts in ethane dehydrogenation with carbon dioxide

The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane into ethylene by CO₂ over a series of silica-supported chromium oxide catalysts was investigated. The results showed that the catalysts were effective for the reaction and CO₂ in the feed promoted the catalytic activity. The 5%Cr/SiO₂ catalyst exhibited the excellent performance with 30.7% ethane conversion and 96.5% ethylene selectivity at 700^oC. ESR and UV-DRS were used to probe the active sites and the species with high valent states (Cr⁵⁺ and/or Cr⁶⁺) were found to be important for the reaction.     

Textural,structural and catalytic behavior of low specific area silica-supported copper catalysts: effect of preparation method

Supported copper catalysts on low surface area silica were prepared by several methods and characterized by AAS, XRD, N₂ adsorption, SEM, H₂-TPR, N₂O titration, TGA-DTA, UV–Vis techniques. Their hydrogenating properties were examined in the gas-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde. The analysis of characterization results revealed that the choice of preparation method affected the texture, composition, and structure of the calcined and reduced Cu/SiO₂ catalysts. The dispersion and size distribution of copper species was present in different forms in the catalysts that exhibited low specific surface areas. In gas-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol, the catalysts tested at the reaction temperatures of 160 and 200 °C were stable and conducted to a good catalytic activity and benzyl alcohol selectivity ranging between 5 and 39 µmol min^?1 g^?1 and 0–95%, respectively. The activity of the catalysts in gas-phase hydrogenation also depended on the particle size and the nature of copper species formed on low surface area silica.     

Effect of zeolite structure on the selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia over Mn-Fe supported on ZSM-5, BEA,MOR and FER

A series of catalysts based on Mn-Fe loaded zeolites was prepared by impregnation and their activity in the selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH₃-SCR) was investigated. The highest catalytic conversion was recorded for MnFe-ZSM-5 (MnFe-Z), followed by MnFe-BEA (MnFe-B) and MnFe-MOR (MnFe-M), while MnFe-FER (MnFe-F) showed a very poor activity over the entire temperature range. In order to evidence a correlation between the structure and acidity of the zeolites and NO conversion, the prepared samples were characterized by various techniques (ICP-AES, N₂ physisorption at 77 K, XRD, ²⁷NMR, Raman, FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed ammonia, H₂-TPR, DRS UV–Vis, EPR and XPS). The superior catalytic activity of MnFe-Z at low temperature is attributed to the abundance of Mn⁴⁺ concentration as revealed by XPS, the highest NH₃-L/NH₄⁺ ratio indicative of the contribution of metals in generating Lewis acidic centers as evidenced by IR-NH3, and the better reducibility of manganese and iron on ZSM-5 which increases the kinetics for red-ox cycles as confirmed in TPR analysis. Fe₃Mn₃O₈ mixed oxide phase is also detected by XRD and XPS and can be associated with the high reducibility of MnFe-Z which generates a high oxidation ability favoring NO to NO₂ oxidation. Raman spectroscopy was also used to confirm the existence of a strong synergy between metals and ZSM-5 support revealed by the shift in the signal position and the decrease in band intensities. The results showed that the zeolite framework and acidity generate catalysts with different textural and structural properties which influence the metal dispersion and speciation and hence influence the catalytic performances.

     

Structural features of the electrode/solution interface at the reduction of Cr3+(aq) cations on liquid mercury and solid indium electrodes in acidic media

Characteristics of electroreduction of Cr³⁺ and Cr²⁺ ions on the dropping mercury (literature data) and indium cathodes are analyzed as a function of pH of the medium. A hypothesis that polymeric hydroxocompounds of chromium, which are present in different aggregate states, represent the main or partial reactants in the $ Cr\left( {III} \right)\xrightarrow{{ + e}}Cr\left( {II} \right)\xrightarrow{{ + 2e}}Cr Characteristics of electroreduction of Cr³⁺ and Cr²⁺ ions on the dropping mercury (literature data) and indium cathodes are analyzed as a function of pH of the medium. A hypothesis that polymeric hydroxocompounds of chromium, which are present in different aggregate states, represent the main or partial reactants in the stages is additionally substantiated. Original Russian Text ? V.N. Korshunov, V.A. Safonov, L.N. Vykhodtseva, 2008, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 275–285.