X-ray photoelectron study of the interaction of H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and H<Subscript>2</Subscript>+O<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixtures on the Pt/MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> model catalyst

The effects of H₂ and H₂ + O₂ gas mixtures of varying composition on the state of the surface of the Pt/MoO₃ model catalyst prepared by vacuum deposition of platinum on oxidized molybdenum foil were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at room temperature and a pressure of 5–150 Torr. For samples with a large Pt/Mo ratio, the XP spectrum of large platinum particles showed that the effect of hydrogen-containing mixtures on the catalyst was accompanied by the reduction of molybdenum oxide. This effect results from the activation of molecular hydrogen due to the dissociation on platinum particles and subsequent spill-over of hydrogen atoms on the support. The effect was not observed at low platinum contents in the model catalyst (i.e., for small Pt particles). It is assumed for the catalyst that the loss of its hydrogen-activating ability is a consequence of the formation of platinum hydride. Possible participation of platinum hydride as intermediate in hydrogen oxidation to H₂O₂ is discussed.     

Study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-hexane isomerization on Pt/SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts: Effect of the state of platinum on catalytic and adsorption properties

The state of surface Pt atoms in the Pt/SO₄/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst and the effect of the state of platinum on its adsorption and catalytic properties in the reaction of n-hexane isomerization were studied. The Pt-X/Al₂O₃ alumina-platinum catalysts modified with various halogens (X = Br, Cl, and F) and their mechanical mixtures with the SO₄/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ superacid catalyst were used in this study. With the use of IR spectroscopy (CO_ads), oxygen chemisorption, and oxygen-hydrogen titration, it was found that ionic platinum species were present on the reduced form of the catalysts. These species can adsorb to three hydrogen atoms per each surface platinum atom. The specific properties of ionic platinum manifested themselves in the formation of a hydride form of adsorbed hydrogen. It is believed that the catalytic activity and operational stability of the superacid system based on sulfated zirconium dioxide were due to the participation of ionic and metallic platinum in the activation of hydrogen for the reaction of n-hexane isomerization.     

Effect of the basic surface sites of carbons on the degree of dispersion of platinum catalysts prepared by H<Subscript>2</Subscript>PtCl<Subscript>6</Subscript> adsorption

In the synthesis of Pt/C catalysts via H₂PtCl₆ adsorption onto a carbon support, NH₄Cl can be formed catalytically during the reduction of the precursor with H₂ at 250°C. This compound favors the sintering of metal particles. This effect is likely due to the weakening of metal-support bonding because of NH₄Cl adsorption on the Pt surface. The sources of nitrogen and chlorine atoms are basic surface sites of the support, which contain nitrogen atoms in their structure and adsorb Cl^? ions from the precursor solution. This effect is typical of active carbons, whose surface contains chemically bound nitrogen as amino groups, and weakens as the Pt/N atomic ratio in the supported catalyst precursors is increased.     

A comparative study of Ir/Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, Pt/Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, and Ru/Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts in selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde

Catalytic performance of gallia-supported iridium catalysts in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde in the gas phase was studied and compared to that of platinum and ruthenium catalysts. The best catalytic properties in terms of the selectivity to crotyl alcohol are shown by 5 wt % Pt/α-Ga₂O₃ and 5 wt % Ir/α-Ga₂O₃ catalysts prepared from nonchlorine precursors: Pt(acac)₂ and Ir(acac)₃, but for the 5 wt % Pt/α-Ga₂O₃ a very high selectivity of 75% at the high conversion (ca. 60%) is observed. A high selectivity of galia-supported iridium and platinum catalysts was explained by the surface reducibility of gallium oxide leading to covering (decoration) of platinum and iridium by gallium suboxides and the promoting effect of gallium.     

Effect of Pt nanoparticle size on the specific catalytic activity of Pt/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Pt/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the total oxidation of methane and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butane

The dependence of the specific catalytic activity (A _sp ) of the catalysts Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/TiO₂ in the total oxidation of CH₄ and n-C₄H₁₀ on the Pt nanoparticle size (in the range from 1 to 4 nm) was studied. The specific catalytic activity increases with an increase in the platinum nanoparticle size, indicating that the total oxidation is a structure-sensitive reaction. The structure sensitivity depends on the size of an oxidized molecule: it increases sharply on going from CH₄ to n-C₄H₁₀. The support also exerts a considerable effect on the A _sp value: in the oxidation of both CH₄ and C₄H₁₀ the specific catalytic activity for the catalysts Pt/TiO₂ is 3–4 times that for Pt/SiO₂.     

Bimetallic Pt<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Catalyst: Preparation,Structure, and Properties in Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide

The Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ catalyst has been prepared by the decomposition of a [Pt(NH₃)₄][Co(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]. 2H₂O binary complex salt supported in the pores of SiO₂ pellets. It has been shown by a complex of physical and chemical methods that Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ contains alloy nanoparticles with an average composition Pt0.5Co0.5. The catalytic properties of Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ are studied in the preferential oxidation of СО in the reaction mixtures with various compositions. It was found that Pt_0.5Со_0.5/SiO₂ has a high selectivity and makes it possible to decrease the outlet concentration of CO to a level of <10 ppm, and the presence of СО₂ and/or Н₂О in the reaction mixture almost does not affect its catalytic properties. The structure of the catalyst is stable under the conditions of preferential CO oxidation.     

Electrochemical processes on multi-component cathodic catalysts PtM and PtM<Subscript>1</Subscript>M<Subscript>2</Subscript> (M = Co,Ni, Cr): the effect of surface composition on the catalyst stability and its activity in O<Subscript>2</Subscript> reduction

The multi-component nanocatalysts based on platinum-transient metals alloys applied onto dispersed carbon material are considered as the most promising catalysts, which can be substituted for platinum in the fuel cell cathodes. The electrocatalytic activity of platinum in the PtM₁/C and PtM₁M₂/C alloys increases by several times with simultaneous increase in the stability. From the results obtained by structural and electrochemical methods, it is found that the synthesized binary and ternary catalysts are the metal alloys, whose surface is enriched in platinum as a result of surface segregation and subsequent chemical or electrochemical treatment. Under the corrosive attack, the less-noble metal, which has not entered into the alloy, dissolves, and the core-shell structures form. The properties of platinum in the shell differ from its properties in Pt/C due to the ligand effect of the core (metal alloy). As a result, the surface coverage with oxygen chemisorbed from water decreases in the binary and ternary systems. This causes an increase of the catalytic activity in the O₂ reduction reaction due to a decline in the effect of surface blocking against molecular oxygen adsorption and a decrease in the platinum dissolution rate, because the oxidation of platinum by water is the onset of corrosion process. For the catalytic systems studied, the mass activity decreases in the following order: 20% Pt in PtCoCr/C > 7.3% Pt in PtCo/C ≥ 7.3% Pt in PtCr/C and PtNi/C ≥ 40% Pt/C. The application of PtCoCr/C catalyst as the cathode in a low-temperature hydrogen-air fuel cell enabled one to reduce the platinum consumption by one half on retention of its performance.     

Kinetics of processes occurring at a H<Subscript>3</Subscript>PW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript>/Pt,H<Subscript>2</Subscript> interface depending on the platinum content on the electrode

Kinetics of processes occurring at H⁺/solid electrolyte/Pt, H₂ three-phase interface are studied subject to the platinum content on the electrode. The study was performed with model electrochemical cells PbO₂/H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/Pt with different platinum content at the working electrode that consisted of platinum deposited onto the E-Tek LT1200-N carbon-nanotubes paper. On the basis of the obtained results, the occurring processes were practically fully separated. It is shown by the analyzing of relaxation curves that there exist at least two processes in the system: the faster one corresponds to the hydrogen reaction; the slower, to the oxygen one. The rates of both processes depend on the platinum content at the working electrode; they have an extreme at the platinum concentration of 0.5 mg/cm². Impedance data allowed revealing the processes’ limiting stages. The experimental data allowed suggesting that at low platinum content the relaxation time is determined by the electrochemical reaction rate; at higher content, by gas diffusion through the platinum dense layer.     

The adsorption of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and D<Subscript>2</Subscript>O on porous polystyrene adsorbents

The adsorption of H₂O and D₂O on porous polymers, Chromosorb-102 (styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer) and MN-200 (supercross-linked polystyrene), was studied by gas chromatography. Test adsorbates used to study the properties of the surface of these polymers were n-alkanes (C₆-C₉), C₆H₆, and the polar compounds CHCl₃, CH₃NO₂, CH₃CN, (CH₃)₂CO, C₂H₅COOCH₃, and (C₂H₅)₂O. The experimental data on the retention of the sorbates were used to determine the contributions of dispersion and specific intermolecular interactions to the total energy of adsorption for the systems studied. The electron donor K _D and electron acceptor K _A characteristics of the surfaces of Chromosorb-102 and MN-200 were determined. The K _D and K _A values obtained allow these polymers to be classified as weakly specific adsorbents with the predominance of electron acceptor properties. The adsorption isotherms of H₂O and D₂O were measured at 55, 67, and 80°C. The dependences of the isosteric heats of adsorption Q _st on adsorption values were determined. The conclusion was drawn that H₂O interacted with the surface of the polymers by the adsorption mechanism, whereas absorption likely made a noticeable contribution to the retention of D₂O.     

Catalytic properties of Pt/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts in the aqueous-phase reforming of ethylene glycol: Effect of the alumina support

The influence of the alumina support on the catalytic activity of Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts in aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol to hydrogen was studied. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation of γ-, δ-, and α-alumina with H₂PtCl₆. The highest rate of hydrogen production (452 μmol min⁻¹ g⁻¹) obtained with the Pt/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst can be related to the highest extent of dispersion of Pt on α-Al₂O₃. XPS, TEM-EDX and TPR-H₂ measurements showed the absence of chloride-containing surface complexes in the Pt/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst. However, chloride-containing entities were found on the surface of Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ and Pr/δ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. When chloride ions are removed chlorinated Pt species facilitate the sintering of Pt crystallites and in this way affect the extent of Pt dispersion. Moreover, depending upon the particular crystalline form, alumina atoms have different coordination and alumina surfaces contain varying amounts of OH groups of different nature which affect the interaction between Pt and the support.     

Gold catalysts supported on ZnO/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> for low-temperature CO oxidation

Gold catalysts with loadings ranging from 0.5 to 7.0 wt% on a ZnO/Al₂O₃ support were prepared by the deposition–precipitation method (Au/ZnO/Al₂O₃) with ammonium bicarbonate as the precipitation agent and were evaluated for performance in CO oxidation. These catalysts were characterized by inductively coupled plasma-atom emission spectrometry, temperature programmed reduction, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic activity for CO oxidation was measured using a flow reactor under atmospheric pressure. Catalytic activity was found to be strongly dependent on the reduction property of oxygen adsorbed on the gold surface, which related to gold particle size. Higher catalytic activity was found when the gold particles had an average diameter of 3–5 nm; in this range, gold catalysts were more active than the Pt/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst in CO oxidation. Au/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst with small amount of ZnO is more active than Au/Al₂O₃ catalyst due to higher dispersion of gold particles.     

The influence of hydrogen-containing molybdenum and tungsten bronzes on the catalytic activity of palladium composite catalysts for the oxidation of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>, CO,and CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The influence of hydrogen-containing molybdenum and tungsten bronzes on the catalytic activity of palladium composite catalysts for the oxidation of H₂, CO, and CH₄ was studied. It was found that the composite catalysts containing H _x MO₃ phases (M = W or Mo), which were formed by the reduction of MoO₃ and WO₃ oxides with hydrogen in the presence of deposited Pd, showed higher catalytic activity in the oxidation of small molecules (H₂, CO, and CH₄) with excess oxygen than the traditional Pd/Al₂O₃ deposited catalyst with the same content of the deposited metal. It was shown that the thermal stability of the H _x MO₃ phases was the limiting factor influencing the activity of these composite catalysts.     

Adsorption of NO,NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> and H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O on V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The adsorption of small molecules NO, NH₃ and H₂O on V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysts is studied with the semiempirical SCF MO method MSINDO as pre-stage for the selective catalytic reduction of NO. The mixed catalyst is represented by hydrogen-terminated cluster models. The local arrangement of the cluster atoms is in accordance with available experimental information. Partial relaxation of cluster atoms near the adsorption sites is taken into account. Calculated adsorption energies are compared with experimental literature data. Rapid convergence of computed properties with cluster size is observed. A possible reaction mechanism for the catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃ and O₂ is outlined.     

Selective oxidation of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-containing gas on CuO-CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts prepared by surface self-propagating thermal synthesis

The CuO-CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts for the selective oxidation of CO in hydrogen-containing mixtures were prepared by surface self-propagating thermal synthesis (SSTS) with the use of cerium nitrate Ce(NO₃)₃, the ammonia complex of copper acetate [Cu(NH₃)₄](CH₃COO)₂, and citric acid C₆H₈O₇ as a fuel additive. The effect of the C₆H₈O₇/Ce(NO₃)₃ molar ratio on the catalyst activity and selectivity for oxygen was studied. The catalyst samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR-H₂), IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that an increase in the C₆H₈O₇/Ce(NO₃)₃ ratio resulted in an increase in the degree of dispersion of the resulting CeO₂ phase. The greatest amount of dispersed CuO particles, which are responsible for catalytic activity in the oxidation of CO, was formed at C₆H₈O₇/Ce(NO₃)₃ = 1.     

Thermal deactivation mechanism and the effect of Nd addition on the deactivation of the Pt/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst for NO oxidation reaction

Pt-based catalysts cannot be used permanently for the diesel after-treatment system because the catalytic activity is decreased due to coarsening of Pt particles at high temperature of the exhaust gas. In this study, to prevent Pt-based catalyst from deactivation, Nd was added to the Pt/SiO₂ catalyst, and the effect of the Nd addition on the catalytic activity was investigated. The Pt/SiO₂ catalyst showed a high catalytic activity for the oxidation of NO but was severely deactivated after the fast thermal aging process. Pt crystallite size was increased and some Pt particles were buried in the SiO₂ pore during the fast thermal aging process, which led to the decrease of catalytic activity. Nd-added Pt/SiO₂ catalyst showed lower activity than Pt/SiO₂ catalyst, but Pt–Nd/SiO₂ catalyst maintained its catalytic activity after fast thermal aging process. It can be postulated that a stable Nd silicate, on which Pt particle is placed, protects SiO₂ pores from destruction and so the number of the catalytically active sites remains nearly unchanged. As a result the Pt–Nd/SiO₂ catalyst maintained its catalytic activity after fast thermal aging process.     

Dissociative adsorption of molecular hydrogen onto Pt<Subscript>6</Subscript> and Pt<Subscript>19</Subscript> platinum clusters located on the tin dioxide surface: Quantum-chemical modeling

It is suggested that, for the operation of platinum catalysts based on tin dioxide in air hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen spillover (migration) leading to a change in the electron and proton contributions of the catalyst conductivity is of crucial importance. The hydrogen adsorption, dissociation, and migration in the platinum-tin dioxide-hydrogen system surface have been modeled by the density functional theory method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) under periodic conditions using a projector-augmented plane-wave (PAW) basis set with a pseudopotential. It has been demonstrated that the adsorption energy of a hydrogen molecule onto a platinum cluster increases from 1.6 to 2.4 eV as the distance to the SnO₂ substrate decreases. The calculated Pt-H bond length for adsorbed structures is 1.58–1.78 Å. The computer modeling has demonstrated that: (1) the hydrogen adsorption energy on clusters is higher than on the perfect platinum surface; (2) dissociative chemisorption onto Pt _n clusters can occur without a barrier and depends on the adsorption site and the cluster structure; (3) the adsorption energy of hydrogen onto the SnO₂ surface is higher than the adsorption energy onto the platinum cluster surface: (4) multiple H₂ dissociation on the tin dioxide surface occurs with a barrier; (5) the dissociation adsorption of hydrogen molecules onto the platinum cluster surface followed by atom migration (spillover) is energetically favorable.     

Adsorption of water isotopomers H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and D<Subscript>2</Subscript>O on hypercross-linked polystyrene MN-272

Adsorption of light and heavy water (H₂O and D₂O) on porous hypercross-linked polystyrene MN-272 was studied by gas chromatography. For the estimation of the properties of this polymer surface, n-alkanes (C6—C9), C_{6 6}, and polar compounds (CHCl₃, MeNO₂, MeCN, Me₂CO, EtCOOCH₃, Et₂O) were used as test adsorbates. The contributions of energies of dispersion and specific (donor-acceptor) intermolecular interactions to the total energy of adsorption were determined on the basis of experimental data on the retention of the sorbates. The electron-donor and electron-acceptor characteristics of the hypercross-linked polystyrene MN-272 surface were estimated. Hypercross-linked polystyrene MN-272 was found to be a weakly specific adsorbent with predomination of electron-donating properties. The adsorption isotherms of H₂O and D₂O were measured on this polymer at 50, 60, and 70 °C. The dependences of the isosteric heats of adsorption on the amount adsorbed were determined. The contribution of the energy of specific interactions to the total energy of adsorption for all polar adsorbates (except for acetone, light and heavy water) does not exceed 20%. Adsorption of H₂O on hypercross -linked polystyrene MN-272 is slightly weaker than that of D ₂O.     

Ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with hexene-1 on supported metallocene catalysts based on (C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>Zr and methylaluminoxane

New supported metallocene catalysts based on tetrakis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium + methylaluminoxane (MAO) were prepared and tested for ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with hexene-1. It was shown that silica gel of the Davison 952 brand is the best support for such catalysts. The maximum catalyst activity was achieved on the support impregnated with the (C₅H₅)₄Zr-MAO complex. The addition of hexene-1 into the liquid phase resulted in acceleration of polymerization and an increase in the product yield. The morphological, rheological, and other properties of polymers and copolymers were studied. The test catalytic system can be used for manufacture of low-, medium-, and high-density polyethylenes with various stress-strain characteristics.     

Studies on the synthesis of higher alcohol over modified Cu/ZnO/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst

Higher alcohol has been considered as a potential fuel additive. Higher alcohol, including C₂–C₄ alcohol was synthesized by catalytic conversion of syngas (with a ratio of CO/H₂?=?1) derived from natural gas over modified Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Modified Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts promoted by alkali metal (Li) for higher alcohol synthesis (HAS) were prepared at different pH (6, 6.5, 7, 8, and 9) by co-precipitation to control Cu surface area and characterized by N₂ physisorption, XRD, SEM, H₂-TPR and TPD. The HAS reaction was carried out under a pressure of 45 bar, GHSV of 4000 h^?1, ratio of H₂/CO?=?1, and temperature ranges of 240 and 280 °C. It was found that the malachite phase of copper causes the size of copper to be small, which is suitable for methanol synthesis. Methanol and HAS share a common catalytic active site and intermediate. It was also found that the productivity to higher alcohol was correlated with Cu surface area.     

Effect of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on the properties of the Pd/Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/cordierite catalyst in the conversion of CO,NO, and hydrocarbons

The effect of CeO₂ on the properties of the Pd/Co₃O₄-CeO₂/cordierite catalyst is a function of the method of its preparation. The catalyst obtained by the simultaneous deposition of cerium oxide and cobalt oxide showed high activity in the oxidation of CO (CO + O₂, CO + NO) and extensive oxidation of hexane (C₆H₁₄ + O₂). This behavior is due to the increased mobility of surface oxygen and increased dispersion of the catalyst components.