Development of high performance Cu/ZnO-based catalysts for methanol synthesis and the water-gas shift reaction

Our groups studies on Cu/ZnO-based catalysts for methanol synthesis via hydrogenation of CO₂ and for the water-gas shift reaction are reviewed. Effects of ZnO contained in supported Cu-based catalysts on their activities for several reactions were investigated. The addition of ZnO to Cu-based catalyst supported on Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ or SiO₂ improved its specific activity for methanol synthesis and the reverse water-gas shift reaction, but did not improve its specific activity for methanol steam reforming and the water-gas shift reaction. Methanol synthesis from CO₂ and H₂ over Cu/ZnO-based catalysts was extensively studied under a joint research project between National Institute for Resources and Environment (NIRE; one of the former research institutes reorganized to AIST) and Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE). It was suggested that methanol should be produced via the hydrogenation of CO₂, but not via the hydrogenation of CO, and that H₂O produced along with methanol should greatly suppress methanol synthesis. The Cu/ZnO-based multicomponent catalysts such as Cu/ZnO/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ and Cu/ZnO/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃/Ga₂O₃ were highly active for methanol synthesis from CO₂ and H₂. The addition of a small amount of colloidal silica to the multicomponent catalysts greatly improved their long-term stability during methanol synthesis from CO₂ and H₂. The purity of the crude methanol produced in a bench plant was 99.9 wt% and higher than that of the crude methanol from a commercial methanol synthesis from syngas. The water-gas shift reaction over Cu/ZnO-based catalysts was also studied. The activity of Cu/ZnO/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst for the water-gas shift reaction at 523 K was less affected by the pre-treatments such as calcination and treatment in H₂ at high temperatures than that of the Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Accordingly, the Cu/ZnO/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst was considered to be more suitable for practical use for the water-gas shift reaction. The Cu/ZnO/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst was also highly active for the water-gas shift reaction at 673 K. Furthermore, a two-stage reaction system composed of the first reaction zone for the water-gas shift reaction at 673 K and the second reaction zone for the reaction at 523 K was found to be more efficient than a one-stage reaction system. The addition of a small amount of colloidal silica to a Cu/ZnO-based catalyst greatly improved its long-term stability in the water-gas shift reaction in a similar manner as in methanol synthesis from CO₂ and H₂.     

Current progress of molybdenum carbide-based materials for electrocatalysis: potential electrocatalysts with diverse applications

Electrocatalysts are the cores of many electrochemical reactions including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), and CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). Recent advances in research have demonstrated the potentials of molybdenum carbide-based catalysts for these reactions arising out of their unique electronic structure and physicochemical properties. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent advances of molybdenum carbide-based catalysts in these electrochemical processes. The corresponding synthesis strategies, structure and electrocatalytic performance of the catalysts are discussed and the relationships of the process-structure-property are highlighted. In addition, the catalytic mechanisms are analyzed based on the structure characterization and theoretical calculations results. Finally, the existing challenges and future perspectives are put forward for further development of molybdenum carbide-based catalysts.     

Hydroconversion of Oxidation Products of Sulfur-Containing Aromatic Compounds

Hydroconversion of benzo- and dibenzothiophene sulfone on a Ni–Mo sulfide catalyst based on mesoporous aluminosilicate Al-HMS and on unsupported catalysts prepared in situ in the course of decomposition of poorly soluble precursors (molybdenum hexacarbonyl, nickel naphthenate) was studied. Hydrogenation of sulfones was perfpormed at 250, 340, and 380°С and elevated СО pressure in the presence of water ensuring in situ generation of hydrogen via water-gas shift reaction.     

Tuning product selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation over metal-based catalysts

Conversion of CO₂ into chemicals is a promising strategy for CO₂ utilization, but its intricate transformation pathways and insufficient product selectivity still pose challenges. Exploiting new catalysts for tuning product selectivity in CO₂ hydrogenation is important to improve the viability of this technology, where reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) and methanation as competitive reactions play key roles in controlling product selectivity in CO₂ hydrogenation. So far, a series of metal-based catalysts with adjustable strong metal–support interactions, metal surface structure, and local environment of active sites have been developed, significantly tuning the product selectivity in CO₂ hydrogenation. Herein, we describe the recent advances in the fundamental understanding of the two reactions in CO₂ hydrogenation, in terms of emerging new catalysts which regulate the catalytic structure and switch reaction pathways, where the strong metal–support interactions, metal surface structure, and local environment of the active sites are particularly discussed. They are expected to enable efficient catalyst design for minimizing the deep hydrogenation and controlling the reaction towards the RWGS reaction. Finally, the potential utilization of these strategies for improving the performance of industrial catalysts is examined.

A series of metal oxide, phosphate, alloy, and carbide-based catalysts for selective CO₂ hydrogenation are summarized, showing their abilities to switch CO₂ methanation to RWGS.     

Three-dimensionally ordered macro-porous Pt/TiO2 catalyst used for water-gas shift reaction

Three-dimensionally ordered macro-porous （3DOM） Pt/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by template and impregnation methods, and the resultant samples were characterized by using TG-DTA, XRD, SEM, TEM, and TPR techniques. The catalytic performance for water-gas shift （WGS） reaction was tested, and the influences of some conditions, such as reduction temperature of catalysts, the amount of Pt loadings and space velocity on catalytic performance were investigated. It was shown that Pt particles were homogeneously dispersed on 3DOM TiO2. The reduction of TiO2 surface was important for the catalytic performance. The activity test results showed that the 3DOM Pt/TiO2 catalysts exhibited very good catalytic performance for WGS reaction even at high space velocity, which was owing to the better mass transfer of 3DOM porous structure besides the high intrinsic activity of Pt/TiO2.     

Influence of iron oxide support preparation method on the properties of Ru/Fe2O3 catalysts for water-gas shift reaction

Studies were undertaken of phase transitions of iron oxide obtained from iron oxide-hydroxides of type α-, β-, γ- and δ-FeOOH, and used as a support of ruthenium catalysts Ru/Fe₂O₃, employed in the water-gas shift reaction. In asprepared pure supports and ruthenium catalysts the main phase was α-Fe₂O₃. After use in the water-gas shift reaction, the support showed the presence of different phases of iron oxide. The most active Ru/Fe₂O₃ catalysts prepared on the basis of α- and δ-FeOOH, after use in the water-gas shift reaction, revealed the presence of Fe₃O₄ or a mixture of phases Fe₃O₄ and γ-Fe₂O₃. The least active catalysts, prepared on the basis of β- and γ-FeOOH, contained a solid solution of Fe₃O₄-γ-Fe₂O₃ with traces of α-Fe₂O₃.     

低贵金属Pt-Rh型三效催化剂空燃比性能的研究

研究了以浸渍法制备的低贵金属Pt-Rh型三效催化剂对C₃H₈, CO, NO的催化活性. 主要考察了CeO₂-ZrO₂和BaO的添加对催化剂空燃比性能的影响, 通过氧化反应、水气变换和蒸汽重整的性能研究, 探讨了催化剂三效工作窗口扩大的原因. 结果表明, 催化剂中只添加CeO₂-ZrO₂时即具有优异的水气变换性能, 蒸汽重整在250 ℃左右发生, 并且在450 ℃以下时C₃H₈的转化率一直保持在20%左右; BaO添加到含有CeO₂-ZrO₂的催化剂中对水气变换和蒸汽重整则有明显的促进作用, 能进一步扩大催化剂的三效工作窗口; 催化剂中只添加CeO₂-ZrO₂时, 能明显提高催化剂对CO的氧化反应活性, 但对C₃H₈的氧化反应的影响则不明显; BaO和CeO₂-ZrO₂同时存在于催化剂中时, 能进一步提高CO的氧化反应活性, 对C₃H₈的氧化反应则没有明显的促进作用.     

Catalytic activity in water-gas shift reaction of platinum group metals supported on iron oxides

Summary The activity of systems made of a platinum metal supported on Fe₂O₃ in the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) has been studied. The iron oxide catalysts activity in WGSR are apparently determined by their redox properties that can be improved by addition of platinum metals.     

Dispersity of Al2O3?SnO2 supported platinum from hydrogen pulse chemisorption

This study is concerned with the effect of various amounts of Sn species in modifying the dispersity of Al₂O₃–SnO₂ supported platinum catalysts by application of hydrogen chemisorption in a pulse chromatographic system, as well as determination of activity in water-gas shift reaction (WGS).     

Catalytic performance of Ni-Al layered double hydroxides in CO purification processes

Ni-Al layered double hydroxides with Ni²⁺/Al³⁺ molar ratios of 1.5 and 3.0 have been synthesized by co-precipitation and studied as catalyst precursors for purification of CO-containing gas-mixtures by means of CO oxidation to CO₂ and conversion of CO by water vapor (water-gas shift reaction). The influence of the alkali additives (K⁺ ions) on the water-gas shift activity has been also examined. It was established that the catalytic activity of both reactions increases with the temperature and the nickel content. Hypothetic schemes are proposed about activation of the catalysts in the WGSR and CO oxidation including redox Ni²⁺ ? Ni³⁺ transition on the catalyst surface. The activity in WGSR is positively affected by the presence of potassium promoter, depending on its amount. The sample with higher nickel loading is the most effective catalyst as for CO oxidation as well as for WGSR at intermediate temperatures after potassium promotion.     

Small Cobalt Nanoparticles Favor Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction Over Methanation Under CO2 Hydrogenation Conditions**

Cobalt-based catalysts are well-known to convert syngas into a variety of Fischer–Tropsch (FTS) products depending on the various reaction parameters, in particular particle size. In contrast, the reactivity of these particles has been much less investigated in the context of CO₂ hydrogenation. In that context, Surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) was employed to synthesize highly dispersed cobalt nanoparticles (Co-NPs) with particle sizes ranging from 1.6 to 3.0 nm. These SOMC-derived Co-NPs display significantly different catalytic performances under CO₂ hydrogenation conditions: while the smallest cobalt nanoparticles (1.6 nm) catalyze mainly the reverse water-gas shift (rWGS) reaction, the larger nanoparticles (2.1–3.0 nm) favor the expected methanation activity. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that the smaller cobalt particles are fully oxidized under CO₂ hydrogenation conditions, while the larger ones remain mostly metallic, paralleling the observed difference of catalytic performances. This fundamental shift of selectivity, away from methanation to reverse water-gas shift for the smaller nanoparticles is noteworthy and correlates with the formation of CoO under CO₂ hydrogenation conditions.     

Characterization of Fe and Ni-promoted unsupported MoS2 catalysts and their precursors via thermal effects in temperature-programmed reactions

Precursors of unsupported NiMo and FeMo sulfide hydrodesulfurization catalysts with concentration ratiosr=Ni(Fe)/(Ni(Fe) + Mo) ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 were prepared by three methods: homogeneous sulfide precipitation (HSP), inverse HSP and coprecipitation. Differential thermal analysis was used to study the decomposition under argon, and the reduction/sulfidation under 15% H₂S—H₂ of the precursors and the subsequent oxidation under air of the samples obtained after these reactions. The reactivity of the solids varies as a function of the preparation method, the nature of the promoter and the concentration ratio. The degree of sulfidation of the precursor and the presence of either NH₄NO₃ or NH₂Cl formed from group VIII metal salts and (NH₄)₂S may affect the thermal behaviour of samples during DTA.     

Insights into the Diffusion Behaviors of Water over Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Catalysts During the Conversion of Syngas to High-Quality Gasoline

Although considerable efforts towards directly converting syngas to liquid fuels through Fischer–Tropsch synthesis have been made, developing catalysts with low CO₂ selectivity for the synthesis of high-quality gasoline remains a big challenge. Herein, we designed a bifunctional catalyst composed of hydrophobic FeNa@Si-c and HZSM-5 zeolite, which exhibited a low CO₂ selectivity of 14.3 % at 49.8 % CO conversion, with a high selectivity of 62.5 % for gasoline in total products. Molecular dynamic simulations and model experiments revealed that the diffusion of water molecules through hydrophilic catalyst was bidirectional, while the diffusion through hydrophobic catalyst was unidirectional, which were crucial to tune the water-gas shift reaction and control CO₂ formation. This work provides a new fundamental understanding about the function of hydrophobic modification of catalysts in syngas conversion.     

Thermogravimetric study of the carburization and coking of unsupported and carbon-supported Fe,Mo and Fe−Mo catalysts for fischer-tropsch synthesis

Carburization and coke deposition of unsupported and carbon-supported Fe, Mo and Fe?Mo catalysts in syngas have been studied using thermogravimetry. Compositions of the carbides formed are evaluated on the basis of the amount of metals in the catalysts and amount of carbon deposited during carburization. It is shown that carburization temperature and the nature of the carbides formed (Fe₅C₂ and Fe₂C for iron and Mo₂C for molybdenum) depend on the metals but are influenced by the support and metal loading. Coke deposition on these catalysts takes place as soon as carburization is complete.     

High activity carbide supported catalysts for water gas shift

Nanostructured carbides are refractory materials with high surface areas that could be used as alternatives to the oxide materials that are widely used as support materials for heterogeneous catalysts. Carbides are also catalytically active for a variety of reactions, offering additional opportunities to tune the overall performance of the catalyst. In this paper we describe the synthesis of molybdenum carbide supported platinum (Pt/Mo(2)C) catalysts and their rates for the water gas shift reaction. The synthesis method allowed interaction of the metal precursor with the native, unpassivated support. The resulting materials possessed very high WGS rates and atypical Pt particle morphologies. Under differential conditions, rates for these catalysts were higher than those for the most active oxide-supported Pt catalysts and a commercial Cu-Zn-Al catalyst. Experimental and computational results suggested that active sites on the Pt/Mo(2)C catalysts were located on the perimeter of the Pt particles and that strong interactions between Pt and the Mo(2)C surface gave rise to raft-like particles.     

La2−xCexCu1−yZnyO4 perovskites for high temperature water-gas shift reaction

The performance of La_2−xCe_xCu_1−yZn_yO₄ perovskites as catalysts for the high temperature water-gas shift reaction (HT-WGSR) was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by EDS, XRD, BET surface area, TPR, and XANES. The results showed that all the perovskites exhibited the La₂CuO₄ orthorhombic structure, so the Pechini method is suitable for the preparation of pure perovskite. However, the La_1.90Ce_0.10CuO₄ perovskite alone, when calcined at 350/700 °C, also showed a (La_0.935Ce_0.065)₂CuO₄ perovskite with tetragonal structure, which produced a surface area higher than the other perovskites. The perovskites that exhibited the best catalytic performance were those calcined at 350/700 °C and, among these, La_1.90Ce_0.10CuO₄ was outstanding, probably because of the high surface area associated with the presence of the (La_0.935Ce_0.065)₂CuO₄ perovskite with tetragonal structure and orthorhombic La₂CuO₄ phase.     

Effects of the partial replacement of La by M (M=Ce, Ca and Sr) in La2-xMxCuO4 perovskites on catalysis of the water-gas shift reaction

The performance of La2-xMxCuO4 perovskites (where M = Ce, Ca or Sr) as catalysts for the water-gas shift reaction was investigated at 290 ℃ and 360 ℃. The catalysts were characterized by EDS, XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, XPS and XANES. The XRD results showed that all the perovskites exhibited a single phase (the presence of perovskite structure), suggesting the incorporation of metals in the perovskite structure. The XPS and XANES results showed the presence of Cu²⁺ on the surface. The perovskites that exhibited the best catalytic performance were La2-xCexCuO4 perovskites, with CO conversions of 85%-90%. Moreover, these perovskites have higher surface areas and larger amounts of Cu on the surface. And Ce has a higher filled energy level than the other metals, increasing the energy of the valence band of Ce and providing more electrons for the reaction. Besides, the La1.80Ca0.20CuO4 perovskite showed a good catalytic performance.     

Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide on Iron Manganese Catalysts

The synthesis of hydrocarbons from hydrogenation of carbon dioxide has been studied on a series of coprecipitated iron-manganese catalysts. Kinetic measurements, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reaction of adsorbed species were used for activity tests and catalyst characterizations. The results showed that the yields of low-carbon olefins decrease, whereas the amount of methane increases with increasing manganese content in catalysts. The conversion to hydrocarbons is suppressed by the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction equilibrium. Mössbauer spectra and XRD patterns of catalysts after reaction indicate that catalysts are severely oxidized; it is speculated that the olefin producing surface structure in CO hydrogenation may be destroyed by this oxidation. A pulse-reactor study of the Boudouard reaction showed that manganese has the effect of suppressing CO dissociation and thus decreasing carbon content on catalysts. For CO₂ hydrogenation, the affinity to carbon on catalysts is important; therefore manganese is not a good promoter. Among all catalysts tested, pure iron has the best selectivity to olefinic and long-chain hydrocarbons.     

Thiophene Hydrogenation to Tetrahydrothiophene over Tungsten Sulfide Catalysts

Independent reactions of thiophene reduction to tetrahydrothiophene and thiophene hydrogenolysis to form hydrogen sulfide and C₄ hydrocarbons are shown to occur over supported tungsten sulfide catalysts and unsupported tungsten sulfide at an elevated temperature and a high pressure. The highest rate of tetrahydrothiophene formation over the supported catalysts is observed when alumina was used as a support, and the lowest reaction rate is found when silica gel was used as a support. Both catalysts are less active than unsupported tungsten disulfide. The rate of thiophene hydrogenation over tungsten disulfide increases with increasing thiophene concentration and hydrogen pressure and is inhibited by tetrahydrothiophene. The selectivity to tetrahydrothiophene is constant (70–90%) in the whole range up to high thiophene conversions. The high selectivity over tungsten sulfide catalysts is suggested to be due to the reaction pathway through thiophene protonation mediated with the surface SH groups and to the inhibition of hydrogenolysis.     

From organometallic and polymer chemistry to applied materials science: transition metal catalyzed synthesis of polyolefins and polyolefin-based high-performance materials

A brief history of the development of transition metal-catalyzed olefin polymerization including the present status of polyolefin chemistry is given. The entire evolution of polyolefin chemistry will be outlined, giving ample attention to the development in the catalytic systems. Starting with the first generation PP catalysts (TiCl₃/AlClEt₂), the success story of organometallic chemistry, which resulted in modern supported and unsupported single site systems and finally functional group-tolerant group VIII systems will be summarized. Where applicable, examples of technical application will be given. Additionally, organometallic chemistry responsible for selectivity but also for termination reactions as well as the various “living” systems and the adherent implications for materials science will be discussed. Finally, the impact of related transition metal-catalyzed metathesis chemistry on the area of specialty materials will be outlined.