Regularities of formic acid oxidation in the presence of porous silicon nanocomposites with palladium

Nanocomposites demonstrating high catalytic activity in the oxidation of formic acid were obtained by depositing palladium on porous silicon support. The palladium samples on porous silicon are superior to commercial samples on carbon black in many characteristics. A decrease in the size of palladium nanoparticles favors an increase in the catalytic activity of the palladium/porous silicon nanocomposites.     

Redox reactions in nanocomposites on a sulfated polytetraphenylcalix[4]resorcinarene matrix

Redox reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of hybrid nanocomposites containing palladium and copper or palladium and silver in a cis-tetraphenylcalix[4]resorcinarene polymer matrix were studied. In the composites containing palladium and copper, the redox transformations involved copper. In the composites with palladium and silver, the redox reactions involved the polymer matrix. The reductions in the metal-polymer nanocomposites were catalyzed by palladium.     

Catalytic activity of polymer-palladium metal nanocomposites in oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation reactions

Palladium/Nafion nanocomposites were synthesized by the radiation chemical reduction of palladium ions in reverse micellar solutions. The functional characteristics of the nanocomposites were studied by cyclic voltammetry, spectrophotometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The prepared nanocatalysts revealed a high activity in oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation reactions. The catalytic activity of the polymer-metal nanocomposites was shown to depend on the degree of solubilization and palladium nanoparticle size.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characteristics of polymeric bimetallic Pt—Pd nanocatalysts

A method for the formation of catalytically active functional electrode nanocomposites with bimetallic platinum—palladium nanoparticles supported on a polymer matrix is described. The phase composition of nanocomposites was examined by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were also applied in the study.     

Preparation of PAMAM- and PPI-metal (silver, platinum, and palladium) nanocomposites and their catalytic activities for reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Dendrimer-metal (silver, platinum, and palladium) nanocomposites are prepared in aqueous solutions containing poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with surface amino groups (generations 3, 4, and 5) or poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimers with surface amino groups (generations 2, 3, and 4). The particle sizes of the metal nanoparticles obtained are almost independent of the generation as well as the concentration of the dendrimer for both the PAMAM and the PPI dendrimers; the average sizes of silver, platinum, and palladium nanoparticles are 5.6-7.5, 1.2-1.6, and 1.6-2.0 nm, respectively. It is suggested that the dendrimer-metal nanocomposites are formed by adsorbing the dendrimers on the metal nanoparticles. Studies of the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol by these nanocomposites show that the rate constants are very similar between PAMAM and PPI dendrimer-silver nanocomposites, whereas the rate constants for the PPI dendrimer-platinum and -palladium nanocomposites are greater than those for the corresponding PAMAM dendrimer nanocomposites. In addition, it is found that the rate constants for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol involving all the dendrimer-metal nanocomposites decrease with an increase in the dendrimer concentrations, and the catalytic activity of dendrimer-palladium nanocomposites is highest.     

Sol–gel derived ZnO/porous silicon composites for tunable photoluminescence

ZnO/porous silicon nanocomposites were fabricated by spin-coating the sol?Cgels of zinc acetate onto the top surface of porous silicon films. The photoluminescent properties of ZnO/porous silicon nanocomposites were investigated as a function of the concentration of zinc cations in the sol?Cgels. Characterizations with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and photospectroscopy indicated that ZnO nanocrystals were embedded into the spongy nanostructures of porous silicon after heat treatment at 245?°C for 20?min in air. The recorded photoluminescence exhibited that orange to green?Cblue emissions were achieved for the ZnO/porous silicon nanocomposites as the concentration of zinc cations in the sol?Cgels increased from 4 to 260?mM. The mechanisms on the tunability of the photoluminescence were discussed for the ZnO/porous silicon nanocomposites. Our results have demonstrated that the incorporation of green?Cblue phosphors into the porous matrix of porous silicon represents one endeavor to tune the photoluminescence of porous silicon across the visible spectral region.     

Controlled self-assembly of hydrophobic quantum dots through silanization

We demonstrate the formation of one-, two-, and three-dimensional nanocomposites through the self-assembly of silanized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) by using a controlled sol-gel process. The self-assembly behavior of the QDs was created when partially hydrolyzed silicon alkoxide monomers replaced hydrophobic ligands on the QDs. We examined systematically self-assembly conditions such as solvent components and QD sizes in order to elucidate the formation mechanism of various QD nanocomposites. The QD nanocomposites were assembled in water phase or on the interface of water and oil phase in emulsions. The partially hydrolyzed silicon alkoxides act as intermolecules to assemble the QDs. The QD nanocomposites with well-defined solid or hollow spherical, fiber-like, sheet-like, and pearl-like morphologies were prepared by adjusting the experimental conditions. The high photoluminescence efficiency of the prepared QD nanocomposites suggests partially hydrolyzed silicon alkoxides reduced the surface deterioration of QDs during self-assembly. These techniques are applicable to other hydrophobic QDs for fabricating complex QD nanocomposites.     

Controlled immobilization of palladium nanoparticles in two different fluorinated polymeric aggregate cores and their application in catalysis

Fluoroalkyl end-capped betaine-type cooligomeric nanocomposites-immobilized palladium nanoparticles were prepared by the reactions of palladium chloride with sodium acetate in the presence of sodium chloride and the corresponding fluorinated cooligomers. Outer blocks of poly(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene)-containing ABA-triblock copolymeric nanocomposites-immobilized palladium nanoparticles were prepared by the use of the corresponding block copolymers under similar conditions. TEM images showed that palladium nanoparticles can be immobilized outside the fluorinated cooligomeric nanocomposite cores; in contrast, palladium nanoparticles can be effectively immobilized inside these fluorinated ABA-triblock copolymeric nanocomposite cores. Thus, these two different fluorinated copolymers enabled the controlled immobilization of palladium nanoparticles in the fluorinated nanocomposite cores. These fluorinated nanocomposites-immobilized palladium nanoparticles were also applied to the catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, and the different reactivity between these nanocomposites was observed.     

Preparation and characterization of metal-chitosan nanocomposites

Various metal-chitosan nanocomposites were synthesized, including silver (Ag), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and palladium (Pd) in aqueous solutions. Metal nanoparticles were formed by reduction of corresponding metal salts with NaBH4 in the presence of chitosan. And chitosan molecules adsorbing onto the surface of as-prepared metal nanoparticles formed the corresponding metal-chitosan nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and UV-vis spectra of the nanocomposites revealed the presence of metal nanoparticles. Comparison of all the resulting particles size, it shows that silver nanoparticles are much larger than others (Au, Pt and Pd). In addition, the difference in particles size leads to develop different morphologies in the films cast from prepared metal-chitosan nanocomposites. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) images show a batonet-like structure for Ag-chitosan nanocomposites film, while for the films cast from other metal (Au, Pt, and Pd)-chitosan nanocomposites, some branched-like structures with a few differences among them were observed under POM observation.     

A New Activation Method for Electroless Metal Plating：Palladium Laden via Bonding with Self—Assembly Monolayers

A new activation method has been developed for electroless copper plating on silicon wafer based on palladium chemisorption on SAMs of APTS without SnCl2 sensitization and roughening condition.A closely packed electroless copper film with strong adhesion is successfully formed by AFM observation.XPS study indicates that palladium chemisorption occurred via palladium chloride bonding to the pendant amino group of the SAMs.     

Catalysts with platinum–palladium nanoparticles on polymer matrix supports

The platinum–palladium/Nafion metal–polymer nanocomposites were synthesized by the chemical reduction of ions in the aqueous organic solutions of inverted microemulsions. The functional characteristics of the nanocomposites were studied by cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The nanocatalysts obtained exhibited high activity in the reactions of oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation. The influence of synthesis conditions on the catalytic activity of the metal–polymer nanocomposites was studied.     

The first stable mononuclear silyl palladium hydrides

The reaction of tertiary silanes with the low valent palladium complex [(mu-dcpe)Pd]2 affords equilibrium mixtures with mononuclear silyl palladium hydrides. These complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and, in one case, by X-ray crystallography. The silyl palladium hydride complexes rapidly interchange silicon and hydride coordination environments in solution which give rise to extraordinary temperature-dependent kinetic isotope effects for the fluxional process. An intermediate 2eta-Si-H complex is proposed for the interchange.     

氮掺杂石墨烯量子点/钯纳米复合材料的研究

铂基催化剂因具有高催化活性、高稳定性而成为极其重要的能源转化催化剂。本文采用水热法合成氮掺杂石墨烯量子点支撑的钯纳米复合材料(Pd@N-GQDs),并将其用于碱性介质中甲醇的电催化氧化反应。实验结果表明,相比同类型材料钯负载于石墨烯纳米片(Pd@GS)、钯负载于石墨烯量子点(Pd@GQDs)和商业钯黑催化剂(Pd@C),Pd@N-GQDs纳米材料具有很高的催化活性和稳定性,并可减少催化剂材料中贵金属的使用量。     

Effect of nitrogen doping on hydrogen storage capacity of palladium decorated graphene

A high hydrogen storage capacity for palladium decorated nitrogen-doped hydrogen exfoliated graphene nanocomposite is demonstrated under moderate temperature and pressure conditions. The nitrogen doping of hydrogen exfoliated graphene is done by nitrogen plasma treatment, and palladium nanoparticles are decorated over nitrogen-doped graphene by a modified polyol reduction technique. An increase of 66% is achieved by nitrogen doping in the hydrogen uptake capacity of hydrogen exfoliated graphene at room temperature and 2 MPa pressure. A further enhancement by 124% is attained in the hydrogen uptake capacity by palladium nanoparticle (Pd NP) decoration over nitrogen-doped graphene. The high dispersion of Pd NP over nitrogen-doped graphene sheets and strengthened interaction between the nitrogen-doped graphene sheets and Pd NP catalyze the dissociation of hydrogen molecules and subsequent migration of hydrogen atoms on the doped graphene sheets. The results of a systematic study on graphene, nitrogen-doped graphene, and palladium decorated nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposites are discussed. A nexus between the catalyst support and catalyst particles is believed to yield the high hydrogen uptake capacities obtained.     

Role of palladium in the redox electrochemistry of ferrocene monocarboxylic acid encapsulated within ORMOSIL networks

We report herein the effect of palladium on the redox electrochemistry of ferrocene monocarboxylic acid encapsulated within an organically modified sol-gel glass network (ORMOSIL). It has been found that amount of palladium and its geometrical distribution significantly alter the redox electrochemistry of FcMCA. The geometrical distribution of palladium has been controlled by two methods: (i) palladium is allowed to link within nanostructured network of the ORMOSIL which was subsequently availed from the reactivity of palladium chloride and trimethoxysilane; (ii) palladium powder is encapsulated together FcMCA thus allowing the presence of palladium within the nanoporous domain. The content of palladium is varied by controlling the reaction dynamics of palladium chloride and trimethoxysilane interaction. For this we initially allowed to trigger hydrolysis, condensation and poly-condensation of trimethoxysilane and dimethyldiethoxysilane in acidic medium and subsequently partially dried ORMOSIL film was allowed to interact with palladium chloride. Even with partially dried ORMOSIL derived from trimethoxysilane and dimethyldiethoxysilane undergoes rapid interaction with palladium chloride and the transparent color of ORMOSIL changed to a black colour due to the formation of palladium silicon linkage. The palladium-silicon linkage has been identified by NMR, UV-VIS and transmission electron spectroscopy. The electrochemistry of FcMCA encapsulated within such an ORMOSIL matrix has been studied. Excellent redox electrochemistry of ferrocene monocarboxylic acid having peak potential separation tending to 0 for a multilayered electrode was investigated. The palladium content has been found to affect the redox electrochemistry of ferrocene as well as electrocatalytic efficiency of new ORMOSIL material. The electroanalysis of NADH is reported. The modified electrode is very sensitive to NADH with lowest detection limit of < 1 microM.     

Preparation and characterization of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) nanoparticle decorated graphene sheets and their utilization for the elimination of basic fuchsin and indigo carmine dyes

In this study, graphene nano sheets, prepared with chemical oxidation and reduction routes via modified-Hummer method, were successfully decorated with platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. Structural and morphological features of resulted graphene-metal nanocomposites were characterized with FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TEM methods. Anti-oxidant activity (AOA) values of nanocomposites were determined. The IC₅₀ values of Pt-graphene and Pd-graphene nanocomposites were found to be 46.1 and 90.2 μg/mL, respectively based on the ABTS method and 80.2 and 143.7 μg/mL according to the DPPH method. It was found that the graphene-metal nanocomposites exhibited superior free radical scavenging activity compared to several types of noble metal nano particles although the nanocomposites consist of much lower amount of active metal sites than the nano-crystalline metal powders. It was consequently reported that the graphene-metal nanocomposites could be successfully used for the photocatalytic elimination of fuchsin and indigo carmine dyes under light irradiation.     

Dynamic processes in silyl palladium complexes: evidence for intermediate Si-H and Si-Si sigma-complexes

The silyl palladium complexes (dcpe)PdH(SiHtBu2) and (dcpe)Pd(SiHMe2)2 display NMR spectra that vary with temperature. The dynamic NMR behavior is consistent with long-lived sigma-complexes as intermediates. In the case of (dcpe)PdH(SiHtBu2), the intermediate is believed to be a symmetric complex with doubly bridged hydrogen atoms between the silicon and palladium. Dynamic interchange of the two silicon atoms in (dcpe)Pd(SiHMe2)2 is consistent with an intermediate Si-Si sigma-complex.     

Thermo-oxidative degradation of novel epoxy containing silicon and phosphorous nanocomposites

Modified epoxy nanocomposites containing silicon and phosphorous was prepared and compared with pure epoxy. The study of thermo-oxidative degradation of modified epoxy nanocomposites and pure epoxy has been utilized by thermal analysis. The thermal stability of modified epoxy nanocomposites is not superior to that of the pure epoxy at low temperature, however, the char yield of modified epoxy nanocomposites is higher than that of the pure epoxy at 800 °C in air atmosphere. The modified epoxy nanocomposites possess better thermal stability at high temperature range. The values of the limiting oxygen index of pure epoxy and modified epoxy nanocomposites are 24 and 32, respectively. This indicates that modified epoxy nanocomposites possesses better flame retardance.By the Kissinger’s method, the activation energies of thermo-oxidative degradation for epoxy nanocomposites are less than those of thermo-oxidative degradation for pure epoxy in first stage of thermo-oxidative degradation. However, the activation energies of thermo-oxidative degradation for epoxy nanocomposites are more than those of thermo-oxidative degradation for pure epoxy in second stage of thermo-oxidative degradation.     

Hydrothermal carbon spheres containing silicon nanoparticles: synthesis and lithium storage performance

Spherically shaped carbon/silicon nanocomposites have been obtained in a one-step procedure using hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in the presence of commercially available silicon nanoparticles and have been tested electrochemically as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.     

Potentialities of silane-modified silicas to regulate palladium nanoparticles sizes

A promising approach to control palladium nanoparticle sizes by application of silane modified silicas was suggested. The combination of reductive properties of silicon hydride groups and hydrophobic properties of alkylsilyl groups which act as agglomeration limiters for metal nanoparticles gives an opportunity to synthesize uniformly distributed particles with a specified size. Silicas modified with triethoxysilane (TES) and diisopropylchlorosilane (DIPCS), as well as, the combination of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and triethoxysilane were applied for formation of such bifunctional matrices. Properties of the silane-modified silica samples and changes occurred during the formation of palladium nanoparticles were studied by IR spectroscopy. Thermal stability of surface chemical compounds was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); low-temperature nitrogen adsorption was used to study structural properties of the applied materials. With the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the dependence of palladium nanoparticle size on the nature of support surface layer was found.