Heterogeneous partial oxidation catalysis on metal oxides

This review paper presents an overview of heterogeneous selective ammoxidation and oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes, particularly of ethane. The conversion of ethane to ethene is in great demand in the domestic and worldwide chemical industry. The review has been voluntarily restricted to metal oxide-type catalysts, as it is devoted to the special issue honouring Edmond Payen and is based on 30 years of experience and discussions with pioneering scientists in the field. The main key factors, designated by Grasselli as the “7 pillars”, have been emphasised: isolation of active sites, M–O bond strength, crystalline structure, redox features, phase cooperation, multifunctionality and the nature of the surface oxygen species. The main features and physical and chemical properties of solid catalysts for selective oxidation compared to total oxidation have also been emphasised. Several case studies have been presented to illustrate the concept and importance of the key factors of catalyst preparation and activation and of the catalytic atmosphere. Based on such analysis and recent discoveries and process developments perspective views are also given.     

Novel catalysis of gold deposited on metal oxides

Gold exhibits a unique catalytic nature and action when it is deposited as nanoparticles on a variety of metal oxides. Most reactions are noticeably structure sensitive over such supported gold catalysts. Typical examples obtained in Japan of the low-temperature catalytic combustion, partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, hydrogenation of carbon oxides and unsaturated hydrocarbons, reduction of nitrogen oxides, and so forth, are presented. Another line of advance is also introduced in the thin films of gold metal oxide composites, which are applicable to electrical and optical gassensing.     

过渡金属氧化物催化剂上甲烷催化燃烧的研究

与传统燃烧方式相比 ,催化燃烧因具有能量利用率高 ,且基本无污染等突出优点而受到人们的重视。以Ｐｄ为代表的贵金属燃烧催化剂[1] 的研究发展得较为完善 ,但价格昂贵使这类催化剂难以被推向实用。而过渡金属氧化物则价格便宜 ,并且也被认为是很有潜力的燃烧催化剂[2 ] 。但这类催化剂的高温稳定性差 ,活性也远不及贵金属催化剂。为此 ,人们试图使用Ｌａ ,Ｓｒ等作为助剂 ,使其与活性组分生成具有钙钛矿结构的化合物 ;或使用六铝酸盐催化剂[3] 来克服过渡金属氧化物催化剂的缺点。这些方法对过渡金属氧化物催化剂的性能有所改善 ,但催化剂…     

On the role of d electrons in chemisorption and catalysis on transition metal surfaces

A new model is proposed for the role of the d electrons in chemisorption and catalysis on transition metal surfaces. In this model, the d electrons remain localized on the atoms and do not participate in forming dsp hybrid bonds with the adsorbate. However, electrons in doubly-occupied d orbitals can be promoted to anti-bonding or non-bonding valence orbitals. These additional electronic configurations help increase the binding energy of the adsorbate and help stabilize reaction intermediates. This effect is enhanced by spatial rotation of the singly-occupied d orbitals which become perpendicular to the adsorbate. The singly-occupied d orbitals are also able to recouple their spins during the reaction, allowing the reaction to proceed on otherwise forbidden reaction paths.     

Recent development of heterogeneous catalysis in ring-opening,biocatalysis, and selective partial oxidation reactions on metal oxides

In this review article, we analyze the state of the art and future developments in three important domains of heterogeneous catalysis, namely ring opening, biocatalysis, and partial oxidation on metal oxides. After recollecting the scientific bases of each domain, we consider several examples, some recent improvements/developments, and some prospective views.     

Perovskite oxides in catalysis: Past, present and future

The application of perovskite oxides in catalysis is reviewed. Selective and total oxidation, nitrogen oxides decomposition and reduction as well as other miscellaneous uses of mixed oxide catalysts are discussed. A final section describes the most promising areas of research to increase the number of commercial uses of perovskite oxides.     

Preparation of metal "nanosalts" and their application in catalysis: heterogeneous and homogeneous pathways

A novel type of nanoparticles have been designed based on self-organization of the metal centers with organic functional groups. Size- and shape-controlled synthetic procedures were developed to prepare nanostructured Pd and Ni particles in high yields from easily available precursors. The presence of the non-metallic functional groups in the particle's core forced the metal centers to adopt a divalent oxidation state bearing polar chemical bonds ("nanosalt"). The Pd and Ni particles were excellent catalysts to accomplish a highly selective synthetic route to vinyl chalcogenides. The mechanisms of the catalytic reactions via the heterogeneous and homogeneous pathways were revealed and studied in detail.     

Axial donating ligands: a new strategy for late transition metal olefin polymerization catalysis

An alpha-diimine ligand (1) containing an axial donating pyridine group is developed for late metal polymerization catalysis. Despite having no substitution on the bottom face of the ligand, the nickel and palladium complexes of 1 are highly active for ethylene polymerization, producing linear high molecular weight polymers. For example, 1-NiBr2 (3) forms PE with a Mn of up to 109 224 g/mol with 1.4 branches/1000 C's. Similarly, 1-PdMeCl (5) forms PE with a Mn of up to 880 379 g/mol with 5.1 branches/1000 C's. In sharp contrast, catalysts containing the control ligand (2) consisting of a noncoordinating phenyl group gave only low molecular weight branched oligomers. It is observed that AlMe2Cl plays a specific role in generating the active species for the pyridine-based complexes. Presumably, the pyridine group may interact with AlMe2Cl to form a bimetallic species which suppresses the beta-hydride elimination process, hence resulting in reduced chain transfer and more linear structure.     

Catalytic activity of ion implanted single crystal supports: A new tool in catalysis studies

The catalytic activity of platinum implanted into monocrystalline supports of α-Al₂O₃ and MgO has been studied using the toluene hydrogenation reaction. The activity was found to depend both on the nature of the pretreating gas and also the temperature, X-ray diffraction analysis on α-Al₂O₃ catalyst showed that after argon pretreatment and subsequent catalytic reaction at 573 K the platinum was partly on the support surface and poorly crystallised, whereas after treatment at 1273 K all the platinum had migrated to the surface as crystallites of 140 A diameter with the (111) face preferentially oriented to the surface.     

Kinetic isotope effects for alkaline phosphatase reactions: implications for the role of active-site metal ions in catalysis

Enzyme-catalyzed phosphoryl transfer reactions have frequently been suggested to proceed through transition states that are altered from their solution counterparts, with the alterations presumably arising from interactions with active-site functional groups. In particular, the phosphate monoester hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) has been the subject of intensive scrutiny. Recent linear free energy relationship (LFER) studies suggest that AP catalyzes phosphate monoester hydrolysis through a loose transition state, similar to that in solution. To gain further insight into the nature of the transition state and active-site interactions, we have determined kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) for AP-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions with several phosphate monoester substrates. The LFER and KIE data together provide a consistent picture for the nature of the transition state for AP-catalyzed phosphate monoester hydrolysis and support previous models suggesting that the enzymatic transition state is similar to that in solution. Moreover, the KIE data provides unique information regarding specific interactions between the transition state and the active-site Zn2+ ions. These results provide strong support for a model in which electrostatic interactions between the bimetallo Zn2+ site and a nonbridging phosphate ester oxygen atom make a significant contribution to the large rate enhancement observed for AP-catalyzed phosphate monoester hydrolysis.     

Thermal stability of synthetic aurichalcite implications for making mixed metal oxides for use as catalysts

TG combined with MS has been used to study the thermal decomposition of a synthetic aurichalcite with varying copper-zinc ratios from 0.1:0.9 to 0.5:0.5. In general, five decomposition steps are observed at 235, 280, 394, 428 and 805°C. The principal mass loss step increases in temperature from 255°C (0.1/0.9) to 300°C (0.5/0.5). MS using ion current curves show that the OH units and carbonate units decompose simultaneously and the two decomposition steps after the main decomposition are attributed to the decomposition of ZnCO₃ and CuCO₃. A higher temperature decomposition at around 805°C, based upon the ion current curves is assigned to the decomposition of CuO to Cu. The thermal decomposition of aurichalcite offers a method of preparing metal oxides mixed at the molecular level making the thermally activated aurichalcites as suitable for use as catalysts.     

Adsorption to metal oxides of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophore pyoverdine and implications for bacterial biofilm formation on metals

The initiation of biofilm formation is poorly understood, and in particular, the contribution of chemical bond formation between bacterial cells and metal surfaces has received little attention. We have previously used in situ infrared spectroscopy to show, during the initial stages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation, the formation of coordinate covalent bonds between titanium dioxide particle films and pyoverdine, a mixed catecholate and hydroxamate siderophore. Here we show using infrared spectroscopy that pyoverdine can also form covalent bonds with particle films of Fe2O3, CrOOH, and AlOOH. Adsorption to the metal oxides through the catechol-like 2,3-diamino-6,7-dihydroxyquinoline part of pyoverdine was most evident in the infrared spectrum of the adsorbed pyoverdine molecule. Weaker infrared absorption bands that are consistent with the hydroxamic acids of pyoverdine binding covalently to TiO2, Fe2O3, and AlOOH surfaces were also observed. The adsorption of pyoverdine to TiO2 and Fe2O3 surfaces showed a pH dependence that is indicative of the dominance of the catechol-like ligand of pyoverdine. Infrared absorption bands were also evident for pyoverdine associated with the cells of P. aeruginosa on TiO2 and Fe2O3 surfaces and were notably absent for genetically modified cells unable to synthesize or bind pyoverdine at the cell surface. These studies confirm the generality of pyoverdine-metal bond formation and suggest a wider involvement of siderophores in bacterial biofilm initiation on metals.     

Solar hydrogen production with semiconductor metal oxides: new directions in experiment and theory

An overview of a collaborative experimental and theoretical effort toward efficient hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical splitting of water into di-hydrogen and di-oxygen is presented here. We present state-of-the-art experimental studies using hematite and TiO(2) functionalized with gold nanoparticles as photoanode materials, and theoretical studies on electro and photo-catalysis of water on a range of metal oxide semiconductor materials, including recently developed implementation of self-interaction corrected energy functionals.