Adsorption of Gases on Complex Solid Surfaces

During the last thirty years the research field of surface science with its various disciplines has progressively played a more and more important role in the field of catalysis. The main focus of attention for a long time was research on metal surfaces, on which, in time, the whole spectrum of developed surface analytical methods was applied. This led to a better understanding of the mechanisms of catalytic reaction, such as the synthesis of ammonia and the oxidation of CO, especially through the work of Gerhard Ertl.^{[1, 2]} In contrast to clean metal surfaces, surfaces of real catalysts are complex entities, the structures of which can have a strong influence on the processes occurring on the surface. Thus, it seems logical to employ the typical structural characteristics and the morphology of the catalytic surface as guidelines in the investigation of complex model systems. In this review the preparation, and structural and electronic characterization of such model systems will be dicussed. Clean surfaces of catalytically active oxides, as well as model systems for dispered transition metal/support catalysts will be characterized in terms of their morphology and electronic structure as well as their adsorption and reaction capabilities.     

Novel transition-metal-free heterogeneous epoxidation catalysts discovered by means of high-throughput experimentation

Various transition-metal-free oxides have been studied as catalysts for the epoxidation of cyclooctene with hydrogen peroxide by means of high-throughput experimentation. Different boron, aluminium, and gallium oxides were prepared according to various synthesis methods. A number of pure aluminium and gallium oxides showed very good catalytic performances, while the results obtained with boron oxides or mixed oxides were less positive. The best results were obtained with a gallium oxide catalyst, which gave an epoxide yield of 71 % and a selectivity of 99 % after reaction for 4 h at 80 degrees C. Gallium oxides had not been reported previously as active epoxidation catalysts. The use of high-throughput experimentation proved useful both for discovering new active catalysts and for identifying a number of relationships between the synthesis conditions and the catalytic properties of the transition-metal-free oxides.     

Fischer-Trospch Synthesis on Ordered Mesoporous Cobalt-Based Catalysts with Compact Multichannel Fixed-Bed Reactor Application: A Review

CO hydrogenation to hydrocarbons through Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction is one of the promising chemical processes, which can convert alternative feedstocks such as natural gas or biomass into synthetic fuels. The FTS reaction has received many attentions due to a limited petroleum resource with an increased demand for using alternative carbon sources such as stranded gas or shale gas. Some proper synthetic methods of an effective FTS catalyst having a larger active metal surface area and a lower deactivation rate are the most important issues for a long-term operation. Therefore, some ordered mesoporous materials (OMM) have been widely investigated in the field of CO hydrogenation using some heterogeneous catalysts. The present brief review paper summarized the various preparation methods of the ordered mesoporous materials for the possible applications of FTS reaction with a lower deactivation rate and a higher catalytic performance. The applications of the ordered mesoporous cobalt oxides for FTS reaction are briefly introduced and the ways to improve a structural stability even under reductive CO hydrogenation conditions by using efficient pillaring materials as well as by preparing mixed metal oxides. A higher catalytic activity of the ordered mesoporous cobalt oxide was also verified in a multi-channel fixed-bed compact reactor having the intersected interlayers of micro-channel heat exchanger. The thermal stability of ordered mesoporous cobalt-based catalysts was mainly affected by a structural stability which can easily remove the heavy hydrocarbons from the inner surfaces.     

Application of a new color detection based method for the fast parallel screening of DeNO(x) catalysts

A new fast parallel detection method for stage I screening of solid catalysts has been developed. This method is based on the color change of organic dyes in the presence of either educts or reaction products in a reaction gas flow. As an example, NO decomposition and NO reduction with propylene under lean or rich conditions were studied. The presence of NO in a gas stream was detected by the color change from colorless to blue-green of filter paper impregnated with an organic dye, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), which was placed in the gas stream after the catalyst bed. The catalyst library was made up of mixed metal oxides, synthesized by impregnation of activated carbon with metal oxide precursor solutions and subsequent combustion of the carbon matrix. Catalytic activity of these metal oxides was compared to platinum on gamma-alumina as a reference catalyst. The most active compounds were then studied in detail for their DeNO(x)properties in a high precision parallel flow test rig under a stationary and cyclic lean/reach operation. A new promising NO(x) storage catalyst was discovered.     

A methodology for investigating new nonprecious metal catalysts for PEM fuel cells

This paper reports an approach to investigate metal-chalcogen materials as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The methodology is illustrated with reference to Co-Se thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering onto a glassy-carbon substrate. Scanning Auger microscopy (SAM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used, in parallel with electrochemical activity and stability measurements, to assess how the electrochemical performance relates to chemical composition. It is shown that Co-Se thin films with varying Se are active for oxygen reduction, although the open circuit potential (OCP) is lower than for Pt. A kinetically controlled process is observed in the potential range 0.5-0.7 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) for the thin-film catalysts studied. An initial exposure of the thin-film samples to an acid environment served as a pretreatment, which modified surface composition prior to activity measurements with the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method. Based on the SAM characterization before and after electrochemical tests, all surfaces demonstrating activity are dominated by chalcogen. XRD shows that the thin films have nanocrystalline character that is based on a Co(1-x)Se phase. Parallel studies on Co-Se powder supported on XC72R carbon show comparable OCP, Tafel region, and structural phase as for the thin-film model catalysts. A comparison for ORR activity has also been made between this Co-Se powder and a commercial Pt catalyst.     

不同条件下苯与丙烯烷基化反应的催化剂失活研究

对不同条件下苯与丙烯烷基化反应Hβ催化剂的寿命、失活催化剂的积炭量和积炭性质进行了研究。在5.7MPa下，随反应温度变化，反应介质在反应过程中所经历的相态变化不同，导致催化剂的寿命、失活催化剂的积炭量和积炭的性质也存在着较大差异。300℃时，反应介质处于接近于体系临界点的超临界相或高压液相状态，催化剂寿命最长，积炭量大。失活催化剂积炭的元素分析及TPO-MS表征结果发现，积炭的碳氢比与反应温度有关，温度越高，碳氢比越高；而积炭的脱炭温度与反应时间（催化剂寿命）相关，催化剂寿命越长，相应的脱炭温度也越高。     

Bridging the pressure and material gap in heterogeneous catalysis: cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts from surface science to industrial application

The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process is the heart of many natural gas conversion processes as it enables the conversion of a mixture of CO and H(2) into valuable long-chain hydrocarbons. Here we report on the use of state-of-the-art surface science techniques to obtain information on the relationship between the surface atomic structure of model catalysts and their performance in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Cobalt single crystals and polycrystals were modified with non-reducible oxides as to resemble industrial catalysts. Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy was used for examining the CO adsorption behaviour at room temperature as well as at 493 K at CO pressures spanning 10(-7) to 300 mbar on both (modified) Co single/polycrystals and an industrial catalyst. Polarization modulation was applied to cancel the CO gas phase absorption. Subsequently, they were subjected to reaction tests in the same apparatus at 1 bar and 493 K. This allowed us to close the material, pressure and instrument gap in the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on cobalt-based catalysts.     

Reinforced nickel and nickel-platinum catalysts for performing the thermally coupled reactions of methane steam reforming and hydrogen oxidation

The formation of composite nickel and nickel-platinum catalysts reinforced with steel gauze was studied. The catalysts were prepared by sintering powdered nickel metal and a supported nickel catalyst (GIAP-3 or NIAP-18) with a chromium oxide additive in the case of nickel-containing composite catalysts or by sintering powdered nickel, aluminum, and a supported platinum catalyst in the case of catalysts containing nickel-platinum. With the use of electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry, and X-ray electron probe microanalysis, it was found that a metal matrix, in the pores of which supported catalyst particles were distributed, was formed in the composite catalysts. The reinforced nickel catalysts prepared were active in the reaction of methane steam reforming, and the catalysts containing nickel-platinum were active in the reaction of hydrogen oxidation. An increase in the activity of reinforced nickel catalysts in the course of the reaction was found. It is believed that the increase of the activity was due to the reduction of nickel oxide from an inactive difficult-to-reduce oxide film containing nickel and chromium oxides under the action of the reaction atmosphere.     

Pt and Ru X-ray absorption spectroscopy of PtRu anode catalysts in operating direct methanol fuel cells

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, ex situ X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray powder diffraction enabled detailed core analysis of phase segregated nanostructured PtRu anode catalysts in an operating direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). No change in the core structures of the phase segregated catalyst was observed as the potential traversed the current onset potential of the DMFC. The methodology was exemplified using a Johnson Matthey unsupported PtRu (1:1) anode catalyst incorporated into a DMFC membrane electrode assembly. During DMFC operation the catalyst is essentially metallic with half of the Ru incorporated into a face-centered cubic (FCC) Pt alloy lattice and the remaining half in an amorphous phase. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis suggests that the FCC lattice is not fully disordered. The EXAFS indicates that the Ru-O bond lengths were significantly shorter than those reported for Ru-O of ruthenium oxides, suggesting that the phases in which the Ru resides in the catalysts are not similar to oxides.     

Property and structure of various platinum catalysts for low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidations

The oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) has received more attention in the last two to three decades owing to its importance in different fields. To control this CO pollution, catalytic converters have been investigated. Different types of catalysts have been used in a catalytic converter for CO emission control purposes. Platinum (Pt)-based noble metal catalysts show great potential for CO oxidation in catalytic converters with high thermal stability and tailoring flexibility. Pt metal catalysts modified with promoters such as alkali metals and reducible metal oxides have received great attention for their superior catalytic activities in CO oxidation. Temperature, close environment of the catalyst, and chemical composition in the surface layer of the catalyst have a huge effect on the active phase dispersion and O₂ adsorption capacity of the Pt metal catalysts. The main difference in activities of Pt metal catalyst for CO oxidation in O₂ or H₂ atmosphere has found. The addition of supports in Pt metal catalysts has improved their performances and reduced their cost. These improvement strongly depends on the surface structure, morphology, number of active sites, and various Pt-O interactions. Many research articles have already been published in CO oxidation over Pt metal catalysts, but no review article dedicated to CO oxidation is available in the literature.     

过渡金属氧化物和金属负载型沸石催化剂上合成 纳米碳管及其表征

采用气相催化沉积法催化合成纳米碳管,比较了不同金属氧化物和金属负载型沸石催化剂以及不同分子筛载体对合成纳米碳管的影响,并用TEM,XRD表征其形貌和结晶度,用DTA-TG考察了纳米碳管的热和稳定性。实验结果表明纳米碳管的形成除了与金属种类有关外,还直接与催化剂的颗粒大小和分散状态有关。粒径在20nm左右的不规则形状的纳米粒子是形成纳米碳管的活性组分,非负载和负载型的催化剂均表明活性组分的粒径与纳米碳管的管径有一定的对应关系。化学提纯后能得到高纯度的纳米碳管;其管壁具有较好的石墨化结构,在空气中的热稳定性大于400℃,而在氮气中能维持到1200℃以上。     

Monitoring surface metal oxide catalytic active sites with Raman spectroscopy

The molecular aspect of the Raman vibrational selection rules allows for the molecular structural and reactivity determinations of metal oxide catalytic active sites in all types of oxide catalyst systems (supported metal oxides, zeolites, layered hydroxides, polyoxometalates (POMs), bulk pure metal oxides, bulk mixed oxides and mixed oxide solid solutions). The molecular structural and reactivity determinations of metal oxide catalytic active sites are greatly facilitated by the use of isotopically labeled molecules. The ability of Raman spectroscopy to (1) operate in all phases (liquid, solid, gas and their mixtures), (2) operate over a very wide temperature (-273 to >1000 °C) and pressure (UHV to ?100 atm) range, and (3) provide molecular level information about metal oxides makes Raman spectroscopy the most informative characterization technique for understanding the molecular structure and surface chemistry of the catalytic active sites present in metal oxide heterogeneous catalysts. The recent use of hyphenated Raman spectroscopy instrumentation (e.g., Raman-IR, Raman-UV-vis, Raman-EPR) and the operando Raman spectroscopy methodology (e.g., Raman-MS and Raman-GC) is allowing for the establishment of direct structure-activity/selectivity relationships that will have a significant impact on catalysis science in this decade. Consequently, this critical review will show the growth in the use of Raman spectroscopy in heterogeneous catalysis research, for metal oxides as well as metals, is poised to continue to exponentially grow in the coming years (173 references).     

Boron: A key functional component for designing high-performance heterogeneous catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysis is a vivid branch of traditional catalysis field, with the advantage of high efficiency and being easily separated from reactants and products after reaction, and have received widespread attentions in large-scale industrial production, especially in the field of energy utilization. Boron has been found to be a key functional component for designing high-performance heterogeneous catalysts. In this review, we cover and categorize the past and recent progress in boron-containing materials and their applications in heterogeneous catalysis particularly in energy‐related fields. The fundamental roles of boron components in the emerging heterogeneous catalysis of construction, regulation and stabilization of active phases/sites are highlighted, with the emphasis on how they regulating structural and electronic properties of host materials. We then categorize boron-containing catalysts into six kinds mainly including intermetallic boride catalysts, metal boride-derived catalysts, boron-doped catalysts, metal boride-decorated catalysts, boron-containing compounds as catalyst supports, and single-boron-site catalysts, as well as try to establish structure-catalytic activity relationship. The catalytic applications of these six boron-containing catalysts are discussed separately, focusing on the energy-related reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Finally, the opportunities and challenges related to boron-containing compounds in the field of catalysis are prospected.     

Stability of intermediates in the glycerol hydrogenolysis on transition metal catalysts from first principles

The hydrogenolysis reaction catalyzed by a transition metal solid catalyst is a potential way to transform glycerol to 1,2-propylene glycol or 1,3-propylene glycol, two important chemicals. We explore the thermodynamic profile of this reaction from first principle simulation, comparing Ni, Rh and Pd catalysts modeled by (111) surfaces. The stability of adsorbed reactants, dehydrated intermediates, and hydrogenated propylene glycol is compared, with a special focus on the factors controlling the selectivity of the reaction. From a global thermodynamic view point, the formation of 1,2-propylene glycol is favored, and in addition the most stable intermediates in the gas phase (acetol and 1,2-aldol) lead to the formation of this product. The metal catalyst has three roles. First it stabilizes the dehydrated intermediates and renders the dehydration more exothermic. Second, the adsorption on the surface modifies the relative stability of the dehydrated intermediates, with implications on the reaction selectivity. Third it catalyses the hydrogenation step, leading to propylene glycol.     

A study of the surface region of the Mo-V-Te-O catalysts for propane oxidation to acrylic acid

The bulk mixed Mo-V-Te oxides possess high activity and selectivity in propane oxidation to acrylic acid and represent well-defined model catalysts for studies of the surface molecular structure-activity/selectivity relationships in this selective oxidation reaction. The elemental compositions, metal oxidation states, and catalytic functions of V, Mo, and Te in the surface region of the model Mo-V-Te-O system were examined employing low energy ion scattering (LEIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This study indicated that the surfaces of these catalysts are terminated with a monolayer, which possesses a different elemental composition from that of the bulk. The rates of propane consumption and formation of propylene and acrylic acid depended on the topmost surface V concentration, whereas no dependence of these reaction rates on either the surface Mo or Te concentrations was observed. These findings suggested that the bulk Mo-V-Te-O structure may function as a support for the unique active and selective surface monolayer in propane oxidation to acrylic acid. The results of this study have important practical consequences for the development of improved selective oxidation catalysts by introducing surface metal oxide components to form new surface active V-O-M sites for propane oxidation to acrylic acid.     

Exafs studies on SiO2-attached Nb-oxide catalysts and catalysis

Metal oxides molecularly deposited on high surface area supports may be one of the most promising catalysts from the viewpoint of effective use of resources and may also be of great interest from the viewpoint of new surface/interface chemistry. On the support surfaces unique structures of active sites are possible to create. The metal sites prepared by the attachment of suitable organometallic precursors are also affected electronically through a direct interaction at interface. Such molecularly designed active structures can be well characterized by means of EXAFS. The tailored metal catalysts may have great advantages for a deeper understanding of essential factors or origin of solid catalysis and catalyst design on a molecular level.     

Vanadium oxide surface studies

The vanadium oxides can exist in a range of single and mixed valencies with a large variety of structures. The large diversity of physical and chemical properties that they can thus possess make them technologically important and a rich ground for basic research. Here we assess the present status of the microscopic understanding of the physico-chemical properties of vanadium oxide surfaces. The discussion is restricted to atomically well-defined systems as probed by surface techniques. Following a brief review of the properties of the bulk oxides the electronic and geometric structure of their clean single crystal surfaces and adsorption studies, probing their chemical reactivity, are considered. The review then focuses on the growth and the surface properties of vanadium oxide thin films. This is partitioned into films grown on oxide substrates and those on metal substrates. The interest in the former derives from their importance as supported metal oxide catalysts and the need to understand the two-dimensional overlayer of the so-called “monolayer” catalyst. On the single crystal metal substrates thin oxide layers with high structural order and interesting properties can be prepared. Particular attention is given to ultrathin vanadium oxide layers, so-called nano-layers, where novel phases, stabilised by the substrate, form.     

A general synthetic strategy for oxide-supported metal nanoparticle catalysts

Despite recent exciting progress in catalysis by supported gold nanoparticles, there remains the formidable challenge of preparing supported gold catalysts that collectively incorporate precise control over factors such as size and size-distribution of the gold nanoparticles, homogeneous dispersion of the particles on the support, and the ability to utilize a wide range of supports that profoundly affect catalytic performance. Here, we describe a synthetic methodology that achieves these goals. In this strategy, weak interface interactions evenly deposit presynthesized organic-capped metal nanoparticles on oxide supports. The homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles on oxides is then locked in place, without aggregation, through careful calcination. The approach takes advantage of recent advances in the synthesis of metal and oxide nanomaterials and helps to bring together these two classes of materials for catalysis applications. An important feature is that the strategy allows metal nanoparticles to be well dispersed on a variety of oxides with few restrictions on their physical and chemical properties. Following this synthetic procedure, we have successfully developed efficient gold catalysts for green chemistry processes, such as the production of ethyl acetate from the selective oxidation of ethanol by oxygen at 100 degrees C.     

Molecular complexes in water oxidation: Pre-catalysts or real catalysts

Artificial photosynthesis is considered a promising method to produce clean and renewable energy by sunlight. To accomplish this aim, development of efficient and robust catalysts for water oxidation and hydrogen production is extremely important. Owing to the advantages of easily modified structures and traceable catalytic processes, molecular water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) attract much attention during the past decade. However, the transformation of molecular WOCs to metal oxides/hydroxides or metal ions may occur under the harsh catalytic conditions, making the identification of true active species difficult. In this article, recent progress on molecular complexes acting as real catalysts or precursors toward water oxidation was briefly reviewed. We summarized the commonly used physical techniques and chemical methods that enable to distinguish homogeneous catalysts from heterogeneous catalysts. The factors that affect the nature of WOCs, such as reaction conditions, transition metal centers, and supporting ligands were discussed as well.     

A growth mechanism for carbon nanotubes using metal oxides as catalysts

Metal oxides have only recently begun to be used as catalysts for the growth of carbon nanotubes. Here, we propose a new model for the growth of carbon nanotubes, based on the intra‐granular charge transfer transition and the lattice strain of the catalyst nanoparticles. This is supported by results obtained from the doped metal oxides like samarium doped zinc oxide (SmZnO) and terbium doped zinc oxide (TbZnO). The intragranular charge transfer transition is believed to be responsible for the dissociation of the hydrocarbon molecules. The lattice strain of the catalyst nanoparticles appears to be responsible for the diffusion of carbon atoms through the catalyst particles.