Mechanism of heterogeneous mercury oxidation by HCl on V2O5(001) surface

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for NO_X removal in coal-fired power plants has a promoting effect on the oxidation and removal of elemental mercury. In this study, basic mechanism of mercury oxidation by V₂O₅-based SCR catalyst is investigated via density functional theory method and the periodic slab models. Calculations are conducted to determine the adsorption energies and geometries of Hg⁰, HgCl, HgCl₂ and HCl on V₂O₅(001) surface, and to reveal the energy profile of oxidation reaction and the structures of relative transition states and intermediates. The results indicate that HCl can significantly promote Hg⁰ oxidation on V₂O₅(001) surface, by forming an intermediate HgCl-surface which is important for Hg⁰ oxidation. The Hg⁰ oxidation goes through Hg⁰ → HgCl → HgCl₂, and the two stages of the reaction follow Eley–Rideal mechanism and Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, respectively. The formation of HgCl₂ is the rate-determining step due to its high energy barrier. Three detailed reaction pathways are obtained, and the related energy profiles and structures are analyzed in detail. The Hg⁰ oxidation reaction can take place through all three pathways even if differences exist in each other, while pathways I and II have relatively low energy barriers.     

Heterogeneous reaction mechanism of elemental mercury oxidation by oxygen species over MnO2 catalyst

MnO₂-based catalysts have attracted great attention in the field of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) catalytic oxidation because of their superior catalytic performance and wide temperature window. Quantum chemistry calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) combined with periodic slab models were carried out to investigate the heterogeneous mechanism of Hg⁰ oxidation by oxygen species (gas-phase O₂, chemisorbed oxygen, and lattice oxygen) on MnO₂ surface. The results indicate that Hg⁰ and HgO are chemically adsorbed on MnO₂ surface with the adsorption energies of ?69.50 and ?226.48?kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption of O₂ on MnO₂ surface belongs to chemisorption. O₂ can decompose on MnO₂ surface with an energy barrier of 97.46?kJ/mol to produce two atomic adsorbed oxygen. The perpendicular adsorbed O₂ and dissociative adsorbed O₂ are more favorable for Hg⁰ catalytic oxidation than lattice oxygen, and perpendicular adsorbed O₂ is the most active oxygen for Hg⁰ oxidation. The reaction pathway of Hg⁰ oxidation by perpendicular adsorbed O₂ includes three reaction steps: Hg⁰?→?Hg(ads)?→?HgO(ads)?→?HgO. The third step (HgO(ads)?→?HgO) is endothermic by 168.17?kJ/mol with an energy barrier of 179.48?kJ/mol, and it is the rate-limiting step of the whole Hg⁰ oxidation reaction.     

Promotion of surface SOx on the selective catalytic reduction of NO by hydrocarbons over Ag/Al2O3

The promotion of sulfur oxides on the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by hydrocarbons in the presence of a low concentration of sulfur oxides over Ag/Al₂O₃ has been investigated by a flow reaction test and in situ infrared spectroscopy. When the C₃H₆ (or C₁₀H₂₂) + NO + O₂ feed-flow reaction was tested, maximum NO reduction was below 30% over fresh Ag/Al₂O₃. After the addition of SO₂ to the feed flow, conversion increased slightly. Conversion increased further after SO₂ was cut-off from the feed flow. This demonstrated that the increase in NO reduction activity of the catalyst was related to SO_x adsorbed on the catalyst. SO_x adsorbed on the catalytic surface (1375 cm⁻¹) was detected by IR spectroscopy and was stable within the temperature range. NCO species, as an intermediate in NO reduction, on SO_x-adsorbed Ag/Al₂O₃ in a C₃H₆ + NO + O₂ feed flow was observed in in situ IR spectra during the elevation of the reaction temperature from 473 to 673 K, while it was only observed at 673 K on fresh Ag/Al₂O₃ under the same experimental conditions. We suggest that SO_x in low concentrations depressed the combustion of reductants by contaminating hydrocarbon combustion active sites on the catalyst, resulting in an increase in NO reduction efficiency of the reductants.     

Characterization of LaMnAl11O19 by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed NO and NO/O2

The nature of the NO_x species produced during the adsorption of NO at room temperature and during its coadsorption with oxygen on LaMnAl₁₁O₁₉ sample with magnetoplumbite structure obtained by a sol-gel process has been investigated by means of in situ FT-IR spectroscopy. The adsorption of NO leads to formation of anionic nitrosyls and/or cis-hyponitrite ions and reveals the presence of coordinatively unsaturated Mn³⁺ ions. Upon NO/O₂ adsorption at room temperature various nitro-nitrato structures are observed. The nitro-nitrato species produced with the participation of electrophilic oxygen species decompose at 350 °C directly to N₂ and O₂. No NO decomposition is observed in absence of molecular oxygen. The adsorbed nitro-nitrato species are inert towards the interaction with methane and block the active sites (Mn³⁺ ions) for its oxidation. Noticeable oxidation of the methane on the NOx⁻-precovered sample is observed at temperatures higher than 350 °C due to the liberation of the active sites as a result of decomposition of the surface nitro-nitrato species. Mechanism explaining the promoting effect of the molecular oxygen in the NO decomposition is proposed.     

TiO<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized using He/Ar thermal plasma and their effectiveness on low-concentration mercury vapor removal

Oxygen-vacant titanium dioxide (TiO_2−x ) nanoparticles were synthesized using thermal plasma as a heating source at various applied plasma currents and He/Ar ratios. Samples with diverse characteristics were developed and the mercury removal effectiveness was subsequently evaluated. TiO₂ nanoparticles possessing high purity and uniform particle sizes were successfully synthesized using metal titanium and O₂ as precursors and Ar as plasma gas. TiO_2−x in anatase phase with a particle size at 5–10 nm was formed at the He/Ar volume ratio of 25/75. Further increasing the He/Ar ratio elevated the plasma temperature, causing the tungsten to melt, vaporize from the cathode, and then dope into the formed TiO₂ nanoparticles. The doped W appeared to inhibit the growth of nanoparticles and decrease the crystallinity of formed anatase. The effectiveness of oxygen-vacant sites on Hg⁰ removal under the visible light circumstance was confirmed. Hg⁰ removal by the TiO_2−x nanoparticles was enhanced by increasing the O₂ concentration. However, moisture reduced Hg⁰ capture, especially when light irradiation was applied. The reduction in Hg⁰ capture may be resulted from the competitive adsorption of H₂O on the active sites of TiO_2−x with Hg⁰ and transformed Hg²⁺.     

Reaction mechanism of elemental mercury oxidation to HgSO4 during SO2/SO3 conversion over V2O5/TiO2 catalyst

Experiments and density functional theory calculations were conducted to uncover the reaction chemistry of Hg⁰ oxidation during SO₂/SO₃ conversion over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst. The results show that SO₂ promotes Hg⁰ oxidation over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst with the assistance of oxygen. The promotional effect is dependent on the reaction temperature, and is associated with the bimolecular reaction between Hg⁰ and SO₃ over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst. SO₂ can be oxidized to SO₃ which has high oxidation ability for Hg⁰ oxidation. SO₂/SO₃ conversion proceeds through a three-step reaction process in the sequence of SO₂ adsorption → SO₂ oxidation → SO₃ desorption. SO₂ oxidation presents an activation energy barrier of 223.84 kJ/mol. HgSO₄ species is formed from the bimolecular reaction between Hg⁰ and SO₃ over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst. Hg⁰ oxidation by SO₃ over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst occurs through three reaction pathways, which are energetically favorable for HgSO₄ formation. SO₂* → SO₃* is identified as the rate-determining step of HgSO₄ formation. During Hg⁰ oxidation by SO₃ over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst, HgSO₄ desorption is a highly endothermic reaction process and requires a higher external energy. The proposed skeletal reaction network can be used to well understand the reaction mechanism of Hg⁰ oxidation during SO₂/SO₃ conversion over V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst.     

The performance of Hg1−xMnxTe photodiodes

The intrinsic carrier concentration and carrier lifetime in Hg_1−xMn_xTe are calculated for the temperature range 77–300 K and the compositional range 0.07 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.20. The influence of different junction current components on the R₀A product of p⁺−n photodiodes at 77 K is analysed. The highest observed R₀A values are determined by the generation-recombination current in the depletion layer. The comparison between results of calculations and the experimental data shows potential possibilities for constructing higher quality Hg_1−xMn_xTe photodiodes.     

Study of Au/SnO x –Al2O3 catalysts used in CO oxidation by in situ Mössbauer spectroscopy

The active catalytic components in tin oxide containing alumina-supported gold catalyst were examined by comparing and analysing the in situ Mössbauer spectra of the SnO _x –Al₂O₃ support and the 3 wt.% Au/SnO _x –Al₂O₃ catalyst (1.1 wt.% Sn, Au/Sn = 3:2 atomic ratio). Samples were prepared by using organometallic precursor of ¹¹⁹SnMe₄ (enriched). First tin was grafted to the alumina surface from the organometallic precursor compound. In the next step the grafted complexes were decomposed in flowing oxygen. Gold was deposited onto the SnO _x –Al₂O₃ support in the subsequent step. Analysis of in situ spectra shows that in Au/SnO _x –Al₂O₃ catalyst after activation in hydrogen at 620 K tin may occur in three different oxidation states [Sn (IV), Sn(II) and Sn(0)] simultaneously. The metallic tin is a component of the bimetallic AuSn alloy phase. Data presented provide the first evidence for the formation of alloy-type supported Sn–Au catalyst on alumina. Furthermore, from the spectra recorded at different temperatures, values of the Debye temperatures and recoilless fractions were also determined for the various species. The results show that in catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature the dominant part of Sn(II) and the AuSn alloy is oxidized.     

Methanol electrochemical oxidation at nanometer-scale PtRu materials

The electrochemical oxidation of CH₃OH at nanometer-scale PtRu catalyst materials is reported. Comparisons are made between the properties of a Johnson Matthey (JM) PtRu black sample (50 at.% Ru (X_Ru ≈ 0.5)) and PtRu particles (2-6 nm, nominally X_Ru ≈ 0.5) prepared by sonication under anhydrous conditions. Cyclic voltammetry and in situ infrared spectroscopy measurements show the catalysts are active for the oxidation of 0.5 M CH₃OH in 0.1 M HClO₄ at temperatures between ambient and 70 °C. The sonochemically prepared PtRu sample displayed properties characteristic of bulk PtRu alloys with X_Ru ≈ 0.5. Evidence for phase separation of Pt and Ru was observed in CO stripping voltammetry from the JM catalyst adsorbed at low metal loadings (20 μg/cm²) on bulk Au electrodes. Per gram of catalyst, the JM material was more active toward CO₂ formation and displayed greater resistance to poisoning by adsorbed CO than the sonochemically prepared material during ambient temperature oxidation of 0.5 M CH₃OH in 0.1 M HClO₄.     

Characterisation of the Ru/MgF2 catalyst with adsorbed O2, NO, CO probe molecules by EPR and IR spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used to study the formation of ruthenium and adsorbed species appearing on the catalyst during O₂, NO, and CO adsorption at room temperature on 1 wt% Ru/MgF₂ catalysts prepared from Ru₃(CO)₁₂ . Both EPR and IR results provided clear evidence for the interaction between surface ruthenium and probe molecules. No EPR signals due to ruthenium (Ru) species were recorded at 300 and 77 K after H₂-reduction of the catalyst at 673 K. However, at 4.2 K a very weak EPR spectrum due to low-spin (4d⁵) Ru³⁺ complexes was detected. A weak anisotropic O₂^- radicals signal with g_∣∣=2.017 and g_⊥=2.003 superimposed on a broad (ΔB_pp=120 mT), slightly asymmetric line at g=2.45(1) was identified after O₂ admission to the reduced sample. Adsorption of NO gives only a broad, Gaussian-shaped EPR line at g=2.43(1) indicating that the admission of NO, similarly to O₂ adsorption, brings about an oxidation of Ru species in the course of the NO decomposition reaction. Introduction of NO over the CO preadsorbed catalyst leads to EPR spectrum with parameters g_⊥=1.996, g_∣∣=1.895, and A_⊥^N=2.9 mT assigned to surface NO species associated with Ru ions. The IR spectra recorded after adsorption of NO or CO probe molecules showed the bands in the range of frequency characteristic of ruthenium nitrosyl, nitro, and nitrate/nitrite species and the bands characteristic of ruthenium mono-and multicarbonyls, respectively. Addition of CO after NO admission to the catalyst leads to appearance in the IR spectrum, beside the ones characteristic of NO adsorption, the bands which can be attributed to Ru-CO₂ and Ru-NCO species, indicating that the reaction between NO and CO occurs. These species were also detected after CO adsorption followed by NO adsorption, additionally to the band at 1850 cm⁻¹ being due to cis-type species.     

Electrical conductivity of gamma-irradiated Ti silicate glasses

The d.c. resistivity (ρ) of 15 Na₂O, 20 CaO, 65 SiO₂, xTiO₂ (mole %) glasses with x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.31, 0.38 and 0.50 was investigated in the temperature range 353–523 K. The conduction mechanism was mainly ionic with Na⁺ as a charge carrier. As x was increased the changes in glass resistivity are due to the suggested different structural contributions of Ti at various contents. For 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.05, In ρ increased due to the scattering effect of Ti modifiers. A drastic decrease in ln ρ was observed due to Ti-cluster formation in the range 0.05 < x < 0.15. A further increase in x (up to 0.50 mole %) led to a linear increase in ln ρ. The effect of gamma irradiation (up to dose value D = 76.5 Mr) on the conduction mechanism of the prepared glasses was also studied. An empirical model was adopted to fit the experimental plots of the glass resistivity as a function of x and D in the range 12.8 ⩽ ln D ⩽ 18.1. It is revealed that this glass system can be used as an electronic dosimeter.     

Characterization of the synthesis and reactivity behavior of nanostructured vanadia model catalysts using XPS and vibrational spectroscopy

Nanostructured vanadia model catalysts, i.e., highly dispersed vanadium oxide supported on mesoporous silica SBA-15 (VO_x/SBA-15), were prepared. The mechanism for the synthesis of VO_x/SBA-15 was elucidated by detailed characterization of the individual synthesis steps using XPS and vibrational spectroscopy. The resulting surface vanadium oxide species (0-2.3 V/nm²), grafted on the inner pores of the SBA-15 silica matrix, consists of tetrahedrally coordinated vanadia as inferred from UV-VIS- and Raman spectroscopy. The prepared vanadia model catalysts were tested in the partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde yielding high formaldehyde selectivities of 94% at 350 °C. XPS and Raman analysis of the catalyst after reaction reveal the presence of methoxy as well as a significant amount of carbonaceous species on the surface. Our results demonstrate that a detailed understanding of partial oxidation reactions requires the combination of complementary spectroscopic techniques ultimately within one experimental set-up.     

Interplay effect on simultaneous catalytic oxidation of NOx and toluene over different crystal types of MnO2 catalysts

This paper firstly investigated the interplay effect on simultaneous catalytic oxidation of NO and toluene. Four tunnel-structure polymorphs, i.e., α-MnO₂, β-MnO₂, γ-MnO₂ and δ-MnO₂, were synthesized to compare individual and simultaneous oxidation of NO and toluene. Results demonstrated that toluene significantly inhibited NO conversion that near zero efficiencies were observed at low temperature over the four catalysts. Subsequently, NO oxidation efficiency climbed rapidly to the equivalent value as absence of toluene. In addition, presence of NO also elevated toluene conversion into higher temperature of 10–20 °C than that without NO. The reaction between toluene and oxygen took the superiority during simultaneous oxidation with NO. NO oxidation efficiency started to increase until toluene degradation approaching to the equilibrium. However, this competition seemed to be negligible at high temperature that both toluene and NO attained high conversion efficiencies. These findings provide a feasible way for simultaneous removal of NO_x and VOCs using catalytic oxidation as well as selecting an optimal temperature window.     

Photocatalytic degradation of BTEX using W-doped TiO2 immobilized on fiberglass cloth under visible light

W-doped TiO₂ were immobilized on fiberglass cloth (FGC). The catalyst possessed small crystallite sizes with a red-shift on an absorption edge. Good dispersion was observed over the immobilized catalyst. The photocatalytic degradation of gaseous BTEX was conducted in a flow reactor under day-light fluorescent. Parameters including gas flowrate, catalyst loading, initial concentration and relative humidity (%RH) were investigated. The prepared catalysts showed higher efficiency than that of TiO₂ approximately 18, 3, 3 and 2.5× for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene, respectively. The condition to achieve 100% BTEX removal was found at 20 min/ml, catalyst loading 0.1 mg/cm² and 30% RH.     

Phase differences between quantum oscillations of the magnetoresistance and the hall effect in Hg1−xMnxTe and Hg1−xCdxTe

A Landau-level broadening-dependent phase shift has been observed between the Shubnikovde Haas oscillations of the magnetoresistance and the Hall effect in a series of Hg_1−xMn_xTe and Hg_1−xCd_xTe samples. The phase shift varies between 0 and 90° and appears not to be influenced by the exchange interaction between the Mn²⁺ ions and the carriers. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for short range scattering potentials.     

A study of the fundamental and first overtone bands of NO in NO-rare gas mixtures at pressures up to 10,000 PSI

The absorption intensities of the 1-0 and 2-0 vibration-rotation bands of NO are determined from the absorption coefficients of NOHe and NOAr gaseous mixtures at high pressures at room temperature. The values obtained are: A_1-0 = 121 ± 6 cm^?2 Agt^?1 and A_2-0 = 2.17 ± 0.11 cm^?2 Agt^?1. A theory developed by Tipping is applied to evaluate the dipole moment coefficients unambiguously, including their signs, from the absolute intensity values and the difference between the mean frequency factor and the band origin. The following expansion for the dipole moment function in the ground state of NO is determined: M(x) = ?0.166 + 2.54x ? 1.99x² (in Debye). The absorption profiles of both the 1-0 and 2-0 bands in NOAr mixtures show marked changes as gas pressure increases; some of the factors influencing the shapes of the bands are also discussed. The plots of the integrated intensity vs rare gas density are found to be straight lines with positive slopes. This linear increase of the band intensity with density is interpreted as mainly due to the apparent induced absorption.     

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of BaTi1-xMnxO3

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of polycrystalline BaTi_1-xMn_xO₃ (x = 0–0.1) compounds prepared by solid-state reactions were studied. The results revealed that the increase in Mn content (x) did not change the oxidation numbers of Ba (+2) and Ti (+4) in BaTi_1-xMn_xO₃. However, there is the change in Mn valence that Mn^3+,4+ ions coexist in the samples with x = 0.01–0.04 while Mn⁴⁺ ions are almost dominant in the samples with x = 0.06–0.1. We also point out that Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions substitute for Ti⁴⁺ and prefer locating in the tetragonal and hexagonal BaTiO₃ structures, respectively, in which the hexagonal phase constitutes soon as x = 0.01. Particularly, all the samples exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism. Ferromagnetic order increases with increasing x from 0 to 0.02, but decreases as x ≥ 0.04. We think that ferromagnetism in BaTi_1-xMn_xO₃ is related to lattice defects and/or exchange interactions between Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions.     

Tuning the electronic and magnetic properties of germanene by surface adsorption of small nitrogen-based molecules

The structural, energetic and electronic properties of germanene adsorbed with small nitrogen-based molecules, including N₂, NH₃, NO₂ and NO, have been investigated by using first-principles calculations. The results show that all nitrogen-based molecules considered bind much stronger to germanene than to graphene due to the hybridized sp²-sp³ bonding of Ge atoms. The N₂, NO and NO₂ molecules all act as an acceptor, while the NH₃ molecule donates electrons to germanene. We also found sizable band gaps (2–158 meV) are opened at the Dirac point of germanene through N₂, NH₃, and NO₂ adsorptions, but with only slightly destroying its Dirac cone shape. The NO₂ molecule also shows a heavy p-type doping character and makes germanene to be metallic. Moreover, when adsorbed by NO molecule, the germanene can change to be a ferromagnetic half-metal with 100% spin-polarization at the Fermi level. Overall, the different adsorption behaviors of small nitrogen-based gas molecules on germanene provide a feasible way to exploit chemically modified germanene for a wide range of practical applications, such as field-effect transistors, gas sensors and spintronic devices.     

DFT study of the oxidation of Hg0 by O2 on an Mn-doped buckled g-C3N4 catalyst

Due to the water-insoluble nature of Hg⁰, its oxidization to Hg²⁺, which is water-soluble, is a viable approach for its effective removal at coal-fired plants using existing flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit. In this study, the adsorption and oxidation of elemental mercury on an Mn-doped g-C₃N₄ material were investigated. The spin-polarized density functional theory method was adapted to optimize the geometry structures and then to determine the corresponding electronic structures, while the CI-NEB method was adopted to search for the stable intermediates during the reaction(s). The analysis of energy and project density of states shows that the Mn-g-C₃N₄ exhibits an excellent affinity to Hg atoms. It is found that it is feasible for Hg atoms to oxidize on the Mn-g-C₃N₄ surface via two possible E-R paths, but with relatively high energy barriers. This research provides insights into a viable way for mercury removal using O₂ as the oxidizing agent.     

Influence of thickness and band structure of insulating barriers on resistance and tunneling magnetoresistance properties of magnetic tunnel junctions with Al-oxide and Ti-alloyed Al-oxide barriers

We investigated the influence of insulating barrier thickness and the Ti composition dependence of the band structure of Al-oxide on the resistance and tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) behavior of the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Low resistance × area (RA) value (1.1 MΩ μm²) was achieved by decreasing the Al-oxide thickness down to 1.0 nm. However, this led to the partial oxidation of the bottom ferromagnetic (FM) electrode of the junction and non-continuous thin barriers by the occurrence of pinholes, with low TMR ratio of 8.3%. For an alternative for low RA value, we developed a new Ti-alloyed Al-oxide (TiAlO_x) that had lower band gap than Al-oxide as an insulating barrier of MTJ. As the Ti concentration increased up to 5.33 at.% Ti in Al, the RA value of the MTJs was reduced from 9.5 to 0.69 MΩ μm², owing to the band-gap reduction of TiAlO_x caused by the formation of extra bands, mainly composed of Ti-3d orbitals, within the band gap. It was analyzed that TiAlO_x has localized d states in the band gap below the conduction band. In addition, the TMR ratio increased with the Ti concentration and reached a maximum of 49% at 5.33 at.% Ti owing to the microstructural evolution of Ti–Al alloy film in the pre-oxidation state.