Embedded high density metal nanoparticles with extraordinary thermal stability derived from guest-host mediated layered double hydroxides

A chemical precursor mediated process was used to form catalyst nanoparticles (NPs) with an extremely high density (10(14) to 10(16) m(-2)), controllable size distribution (3-20 nm), and good thermal stability at high temperature (900 °C). This used metal cations deposited in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) to give metal catalyst NPs by reduction. The key was that the LDHs had their intercalated anions selected and exchanged by guest-host chemistry to prevent sintering of the metal NPs, and there was minimal sintering even at 900 °C. Metal NPs on MoO(4)(2-) intercalated Fe/Mg/Al LDH flakes were successfully used as the catalyst for the double helix growth of single-walled carbon nanotube arrays. The process provides a general method to fabricate thermally stable metal NPs catalysts with the desired size and density for catalysis and materials science.     

Effect of HCl on the PPO assisted sol-gel synthesis of olivine-type Co2SiO4 ultrafine particles

Olivine-type Co₂SiO₄ ultrafine particles were synthesized by a sol-gel method using propylene oxide as a gelation agent. Owing to the high homogeneity of the intermediate gel precursor, the usage of this epoxide method results in a substantial reduction of calcination temperature and time as compared with the solid-state route, and a great reduction of calcination time as compared with other wet-chemistry routes. This high homogeneity is obtained by the usage of an appropriate amount of HCl, as a catalyst that matches the rate of hydrolysis of TEOS and the metal ions, allowing the formation of Si–O–Co bonds.     

Synthesis of Nitrogen Incorporated Carbon Nanotubes with Different Diameters by Catalytic Pyrolysis of Butylamine

Bamboo-like nitrogen-doped carbon(CNx) nanotubes were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at a high reaction temperature of 600―900 °C. The butylamine and Fe/SBA-15 molecular sieve have been used as precursor and catalyst, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM) observations show that the outer diameter and wall thickness as well as the inner diameter were increased with increasing reaction temperature in a temperature range of 600―800 °C. A synergism mechanism of the growth through bulk diffusion and the competitive growth through surface diffusion functions during the synthesis of CNx nanotubes was proposed.     

RNA-mediated control of metal nanoparticle shape

RNA sequences previously isolated by in vitro selection were further characterized for their ability to control palladium particle growth. Five pyridyl-modified RNA sequences (Pdases) representing each of the different evolved families were found to form hexagonal plates with a high degree of shape specificity. However, a sixth nonrelated pyridyl-modified RNA sequence was found to form exclusively cubic particles under identical conditions. Replacing pyridyl-modified RNA with native RNA resulted in a complete loss of RNA function. Removing the 3'-fixed sequence region from the Pdase had little effect on particle growth; however, further truncations into the variable region resulted in a significant loss of activity and particle shape control. These Pdases were selected using the organometallic precursor complex tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium(0) ([Pd2(DBA)3]). Changing the metal center and ligand of the group VIII organometallic precursor complex revealed a strong dependence of particle growth and shape on the DBA ligands. Changing the metal center from Pd to Pt while retaining the DBA ligands gave predominantly hexagonal Pt, but with a decrease in shape control. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the full-length Pdases contain active sites capable of highly specific molecular recognition of organometallic complexes as particle formation reagents.     

Novel dual-bed reactors: utilization of hydrogen spillover in reactor design

Hydrogen spillover over macroscopic distances was demonstrated and exploited in the design of two novel catalytic reactors for 1-butene isomerization. A dual-bed reactor containing separate zones of noble metal and bimetallic catalysts yielded activities up to 2.7 times greater than that of the noble metal alone. The noble metal catalyst contained palladium supported on graphitic carbon. The bimetallic catalyst contained a base metal, either iron or cobalt, and a lanthanide metal, either cerium or praseodymium, also supported on graphitic carbon. The bimetallic catalysts by themselves had no measurable activity at the current experimental conditions. Results from a dual-bed, dual-feed reactor using the same catalysts showed dramatic activity increases relative to controls. In this reactor, the hydrocarbon never contacted the noble metal catalyst, yet substantial hydrocarbon conversion was measured. No hydrocarbon conversion was detected when blank support replaced the bimetallic catalyst or when no material at all was placed above the noble metal catalyst. In both reactors, the activity increase was attributed to hydrogen spillover. That is, molecular hydrogen adsorbed and dissociated on the noble metal catalyst. The adsorbed atomic hydrogen was then transported via surface diffusion to the bimetallic catalyst, activating those sites. The results also demonstrated that a catalytic reaction may occur at distinctly different reactive sites and that catalysts may be selected to promote specific steps within the reaction.     

Ruthenium catalysts supported on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> prepared by sol–gel way for <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-hydroxybenzoic acid wet air oxidation

The wet air oxidation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, chosen as a model compound of olive mills wastewaters was carried out at 140 °C and 50 bar air over Ru catalysts supported on TiO₂ prepared by sol–gel method. These catalysts were characterized by means of N₂ adsorption–desorption, XRD and TEM. Optimization of the catalytic performances was obtained by studying some parameters such as the catalyst preparation method, the solvent evacuation way, the nature of the hydrolysis agent, the influence of the ruthenium salt used as the metal precursor (Ru(NO)(NO₃)₃ or Ru(acac)₃) and the catalyst pretreatment. The pre-calcination of the catalyst precursor at 300 °C under oxygen, before the reduction step under hydrogen, was detrimental to the activity. The results showed that the use of nitric acid as hydrolysis agent, drying under supercritical conditions and the use of Ru(NO)(NO₃)₃ leads to the more efficient catalyst with high TOC abatement.     

Hydrolysis, Condensation, and Tetragonal Phase Formation in Sol-Gel Zirconia Prepared with Electron-Irradiated Alkoxide Solutions

Sol-gel zirconia precursor, zirconium n-butoxide in ter-butanol, was irradiated with 1.3 MeV electrons to a dose of 330 KGy. Gelling was instantaneously produced when an aqueous solution of sulfuric, hydrochloric or acetic acid was added to the irradiated solution; no hydrolysis catalyst was required. Samples were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance. The electron irradiation accelerated hydrolysis and condensation, which avoided the stabilization of the tetragonal phase via carboxyls, and decreased the capability of sulfate ions to stabilize it. These results suggest that the stabilization of the tetragonal phase of sol-gel zirconia via carboxyl and sulfate ions depends on their diffusion in the sol.     

FeCo/MgO催化生长体相单壁碳纳米管的直径调控

单壁碳纳米管的直径可控生长是碳纳米管生长与应用领域的重要问题。直径在0.9–1.2 nm范围内的碳纳米管非常适合应用于近红外荧光生物成像领域和量子器件单光子光源之中。本文使用FeCo/MgO催化剂生长出了直径在这一范围内的体相单壁碳纳米管,并研究了催化剂制备和CVD生长条件对碳纳米管直径的影响。催化剂前驱体的制备是获得小尺寸催化剂颗粒的关键步骤。在浸渍过程中,使用难水解的金属硫酸盐作为前驱体、降低浸渍pH以及加入络合剂分子都会抑制溶液干燥过程中金属盐的水解,从而控制催化剂的尺寸,使其适合于生长出直径可控的单壁碳纳米管。在CVD生长过程中,使用乙醇作为碳源、使用较低的碳氢比例也有利于小直径碳纳米管的生长。     

Monitoring carbon nanotube growth by formation of nanotube stacks and investigation of the diffusion-controlled kinetics

A novel method is presented to monitor carbon nanotube (CNT) growth by formation of CNT stacks. By this process, CNT growth kinetics are investigated for densely packed CNT films in the gas-diffusion-controlled regime. CNT stacks are fabricated by water-assisted selective etching and the cyclic introduction of ethylene into the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. Formation of the CNT stacks allows monitoring of the CNT growth evolution, thereby providing insight into the growth kinetics. A parabolic increase of CNT length versus time is observed, indicating a gas-diffusion-controlled growth mode. The densely packed, well-aligned CNT films act as porous barrier layers to the diffusion of ethylene precursor to the catalyst nanoparticles, since these films form via a base-growth mode under the conditions invoked in our system. By adjustment of CNT growth time and temperature, a quantitative time-evolution analysis is performed to investigate the CNT growth model and extract the gas precursor mass transfer coefficient in the CNT films. The self-diffusion of gases in the densely packed CNT films is found to be Knudsen diffusion with a diffusion coefficient on the order of 10(-4) cm(2)/s.     

Density functional analysis of group 10 organometallic diphosphinito complexes for catalytic formation of C‐P bonds

New group 10 metalloorganic complexes are proposed as the basis of new catalysts for the formation of carbon‐phosphorous bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) is applied, using multiple DFT functionals, to model molecular geometry as well as electron density distribution in the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) expected to carry out a reductive catalytic cycle. DFT/M06 analysis predicts a robust planar geometry, regardless of alteration of major components. Precursors for rapid catalyst generation should begin with an electron‐withdrawing monodentate ligand. Palladium and platinum catalysts have lower chemical hardness, but the electron distribution in the HOMO of the nickel‐based catalyst is preferred for reductive catalytic mechanisms. Both electron density and chemical hardness, however, are affected by the choice of metal ion and the composition of the monodentate ligand bound to it. Group 10 metalloorganic complexes are modeled as precursors for generating new catalysts for a minimally wasteful method of forming bonds commonly found in biochemically active compounds. Suitable precursors have an accessible metal center, as well as significant the HOMO/LUMO involvement at the metal center. All complexes studied offer similar geometries, but precursor transformation into catalyst depends on the electron‐withdrawing ligand being exchanged. Catalyst turn over number is predicted to depend primarily on the central metal. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Unique Possibilities of Dynamic Metal–Polymer Interactions in Selective Hydrogenation

Rationally designed polymers can function as supports or promoters for metal catalysts, imparting distinct catalytic properties in selective hydrogenation. With strongly metal–ligating functional groups, mobile polymer chains can spontaneously decorate the metal catalyst surfaces under mild conditions, forming stable metal–polymer interfaces. We have termed this phenomenon ‘dynamic metal–polymer interaction (DMPI),’ which can be roughly considered as an organic version of the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) concept. The polymer chains that dynamically interact with the metal surface can control the adsorption of reactants and products through competitive adsorption, significantly improving selectivity and catalyst stability. One of the remarkable advantages of using polymers as catalytic materials is that their molecular structures, such as molecular weight, crystallinity, and chemical functionality, can be tailored using rich organic chemistry. This, in turn, allows us to precisely tune the metal–polymer interactions and catalytic properties. In this Concept, we will discuss how metal–polymer interfaces can be designed and utilized for selective hydrogenation, with a particular emphasis on the industrially relevant acetylene partial hydrogenation reaction.     

Patterning catalyst via inkjet printing to grow single-walled carbon nanotubes

We demonstrated a method to pattern catalyst via inkjet printing to grow SWNTs, using metal salt solutions as the inks and an ordinary office-use printer. We printed water solutions of cobalt acetate on hydrophilic Si substrates and grew high quality SWNT films.     

Batch‐ and Continuous‐Flow Aerobic Oxidation of 14‐Hydroxy Opioids to 1,3‐Oxazolidines—A Concise Synthesis of Noroxymorphone

14‐Hydroxymorphinone is converted to noroxymorphone, the immediate precursor of important opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone and naloxone, in a three‐step reaction sequence. The initial oxidation of the N‐methyl group in 14‐hydroxymorphinone with in situ generated colloidal palladium(0) as the catalyst and molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant constitutes the key transformation in this new route. This oxidation results in the formation of an unexpected oxazolidine ring structure. Subsequent hydrolysis of the oxazolidine under reduced pressure followed by hydrogenation in a packed‐bed flow reactor using palladium(0) as the catalyst provides noroxymorphone in high purity and good overall yield. To overcome challenges associated with gas–liquid reactions with molecular oxygen, the key oxidation reaction was translated to a continuous‐flow process.     

How to Polymerize Ethylene in a Highly Controlled Fashion?

Very fast, reversible, polyethylene (PE) chain transfer or complex-catalysed "Aufbaureaktion" describes a "living" chain-growing process on a main-group metal or zinc atom; this process is catalysed by an organo-transition-metal or lanthanide complex. PE chains are transferred very fast between the two metal sites and chain growth takes place through ethylene insertion into the transition-metal- or lanthanide-carbon bond-coordinative chain-transfer polymerisation (CCTP). The transferred chains "rest" at the main-group or zinc centre, at which chain-termination processes like beta-H transfer/elimination are of low significance. Such protocols can be used to synthesise very narrowly distributed PE materials (M(w)/M(n)<1.1 up to a molecular weight of about 4000 g mol(-1)) with differently functionalised end groups. Higher molecular-weight polymers can be obtained with a slightly increased M(w)/M(n), since diffusion control and precipitation of the polymers influences the chain-transfer process. Recently, a few transition-metal- or lanthanide-based catalyst systems that catalyse such a highly reversible chain-growing process have been described. They are summarised and compared within this contribution.     

乙醇辅助的化学沉积法制备硫化型Mo/γ-Al2O3加氢脱硫催化剂

以硫代乙酰胺为硫源,钼酸钠为钼源,乙醇为分散剂,采用化学沉积法制备了MoS₃/Al₂O₃催化剂前驱体,再用H₂高温处理得到高分散硫化型MoS₂/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂,运用N₂吸附-脱附、X射线光电子能谱以及高分辨透射电子显微镜等技术对MoS₂/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂进行了表征,并以二苯并噻吩作为模型化合物评价了催化剂的加氢脱硫(HDS)活性.结果表明,与浸渍法相比,所制催化剂具有更大的比表面积和孔体积、更高的活性金属分散度、更佳的Mo物种硫化度以及更短的MoS₂片层长度和更高的堆积度,因而在二苯并噻吩HDS反应中表现出远优于浸渍法所制催化剂的活性.乙醇可通过S?H-O氢键吸附至MoS₃纳米粒子表面,可有效防止其生长和团聚,起到分散剂的作用.     

A new palladium nanoparticle catalyst on mesoporous silica prepared from a molecular cluster precursor

A promising approach to the controlled synthesis of supported nanoparticles involves the use of molecular carbonyl clusters as precursors. Molecular metal clusters consist of a defined number of structurally ordered atoms, and active monodisperse metal particles are formed after dispersing the molecules and removing the ligands. An octanuclear palladium cluster precursor with easily displaceable ligands was used to generate palladium nanoparticles on mesoporous MCM-41. The molecular cluster precursor, [Pd8(CO)8(PMe3)7], was directly adsorbed from solution onto MCM-41, followed by gentle thermolysis which yielded small metal nanoparticles. Compared to MCM-41-based catalysts prepared from palladium salts by conventional methods, this cluster-derived palladium catalyst has shown an efficient activity for liquid-phase hydrogenation of alkenes.     

Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents Using a Zr6‐Based Metal–Organic Framework/Polymer Mixture

Owing to their high surface area, periodic distribution of metal sites, and water stability, zirconium‐based metal–organic frameworks (Zr₆‐MOFs) have shown promising activity for the hydrolysis of nerve agents GD and VX, as well as the simulant, dimethyl 4‐nitrophenylphosphate (DMNP), in buffered solutions. A hurdle to using MOFs for this application is the current need for a buffer solution. Here the destruction of the simulant DMNP, as well as the chemical warfare agents (GD and VX) through hydrolysis using a MOF catalyst mixed with a non‐volatile, water‐insoluble, heterogeneous buffer is reported. The hydrolysis of the simulant and nerve agents in the presence of the heterogeneous buffer was fast and effective.     

Ni-Al类水滑石的制备及其Ni/Al2O3加氢脱硫研究

采用共沉淀方法合成了不同Ni/Al比的镍铝类水滑石,将其作为催化剂前驱体,制备了Ni/Al2O3加氢脱硫催化剂.通过X射线衍射法(XRD),程序升温还原(H2-TPR),热重分析(TG),傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)等技术对催化剂进行了表征.利用10 mL固定床装置在不同温度,压力,体积空速和氢油比条件下对Ni/Al2O3催化剂的加氢脱硫活性进行了评价.结果表明,XRD图和FT-IR图中均出现了Ni-Al类水滑石的特征峰,TG图呈现出两个明显阶段的失重,在Ni-Al2O3-HT的XRD图中最强的衍射角对应单质金属Ni粒子的(111)晶面.脱硫结果显示Ni-Al类水滑石作为前驱体在适当的条件下,FCC汽油的硫含量降至10 ppm以下.类水滑石作为前驱体的Ni/Al2O3加氢脱硫活性很好,说明类水滑石作为前驱体在加氢脱硫领域有好的应用前景.     

Low-temperature growth of ZnO nanorods by chemical bath deposition

Aligned ZnO nanorod arrays were synthesized using a chemical bath deposition method at normal atmospheric pressure without any metal catalyst. A simple two-step process was developed for growing ZnO nanorods on a PET substrate at 90-95 degrees C. The ZnO seed precursor was prepared by a sol-gel reaction. ZnO nanorod arrays were fabricated on ZnO-seed-coated substrate. The ZnO seeds were indispensable for the aligned growth of ZnO nanorods. The ZnO nanorods had a length of 400-500 nm and a diameter of 25-50 nm. HR-TEM and XRD analysis confirmed that the ZnO nanorod is a single crystal with a wurtzite structure and its growth direction is [0001] (the c-axis). Photoluminescence measurements of ZnO nanorods revealed an intense ultraviolet peak at 378.3 nm (3.27 eV) at room temperature.     

STUDY ON ACTIVITY OF CATALYSTS FOR HYDROLYSIS OF CARBON DISULFIDE AT LOW TEMPERATURE

lntroductionCS2,oneoforganicsulfurcompounds,existsinClauseeffiuent,petroleum,nauralgas,andvariousrawgasesmadefromcoal.TraceofCS2cangreatlyreducethecatalghcactivityardlifetimeofsomecatalystsaPpliedindownstreamprocesses,suchasthesynthesesofmethanol,arYunoniaandurea.TherearemmpsmallandmediumsizechemicalplantsinChina.Usingcoalasthcmainrawmaterialtoproducesynthesisgashasbecomeabasicpointoflong4ermpolicyforthoseplants.TheelednationofsulfurcomPoundsfromthesynthesisgas,however,isoneofthemainproble…