Homogeneous coating of graphite felt by nickel electrodeposition to achieve light nickel felts with high surface area

We have developed a method of electrodeposition of nickel on a graphite felt of high specific surface area. We have solved the problems linked to the heterogeneous potential distribution in the 3D porous structure by using low concentrations of nickel salts and high applied current densities. This will result in being limited by the diffusion of ions to the electrode on the area of highest potential. The obtained nickel foams present interesting properties such as high surface areas and low densities.     

高比表面积多孔Si层柱蒙脱土材料的合成和表征

汽车排放是大气的重要污染源之一。柴油中的含硫分子燃烧后产生的硫氧化物直接导致酸雨,也是城市氮氧化物和颗粒物排放的主要来源。为减少柴油中硫对环境的危害,世界各国相继颁布了严格的柴油含硫标准,加之市场对超低硫柴油的需求,使得各种柴油脱硫技术的开发成为一大热点。而开发高活性的加氢脱硫催化剂则是既经济又简单的方法。     

Self-generated hierarchically porous titania with high surface area: photocatalytic activity enhancement by macrochannel structure

Various hierarchical porous titania with high surface area over 600 m(2)/g have been synthesized via a spontaneous self-formation process from titanium alkoxides by a water adjusting approach using acetonitrile as reaction medium. The reactivity of metal alkoxides and the water content in acetonitrile medium on the resultant structure have been investigated. The porosities of the products were characterized by SEM, TEM and N(2) adsorption-desorption measurements. The observation on the evolution of porous structure with increasing water content in reaction system is essential for a better understanding of hierarchical porous structure formation over different length scales by this self-formation process. The creation of macro/micropores in photocatalytic titania materials has been found to enhance the photocatalytic activity due to both the action of macrochannels as light harvester and the easy diffusion effect of organic molecules. The present work shows clearly that hierarchically porous titania with the presence of macroporous structure and high surface area can be very efficient photocatalysts, suggesting their potential applications in water treatment as decontamination materials.     

高比表面积介孔氧化镍制备及表征

采用硝酸镍和草酸为原料,采用固态热分解法制备得到高比表面积的介孔Ni O纳米粒子,考察了原料的用量,热处理的温度,热处理的时间对孔结构的影响。用X射线衍射、透射电镜、扫描电镜和N2吸附-脱附技术对材料的物化性质进行了表征。结果表明:硝酸镍和草酸1∶1混合均匀、400℃灼烧4 h得到的介孔Ni O粒子的孔结构为最发达的蠕虫状介孔结构,比表面积和孔容分别达到236 m2·g-1和0.42 cm3·g-1。     

Preparation of mesoporous silicon dioxide with high specific surface area

The influence of the reactant ratio on the specific surface area, total pore volume, and mean pore diameter of mesoporous silicon dioxide prepared by the sol-gel method was examined. The optimal reactant ratio for preparing the material with a high specific surface area was determimed.     

金属离子在多孔硅表面和吸附与电镀过程中金属在多孔硅表面的淀积

刚制备的多孔硅与金属盐溶液接触会产生金属离子在多孔硅表面和吸附现象。实验显示这一现象只发生在新鲜的多孔硅表面, 而存放一月以后的样品不具备此性质。文中把这一现象归因于新鲜的多孔硅表面电子的富集, 溶液中金属离子从多孔硅表面获得电子而附着。多孔硅表面电镀金属过程中, 一定电压下电镀电流密度在起始阶段逐渐下降, 可以用一个指数关系式较好地描述, 在本文中有一个唯象模型予以解释。     

金属离子在多孔硅表面和吸附与电镀过程中金属在多孔硅表面的淀积

刚制备的多孔硅与金属盐溶液接触会产生金属离子在多孔硅表面和吸附现象。实验显示这一现象只发生在新鲜的多孔硅表面, 而存放一月以后的样品不具备此性质。文中把这一现象归因于新鲜的多孔硅表面电子的富集, 溶液中金属离子从多孔硅表面获得电子而附着。多孔硅表面电镀金属过程中, 一定电压下电镀电流密度在起始阶段逐渐下降, 可以用一个指数关系式较好地描述, 在本文中有一个唯象模型予以解释。     

Preparation of mesostructured barium sulfate with high surface area by dispersion method and its characterization

The spherical and cubic mesoporous BaSO(4) particles with high surface area were successfully produced via one-step process through precipitation reaction in aqueous solution of Ba(OH)(2) and H(2)SO(4) with ethylene glycol (n-HOCH(2)CH(2)OH) as a modifying agent. The BaSO(4) nanomaterial revealed that the high surface area and the mesoporous was stable up to 400 degrees C. Agglomerate mesoporous barium sulfate nanomaterials were obtained by the reaction of Ba(2+) and SO(2-)(4) with ethylene glycol aqueous solution. The ethylene glycol was used to control the BaSO(4) particle size and to modify the surface property of the particles produced from the precipitation. The dried and calcined mesoporous BaSO(4) nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area and N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherm, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared resonance (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The as-prepared mesoporous dried BaSO(4) possesses a high BET surface area of 91.56 m(2) g(-1), pore volume of 0.188 cm(3) g(-1) (P/P(0)=0.9849) and pore size of 8.22 nm. The SEM indicates that the morphology of BaSO(4) nanomaterial shows shell like particles up to 400 degrees C, after that there is drastically change in the material due to agglomeration. Synthesis of mesoporous BaSO(4) nanomaterial is of significant importance for both sulphuric acid decomposition and oxidation of methane to methanol.     

Preparation of a palladium alloy composite membrane supported in a porous stainless steel by vacuum electrodeposition

Pinhole-free palladium/nickel (Pd/Ni) alloy membranes deposited on a porous stainless steel (SUS) support have been fabricated. The deposition was made by vacuum electrodeposition technique which could produce the alloy film less than 1 μm thick. This technique allows for the Pd/Ni alloy by employing Pd/Ni complex reagent, and typical Pd/Ni plating had compositions of 78% Pd and 22% Ni. In order to make the surface smooth and enhance the adhesive bond between the top layer and the substrate, a nascent porous SUS disk was treated sequently with submicron nickel powder and CuCN solution. The important parameters that can affect deposition were pore size, defects, and surface roughness of substrate. The membranes were characterized by permeation experiments with hydrogen and nitrogen at temperatures ranging from 623 to 823 K and pressures from 10.3 to 51.7 cmHg. The composite membranes prepared in this technique yielded excellent separation performance for hydrogen: hydrogen permeance of 5.79×10⁻² cm³/cm² cmHg s and hydrogen/nitrogen (H₂/N₂) selectivity was 4700 at 823 K.     

Preparation of activated carbon with high surface area for high-capacity methane storage

Activated carbon （AC） was fabricated from corncob, which is cheap and abundant. Experimental parameters such as particle size of corncob, KOHlchar weight ratio, and activation temperature and time were optimized to generate AC, which shows high methane sorption capacity. AC has high specific surface area （3227 m^2/g）, with pore volume and pore size distribution equal to 1.829 cm^3/g and ca. 1.7-2.2 nm, respectively. Under the condition of 2℃ and less than 7.8 MPa, methane sorption in the presence of water （Rw = 1.4） was as high as 43.7 wt% methane per unit mass of dry AC. The result is significantly higher than those of coconut-derived AC （32 wt%） and ordered mesoporous carbon （41.2 wt%, Rw = 4.07） under the same condition. The physical properties and amorphous chaotic structure of AC were characterized by N2 adsorption isotherms, XRD, SEM and HRTEM. Hence, the corncob-derived AC can be considered as a competitive methane-storage material for vehicles, which are run by natural gas.

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High surface area V-Mo-N materials synthesized from amine intercalated foams

Nanocrystalline ternary V-Mo nitrides were prepared via nitridation of amine intercalated oxide foams or bulk ternary oxides. Specific surface areas were in the range between 40 and 198 m² g⁻¹ and strongly depended on the preparation method (foam or bulk oxide). Foamed precursors were favorable for vanadium rich materials, while for molybdenum rich samples bulk ternary oxides resulted in higher specific surface areas. The materials were characterized via nitrogen physisorption at 77 K, X-ray diffraction patterns, electron microscopy, and elemental analysis.     

钛酸钙的电沉积法制备及表征

采用硝酸钙为钙源,钛酸丁酯为钛源,通过电极沉淀法制备钛酸钙.利用红外光谱仪对制备所得的钛酸钙进行表征.结果显示,在室温条件下,于外加5 V的电场中反应3 h,所得前驱体在800℃下焙烧2 h可得到纯度较高的钛酸钙产品.     

Direct electrodeposition of porous platinum honeycomb structures

Honeycomb platinum was electrodeposited from an aqueous solution of K₂PtCl₄ and H₂SO₄ in a simple one step procedure using hydrogen bubbles as a dynamic template. SEM studies revealed the structure to consist of interconnecting pores with sizes from 5 to 10 μm, with fine structure consisting of nodules of 100 to 200 nm with sharp extrusions that exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation. The simplicity of the method and the quality of the surfaces prepared suggest applications in catalysis where a convenient method to prepare high surface area platinum in one step is desirable.     

Synthesis of activated carbon foams with high specific surface area using polyurethane elastomer templates for effective removal of methylene blue

Carbon foams have gained significant attention due to their tuneable properties that enable a wide range of applications including catalysis, energy storage and wastewater treatment. Novel synthesis pathways enable novel applications via yielding complex, hierarchical material structure. In this work, activated carbon foams (ACFs) were produced from waste polyurethane elastomer templates using different synthesis pathways, including a novel one-step method. Uniquely, the produced foams exhibited complex structure and contained carbon microspheres. The ACFs were synthesized by impregnating the elastomers in an acidified sucrose solution followed by direct activation using CO₂ at 1000 ℃. Different pyrolysis and activation conditions were investigated. The ACFs were characterized by a high specific surface area (S_BET) of 2172 m²/g and an enhanced pore volume of 1.08 cm³/g. Computer tomography and morphological studies revealed an inhomogeneous porous structure and the presence of numerous carbon spheres of varying sizes embedded in the porous network of the three-dimensional carbon foam. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained carbon foam was amorphous and of turbostratic structure. Moreover, the activation process enhanced the surface of the carbon foam, making it more hydrophilic via altering pore size distribution and introducing oxygen functional groups. In equilibrium, the adsorption of methylene blue on ACF followed the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 592 mg/g. Based on these results, the produced ACFs have potential applications as adsorbents, catalyst support and electrode material in energy storage systems.     

Preparation of muscovite with ultrahigh specific surface area by chemical cleavage

The specific surface area of a muscovite sample increases drastically after exposure to a LiNO₃ solution, e.g., from 3.4 m²/g, corresponding to platelets of ca. 200 silicate layers, to 295 m²/g (platelets of ca. 2–3 silicate layers) after treatment at 180°C under atmospheric pressure for 46 h. The efficiency of the cleavage process decreases with decreasing temperature (down to 50°C). The LiNO₃/H₂O weight ratio is also very important: at 130°C and a reaction time of 46 h, for instance, a value in the range of 1.7–1.8 leads to the highest specific surfaces. The cleaved products have the form of strong papers that disperse readily in water. During the cleaving procedure, not only the particle thickness, but also the diameter decreases. There is no evidence of damage or partial dissolution of the silicate structure after cleavage, by IR spectroscopy and yield. The use of LiCl also leads to an increase in specific surface area, but the effect is weaker than in the case of LiNO₃. Treatment with some other alkaline and alkaline earth nitrates and chlorides did not increase the specific surface area of muscovite significantly.     

Synthesis of high surface area nanometer magnesia by solid-state chemical reaction

Nanometer MgO samples with high surface area, small crystal size and mesoporous texture were synthesized by thermal decomposition of MgC₂O₄ · 2H₂O prepared from solid-state chemical reaction between H₂C₂O₄ · 2H₂O and Mg (CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O. Steam produced during the decomposition process accelerated the sintering of MgO, and MgO with surface area as high as 412 m² · g⁻¹ was obtained through calcining its precursor in flowing dry nitrogen at 520°C for 4 h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis. The as-prepared MgO was composed of nanocrystals with a size of about 4–5 nm and formed a wormhole-like porous structure. The MgO also had good thermal stability, and its surface areas remained at 357 and 153 m²·g⁻¹ after calcination at 600 and 800°C for 2 h, respectively. Compared with the MgO sample prepared by the precipitation method, MgO prepared by solid-state chemical reaction has uniform pore size distribution, surface area, and crystal size. The solid-state chemical method has the advantages of low cost, low pollution, and high yield, therefore it appears to be a promising method in the industrial manufacture of nanometer MgO. Translated from Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2006, 27(9): 793–798 (in Chinese)     

Synthesis of high surface area potassium hexatitanate powders by sol-gel method

Potassium hexatitanate (K₂Ti₆O₁₃) powders were synthesized by sol-gel method using supercritical drying to produce ion-exchangeable fine powders with high surface area. The effects of titanium alkoxides and mole ratios of K/Ti were investigated. By using sol-gel method, potassium hexatitanate powders were obtained at 630°C which is 350°C lower than that by melting method. The surface area of this sample was about 30–40 m²/g which was higher than that of melting method sample. Addition of H₂O and decrease in mole ratios of K/Ti increased surface area of powders.This work was partially supported by the IAEA (Research Program on Waste Treatment Immobilization Technologies Involving Inorganic Sorbent) contract. Many thanks to the IAEA's support.