Pt/SiO2 catalysts obtained by the sol-gel method. Influence of the pH of gelation on the surface and catalytic properties

Pt/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by impregnation and sol-gel method from a platinum acetylacetonate precursor have been studied. The pH was varied in the range of 3–9. Important changes in the surface area and pore distribution were found. High metal dispersity was found in all the catalysts, being lower at pH 9.     

Adsorption studies of Cd(II) onto Al2O3/Nb2O5 mixed oxide dispersed on silica matrix and its on-line preconcentration and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The present study describes the adsorption characteristic of Cd(II) onto Nb₂O₅/Al₂O₃ mixed oxide dispersed on silica matrix. The characterization of the adsorbent has been carried out by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) and specific surface area (S_BET). From batch experiments, adsorption kinetic of Cd(II) was described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir linear isotherm fitted to the experimental adsorption isotherm very well, and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 17.88 mg g⁻¹. Using the effective material, a method for Cd(II) preconcentration at trace level was developed. The method was based on on-line adsorption of Cd(II) onto SiO₂/Al₂O₃/Nb₂O₅ at pH 8.64, in which the quantitative desorption occurs with 1.0 mol L⁻¹ hydrochloric acid towards FAAS detector. The experimental parameters related to the system were studied by means of multivariate analysis, using 2⁴ full factorial design and Doehlert matrix. The effect of SO₄²⁻, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ foreign ions showed no interference at 1:100 analyte:interferent proportion. Under the most favorable experimental conditions, the preconcentration system provided a preconcentration factor of 18.4 times, consumption index of 1.08 mL, sample throughput of 14 h⁻¹, concentration efficiency of 4.35 min⁻¹, linear range from 5.0 up to 35.0 μg L⁻¹ and limits of detection and quantification of 0.19 and 0.65 μg L⁻¹ respectively. The feasibility of the proposed method for Cd(II) determination was assessed by analysis of water samples, cigarette sample and certified reference materials TORT-2 (Lobster hepatopancreas) and DOLT-4 (Dogfish liver).     

Low-temperature synthesis of SrAl2O4 by a modified sol-gel route: XRD and Raman characterization

Among other alkaline-earth aluminates, the monoclinic (M) polymorph of SrAl₂O₄ can be used as host material for Eu²⁺ luminescence based phosphors. With the aim of reducing the synthesis temperature of this polymorph, we have produced and characterized by XRD and Raman scattering solid solutions of the SrAl_2−xB_xO₄ system (x?0.3) obtained by two different methods, a ceramic route and a modified sol-gel synthesis. Though the addition of boron lowers the temperature of obtention of the M polymorph in both type of samples, lower B contents are needed to stabilize the M form as single phase for samples prepared by the sol-gel method than through the ceramic route. In the sol-gel method, the M polymorph can be obtained at temperatures as low as 1200 °C, with a Boron content of just 1%. Rietveld profile analysis allows us to conclude that coexistence of the monoclinic and hexagonal polymorphs of SrAl₂O₄ occurs for samples synthesized below an onset temperature of about 1000-1100 °C, that depends on the sample composition. Above those temperatures, only the monoclinic phase is formed.     

Hydrogenation of citral on Ir/SiO2 catalysts. Effect of the addition of Nb2O5 on surface and catalytic properties

Hydrogenation of citral over Ir supported on SiO₂, Nb₂O₅ and Ir/Nb₂O₅-SiO₂ catalysts reduced at 473 K (LT) and 773 K (HT) was studied. High selectivity to unsaturated alcohol was found, the main reaction products being geraniol and nerol. The LT catalysts show higher conversion levels, the one with a higher Nb content displays highest conversion.     

Li ion diffusion in Li4Ti5O12 thin film electrode prepared by PVP sol-gel method

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin films for rechargeable lithium batteries were prepared by a sol-gel method with poly(vinylpyrrolidone). Interfacial properties of lithium insertion into Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT). Redox peaks in CV were very sharp even at a fast scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹, indicating that Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film had a fast electrochemical response, and that an apparent chemical diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ion was estimated to be 6.8×10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ from a dependence of peak current on sweep rates. From EIS, it can be seen that Li⁺ ions become more mobile at 1.55 V vs. Li/Li⁺, corresponding to a two-phase region, and the chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion ranged from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ at various potentials. The chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion in Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ were also estimated from PITT. They were in a range of 10⁻¹¹-10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹.     

Promoting effect of sol-gel method and pre-treatment on the activity of SnO2/Al2O3 catalyst for NO reduction by propene

SnO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by sol-gel method showed higher activity than those prepared by impregnation method, and their activity was significantly improved by pre-treatment in the reaction gas. The increased activity is closely related to the agglomeration of SnO₂ species and the re-exposure of Al₂O₃, which was previously covered by dispersed SnO₂ species. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Catalytic combustion of chlorobenzene over V2O5/TiO2 catalysts prepared by the precipitation-deposition method

Catalytic combustion of chlorobenzene over supported vanadium oxides has been investigated. TiO₂ was prepared by the sol-gel method from titanium isopropoxide. The supported vanadium oxide catalysts have been prepared by precipitation-deposition and impregnation method and characterized by XRD, FT-Raman and TPR. In the VO_x/TiO₂catalysts prepared using the impregnation method, when vanadium loading reaches 3 wt.%, the activity shows a maximum. However, in the VO_x/TiO₂catalysts prepared by precipitation-deposition, when vanadium loading reaches 7 wt.%, the activity shows a maximum. This result suggests that the precipitation-deposition can yield a higher metal loading on the support and a high dispersion compared to the impregnation method. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparative study of the catalytic properties of V2O5, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 in the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde

The selectivity of the oxides under consideration to the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde is shown to increase in the sequence V₂O₅–Nb₂O₅–Ta₂O₅. The same sequence corresponds to the decrease in specific activity. The activation energy of the reaction is 12 kcal/mol for V₂O₅, 14 kcal/mol for Nb₂O₅ and 22 kcal/mol for Ta₂O₅.

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, V₂O₅–Nb₂O₅–Ta₂O₅. . : V₂O₅ 12 /, Nb₂O₅ 14 / Ta₂O₅ 22 /.

     

Preparation and characterization of highly dispersed V2O5/SiO2prepared by a CVD method

Highly dispersed V₂O₅/SiO₂(CVD catalyst) was prepared by the reaction of vaporized VO(OPrⁱ)₃ with silica at 293 K, whose process was followed by an IR technique. The rate of propylene photooxidation increased with an increase in V₂O₅ loading for CVD catalysts, but leveled off for impregnated ones. The CVD catalysts were characterized by XAFS and photoluminescence spectroscopy.     

Photodegradation of 2,4-D over PdO/Al2O3-Nd2O3 photocatalysts prepared by the sol-gel method

The photocatalytic activity of 1.0 wt% PdO supported on Al₂O₃-Nd₂O₃ binary oxides prepared by the sol-gel method was studied in the photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The photocatalysts were characterized by N₂ physisorption, XRD and UV-vis spectroscopy. PdO supported on γ-Al₂O₃ photo-degrades the 2,4-D, however the addition of Nd₂O₃ to γ-Al₂O₃ notably improves the photocatalytic activity. As the concentration of Nd₂O₃ in the binary oxide increases from 2 to 10 wt%, the photodegradation of 2,4-D is highly enhanced. The catalytic test for PdO supported on pure Nd₂O₃ showed scarce photocatalytic activity. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis showed that the 2,4-D has been completely destroyed on the PdO/Al₂O₃-Nd₂O₃ photocatalysts after 6 h under irradiation.     

Effect of sol-gel derived Al2O3-ZrO2 and Al2O3-TiO2 oxides on the selectivity of NO reduction by CO under oxidizing conditions

The role of Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃-TiO₂ sol-gel prepared supports in the activity of platinum for the NO reduction by CO under oxidizing conditions has been studied. ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra have shown the formation of pentacoordinate Al^V in alumina-zirconia support. ZrO₂ or TiO₂ crystalline phases cannot be identified by XRD diffraction, suggesting the formation of nanosized structures supported on alumina. When the reaction was carried out in presence of oxygen, large amounts of NO₂ were observed on Pt/Al₂O₃-ZrO₂catalyst, while the formation of N₂O is more prononced on Pt/Al₂O₃-TiO₂ catalyst. The effect of water during NO reduction is discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

V2.38Nb10.7O32.7: A V2O5-Nb2O5 mixed oxide tunnel structure related to the tetragonal tungsten bronzes

A crystal structural model for the orthorhombic compound V_2.38Nb_10.7O_32.7, which is known as “V₂Nb₉O_27.5”, was developed by means of selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Rietveld refinement and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). The metastable compound is obtained by thermal decomposition of freeze-dried precursors as chain-like agglomerated nanoparticles or by reaction of V₂O₅ with fresh-precipitated Nb₂O₅ as more compact micro-scaled crystals. With the latter, it was possible to identify its structure for the first time (space group Cmmm). The tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB)-type structure shows high potential for ionic intercalation, since easily reducible [V⁵⁺₂O²⁻] units are implemented in the tunnels of a rigid niobium oxide framework.     

Multi-step sol-gel process and its effect on the morphology of polyethylene oxide (PEO)/SiO2 anion-exchange hybrid materials

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)/SiO₂ anion-exchange hybrid materials were prepared through the sol-gel process of alkoxysilane functionalized PEO-1000 (PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂) and N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ethylene diamine (A-1120). The influence of the multi-step sol-gel processing procedure, i.e. the pre-hydrolysis of either of the two precursors on the homogeneity of the hybrid materials was investigated. Results showed that the sol-gel reaction of A-1120 and PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂ from the same time would result in hybrid materials with the highest homogeneity, and pre-hydrolysis of A-1120 or PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂ could only decrease the materials’ compatibility.     

Photocatalytic activity of TiO2/SnO2/Pt prepared by the sol-gel method

This investigation compares the photodegradation performance of C.I. Reactive Red 2 (RR2) in single- and coupled-photocatalyst systems. The photocatalysts were produced via the sol-gel method. PEG and Pt addition increases the decolorization rate (1.6–2.12 h⁻¹), the amount of sulfate released and the DOC reduction percentage in coupled photocatalyst systems the cause of PEG improving the homogeneity of the final product and incorporating Pt into the lattice reduced the band gap of photocatalysts.     

Nanoscale formation of new solid-state compounds by topochemical effects: The interfacial reactions ZnO with Al2O3 as a model system

The chemical reactivity of thin layers (ca. 10 nm thick) of ZnO deposited onto differently oriented Al₂O₃ single crystals has been investigated by means of atomic force microscopy inspections and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Zn-K edge. The interface yields the ZnAl₂O₄ spinel and a quite stable film morphology. Instead, the and (0001)_ZnO∥(0001)_sapphire interfaces give origin to a new compound (or, possibly, even two new compounds), whose chemical nature is most likely that of a ZnO/Al₂O₃ phase, with still unknown composition and crystal structure. In addition, in the last two cases, films collapse into prismatic twins of ca. 1 μm in dimension. These experimental findings demonstrate that in a solid-state reaction, the topotactical relationships between the reacting solids are of crucial importance not only in determining the kinetic and mechanisms of the process in its early stages, but even the chemical nature of the product.     

Subsolidus phase equilibria and properties in the system Bi2O3:Mn2O3±x:Nb2O5

Subsolidus phase relations have been determined for the Bi-Mn-Nb-O system in air (750-900 °C). Phases containing Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺, and Mn⁴⁺ were all observed. Ternary compound formation was limited to pyrochlore (A₂B₂O₆O′), which formed a substantial solid solution region at Bi-deficient stoichiometries (relative to Bi₂(Mn,Nb)₂O₇) suggesting that ≈14-30% of the A-sites are occupied by Mn (likely Mn²⁺). X-ray powder diffraction data confirmed that all Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores form with structural displacements, as found for the analogous pyrochlores with Mn replaced by Zn, Fe, or Co. A structural refinement of the pyrochlore 0.4000:0.3000:0.3000 Bi₂O₃:Mn₂O_3±x:Nb₂O₅ using neutron powder diffraction data is reported with the A and O′ atoms displaced (0.36 and 0.33 Å, respectively) from ideal positions to 96g sites, and with Mn²⁺ on A-sites and Mn³⁺ on B-sites (Bi_1.6Mn²⁺_0.4(Mn³⁺_0.8Nb_1.2)O₇, (?227), a=10.478(1) Å); evidence of A or O′ vacancies was not found. The displacive disorder is crystallographically analogous to that reported for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92, which has a similar concentration of small B-type ions on the A-sites. EELS spectra for this pyrochlore were consistent with an Mn oxidation between 2+ and 3+. Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores exhibited overall paramagnetic behavior with negative Curie-Weiss temperature intercepts, slight superparamagnetic effects, and depressed observed moments compared to high-spin, spin-only values. At 300 K and 1 MHz the relative dielectric permittivity of Bi_1.600Mn_1.200Nb_1.200O₇ was ≈128 with tan δ=0.05; however, at lower frequencies the sample was conductive which is consistent with the presence of mixed-valent Mn. Low-temperature dielectric relaxation such as that observed for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92 and other bismuth-based pyrochlores was not observed. Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores were readily obtained as single crystals and also as textured thin films using pulsed laser deposition.     

Anaerobic oxidation of isobutane: Catalytic properties of MgV2O6 and Mg2V2O7 prepared by the molten method

The catalytic activity of MV₂O₆ and M₂V₂O₇ type oxides prepared by the molten method (MM) for anaerobic oxidation of isobutane was studied in order to construct a system for the selective oxidation of isobutene using a thin layer reactor. Isobutene, CO and CO₂ were formed by every catalyst tested. The activities for isobutene formation were CuV₂O₆ > ZnV₂O₆, NiV₂O₆, CoV₂O₆ > MgV₂O₆ > MnV₂O₆  CaV₂O₆. Isobutene was a major product over M₂V₂O₇ (MM). Co₂V₂O₇ showed the highest activity and high isobutene selectivity exceeded 90%, demonstrating that Co₂V₂O₇ is a suitable oxide for a thin layer reactor for anaerobic oxidation of isobutane. Partial substitution of Mg by Cu in Mg₂V₂O₇ (MM) improved the activity. It is shown by the oxidation at low O₂ concentration as 2–3% that two types of oxidations occurred simultaneously: isobutene formation by the lattice oxygen ions diffused from the bulk, and CO and CO₂ formation by the oxygen species derived from molecular oxygen in the gas phase.     

Preparation and properties of homogeneous V2O5-SiO2 xerogel composite based on interpenetrating polymer network

In this paper, we report the conducting and electrochemical properties of a homogeneous V₂O₅-SiO₂ xerogel composite obtained from the simultaneous polymerization in both inorganic components (Si-O and V-O based polymers) forming an interpenetrating polymer network, where a mutual “solubility” due to cross-links and entanglements was observed. The presence of V₂O₅ inside the silica matrix has a strong effect on electrical conductivity; measurements showed room temperature conductivity almost 1000 times higher than what is found in the literature. In addition, the electrochemical behavior is quite similar to that found in V₂O₅ xerogel. Moreover, the effects of thermal treatment on the conducting and electrochemical properties were investigated. It was found that both properties were improved with no significant effect on V₂O₅ xerogel layered structure.     

Effect of pH on the formation and combustion process of sol-gel auto-combustion derived NiZn ferrite/SiO2 composites

A nitrate-citrate-silica gel was prepared from metallic nitrates, citric acid, and silica powder by sol-gel process, and it was further used to synthesize Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/5wt% SiO₂ nanocomposites by auto-combustion. The effect of pH on the formation of NiZn ferrite/SiO₂ and thermal properties of gel precursors was studied by XRD, IR, EPR, TGA and DTA techniques. The results revealed that the ratio of the citrate ion to the nitrate ion is directly related to the pH of the solution. The pH in the starting solution affects the combustion process, and then determines the particle size of the as-synthesized powder. The EPR parameters (peak-to-peak linewidth, g factor, and spin number) increased with increasing pH, whereas the spin-spin relaxation time (T₂) decreased. The thermal stability and enthalpy of the decomposition process in air decreased with increasing pH, whereas the enthalpy in nitrogen increased. Moreover, the activation energy (E_a) of thermo-oxidative degradation of the gel precursor at pH 3 was much lower than the gel precursor at pH 5 and 7, and that increased with increasing pH.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and physico-chemical properties of the new quaternary oxide Sr5BiNi2O9.6

A new black quaternary oxide Sr₅BiNi₂O_9.6 was synthesized by solid state reaction at 1200 °C. Its structure was solved by electron crystallography and X-ray powder refinement, yielding a tetragonal structure with space group I4/mmm, a=5.3637 (2) Å, c=17.5541(5) Å, Z=4. The structure can be described as a stacking of (Bi,Sr)-O rocksalt slabs and SrNiO_3−δ perovskite slabs. The initial nickel valence is close to +3.1. Thermogravimetry and high-temperature oxygen coulometry showed that this compound has variable oxygen content as a function of temperature and oxygen pressure, and ultimately decomposes when heated in low oxygen pressure above 800 °C. It is a metallic conductor with n-type conduction. Its thermoelectric power was determined and found to be −20 and −38 μV/K at 300 and 650 °C, respectively. Magnetic measurements confirm the nickel valence close to +3 and show evidence of magnetic ordering at 20 K.