DFT Studies of Palladium Model Catalysts: Structure and Size Effects

An important task for theory is the multi-scale modeling of catalytic properties of nanocrystallites with sizes ranging from clusters of few metal atoms to particles consisting of 10³–10⁴ atoms. To explore catalytic properties of nanosized metal catalysts, we developed an approach based on three-dimensional symmetric model clusters of 1–2 nm (~100 metal atoms) with fcc structure, terminated by low-index surfaces. With this modeling technique one is able to describe at an accurate DFT level various catalytic and adsorption properties of metal nanoparticles in quantitative agreement with experimental studies of model catalysts deposited on thin oxide films. Metal nanocrystallites exhibit properties that can significantly vary with their size and shape.     

Structural features of catalytically active oligoorganometallosiloxanes

Copper- and (copper, aluminum)-containing organosiloxanes were studied by spectroscopic methods. It was found that in organometallosiloxanes (OMS) with an increased content of copper (Si/Cu=1 ∶ 1) Cu atoms are rather uniformly distributed in the siloxane matrix. All compounds under study are complexes characterized byd-d-transitions in copper ions with a constant coordination number of the metal atom. The intensity of thed-d-transition band increases as the copper content increases. ESR studies demonstrated that in the compounds under consideration, a change from mononuclear paramegnetic centers to clusters, in which copper ions are linked by strong spin-exchange interactions, occurs as the copper content increases. The catalytic activity of the above-mentioned compounds in isomerization reactions of 3,4-dichlorobutene-1 was studied. It was found that copper atoms serve as catalytic centers. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1946–1949, October, 1998.     

Cage Structure Formation of Singly Doped Aluminum Cluster Cations Al<Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">n</Emphasis></Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">TM</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript> (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">TM</Emphasis> = Ti,V, Cr)

Structural information on free transition metal doped aluminum clusters, Al _n TM ⁺ (TM = Ti, V, Cr), was obtained by studying their ability for argon physisorption. Systematic size (n = 5 – 35) and temperature (T = 145 – 300 K) dependent investigations reveal that bare Al _n ⁺ clusters are inert toward argon, while Al _n TM ⁺ clusters attach one argon atom up to a critical cluster size. This size is interpreted as the geometrical transition from surface-located dopant atoms to endohedrally doped aluminum clusters with the transition metal atom residing in an aluminum cage. The critical size, n _crit , is found to be surprisingly large, namely n _crit = 16 and n _crit = 19 – 21 for TM = V, Cr, and TM = Ti, respectively. Experimental cluster–argon bond dissociation energies have been derived as function of cluster size from equilibrium mass spectra and are in the 0.1–0.3 eV range.     

Platinum nanoparticle size effect on specific catalytic activity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkane deep oxidation: Dependence on the chain length of the paraffin

The specific activity of 0.8% Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts in the deep oxidation of C₁–C₆ n-alkanes increases with an increase in the Pt particle size from 1 to 3–4 nm. Further coarsening of the particles insignificantly changes the specific activity. The size effect was studied for a series of catalysts containing platinum nanoparticles 1 to 11 nm in diameter. The specific catalytic activity variation range depends on the size of the reacting hydrocarbon molecules. As the platinum particle size increases, the specific catalytic activity increases 3–4 times for the oxidation of CH₄ and C₂H₆ and by a factor of 20–30 for the oxidation of n-C₄H₁₀ and n-C₆H₁₄.     

Formation and properties of the nanocluster structure of iron oxides

Nanostructures based on iron oxide clusters 1–300 nm in size were synthesized and studied. Thermodynamic models of nanocluster nucleation resulting in the formation of both primary nanoclusters and nanocluster aggregates with the sizes up to 70–80 nm were considered. Models of heat capacity of the nanoclusters were examined, and the twofold increase in the heat capacity of the iron oxide clusters 2–3 nm in size compared to that of the bulk iron oxide samples was found. The size of the primary nanoclusters and the intercluster interaction make it possible to vary the magnetic properties of the nanostructures in a wide range from paramagnetic to magnetically ordered α-Fe₂O₃-γ-Fe₂O₃ nanostructures with the first-order magnetic phase transitions, magnetic twinning, and a strong magnetic field (10 Oe) effect on the magnetization increase at low temperatures. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1693–1704, October, 2006.     

Fabrication of gold nanoparticles/polypyrrole composite-modified electrode for sensitive hydroxylamine sensor design

A highly sensitive hydroxylamine (HA) electrochemical sensor is developed based on electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles with diameter of 8 nm on the pre-synthesized polypyrrole matrix and formed gold nanoparticles/polypyrrole (GNPs/PPy) composite on glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic activity of the composite-modified electrode are investigated. The GNPs/PPy composite exhibits a distinctly higher electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of HA than GNPs with twofold enhancement of peak current. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergic effect of the highly dispersed gold metal particles and PPy matrix. The overall numbers of electrons involved in HA oxidation, the electron transfer coefficient, catalytic rate constant, and diffusion coefficient are investigated by chronoamperometry. The sensor presents two wide linear ranges of 4.5 × 10⁻⁷–1.2 × 10⁻³ M and 1.2 × 10⁻³–19 × 10⁻³ M with the detection limit of 4.5 × 10⁻⁸ M (s/n = 3). In addition, the proposed electrode shows excellent sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, and stability properties.     

A density functional theory study on the Ag<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>H (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1–10) clusters

Density functional GGA-PW91 method with DNP basis set is applied to optimize the geometries of Ag _n H (n = 1–10) clusters. For the lowest energy geometries of Ag _n H (n = 1–10) clusters, the hydrogen atom prefers to occupy the two-fold coordination bridge site except the occupation of single-fold coordination site in AgH cluster. After adsorption of hydrogen atom, most Ag _n structures are slightly perturbed and only the Ag₆ structure in Ag₆H cluster is distorted obviously. The Ag–Ag bond is strengthened and the strength of Ag–H bond exhibits a clear odd–even oscillation like the strength of Au–H bond in Au _n H clusters, indicating that the hydrogen atom is more favorable to be adsorbed by odd-numbered pure silver clusters. The adsorption strength of small silver cluster toward H atom is obviously weaker than that of small gold cluster toward H atom due to the strong scalar relativistic effect in small gold cluster. The pronounced odd–even alternation of the magnetic moments is observed in Ag _n H systems, indicating that the Ag _n H clusters possess tunable magnetic properties by adsorbing hydrogen atom onto odd-numbered or even-numbered small silver cluster.     

Activation of molecular hydrogen on platinum nanoparticles: Quantum-chemical modeling

The interaction of molecular hydrogen with platinum clusters of different size has been modeled by the density functional theory method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The cluster size turns out to have little effect on the interaction energy, whereas the effect of the cluster structure is rather significant. The most efficient interaction with hydrogen is observed for clusters with a structure resembling the crystal structure of platinum metal. In such clusters, the hydrogen molecule is attached to its surface without a barrier. Configurations with the bidentate hydrogen coordination are the most stable ones. The H atoms can migrate over the cluster surface, overcoming moderate potential barriers of ∼0.3–0.4 eV.     

Functional SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–PEG hybrid resin by direct chelation with catecholic compound

The mesoporous inorganic–organic SiO₂–TiO₂–PEG hybrid resin systems with various useful functionalities were directly synthesized by a binary sol–gel reaction of TEOS–TiCl₄ and the subsequent chelation with a chatecholic compound (dihydroxy benzene), dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt, on the surface Ti ion of the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 network structure, respectively. Moreover, the hybrid resins consisting of polyethylene glycol and a silane coupling agent exhibited the controlled wettability, excellent coating processibility on various substrates with strong abrasion resistance. Furthermore, the transparent and low viscous resin showed the successful performance to fabricate various nanoscale patterns with the feature size down to 170 nm by imprint lithography. Based on the excellent patternability, nanofluidics with 100 nm of the narrowest dimension channel height was fabricated to employ a capillary electrophoresis for separation DNAs without gel matrix. In addition, the presence of sulfonic acid in the resin also showed the solid acid catalytic performance. These results reveal that the developed hybrid materials are very useful as an imprint resin as well as versatile microchemical applications.     

Preparation and properties of highly dispersed copper oxide in a zeolite matrix

Highly dispersed CuO clusters inserted into a zeolite matrix were prepared by oxidative degradation of the (μ₄-O)L₄Cu₄Cl₆ tetranuclear complex (L isN,N-diethylnicotinamide) preadsorbed on a dehydrated NaX zeolite from a solution in anhydrous dichloromethane. The catalytic activity of the CuO/NaX catalyst thus obtained in the oxidation of CO is an order of magnitude higher than that of massive CuO. Presented at the First Moscow Workshop on Highly Organized Catalytic Systems (June 19, 1997). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1761–1764, October, 1997.     

Synthesis,structural and electrical characterization of PbS NCs in titania sol–gel films

Nanocrystals of lead sulfide were grown in TiO₂ (titania) thin films prepared by a sol-gel process. The synthetic procedure as well as the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the films are demonstrated. The structures and morphology of PbS nanocrystals were analyzed using HRTEM, SAED, AFM, HRSEM, XRD and EDAX elemental analysis technique. When the concentration of PbS in the titania matrix is 20 mol%, PbS NCs with a diameter of 2.0 nm are created. At a higher PbS concentration (> 40 mole%) in the titania matrix, PbS NCs and PbS clusters are created not only within the TiO₂ film but also on the external surface of the TiO₂ film. By increasing the PbS concentration up to 50 mol%, PbS nanocrystals of 6–8 nm in diameter are formed within the titania film and PbS clusters with a base size of about 100 nm² and a height up to about 20 nm were self assembled on the external surface of TiO₂ film. Quantum size effect and band gap energies were obtained from shifts of the absorption edge. For electrical measurements, PbS–TiO₂ films were deposited on an ITO/glass substrate, and then covered with gold contact. The electrical properties of ITO/PbS NCs–TiO₂/Au and ITO/PbS NCs–TiO₂/PbS cluster/Au structures were studied. I–V characteristics of the one layer structure are nearly linear and symmetric, while those of the two-layer structure exhibit rectifying behavior.     

All-electron relativistic calculations on hydrogen atom adsorption onto small copper clusters

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Cu _n H (n = 1–13) clusters has been performed by using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at the PW91 level. Our results reveal that the hydrogen atom prefers to occupy the two fold coordination site for Cu _n H (n = 2, 4–6, 8, 10–13) clusters, the single fold coordination site for Cu _n H (n = 1, 3, 7) and the three fold coordination site for Cu₉H cluster. For all Cu _n H clusters, only the Cu₁₁ structure in Cu₁₁H is distorted obviously. After adsorption, the Cu–Cu bond is strengthened and the Cu–H bond of odd-numbered Cu _n H clusters is relatively stronger than that of adjacent even-numbered Cu _n H clusters. The Cu–Cu bond-length and Cu–H bond-length for all Cu _n H clusters of our work are significantly shorter than those of previous work. This discrepancy can be explained in terms of the scalar relativistic effect. The most favorable adsorption between small copper clusters and hydrogen atom takes place in the case that hydrogen atom is adsorbed onto an odd-numbered pure Cu _n cluster and becomes Cu _n H cluster with even number of valence electrons. The odd–even alteration of magnetic moments is observed in Cu _n H clusters and may provide the material with tunable code capacity of “0” and “1” by adsorbing a hydrogen atom onto odd- or even-numbered copper clusters.     

Titanium(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">IV</Emphasis>) chloride complexes with chiral tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol ligands as a new type of catalysts of ethylene polymerization

Titanium complexes of chiral ligands, (4R,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-α,α,α′,α′-tetraphenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol and its structural analogs, activated by polymethylalumoxane catalyze ethylene polymerization with an activity from 3 to 530 (kg polyethylene) (mol Ti h atm)⁻¹. An increase in the bulk of the aryl substituents results in a decrease in the catalytic activity of the complexes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2275–2280, October, 2005.     

Molecular dynamic study of electric potentials in water clusters containing the sodium or chlorine atom

Molecular dynamics with design is used to calculate the electric potentials of isolated water clusters containing Na⁺ or Cl⁻. The number of water molecules in the clusters is from 4 to 14. It is noted that electrostatic interaction plays a dominant role in the clusters; the dependence of the dielectric constant of the cluster on the size of the latter is determined. Institute of Thermal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 66–73, January–February, 1998.     

Catalytic conversions of chloroolefins over iron oxide nanoparticles 2. Isomerization of dichlorobutenes over iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized on the surface of ultradispersed poly(tetrafluoroethylene)

Nanosized iron oxides stabilized on the surface of ultradispersed poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (UPTFE) granules were synthesized by the thermal destruction of iron formate in boiling bed of UPTFE on the surface of heated mineral oil. The particle size of nanoparticles (∼6 nm) containing 5, 10, and 16 wt.% Fe depends weakly on the temperature of synthesis and iron to polymer ratio. The metal state is determined by the synthesis conditions. The nanoparticles synthesized at 280 °C consist mainly of the Fe₃O₄ and Fe₂O₃ phases. The samples obtained at 320 °C also contain iron(II) oxide. The catalytic properties of the obtained samples were tested in dichlorobutene isomerization. Unlike isomerization on the iron oxide nanoparticles supported on silica gel, reaction over the UPTFE supports proceeds without an induction period. The sample with 10 wt.% Fe containing magnetically ordered γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles possesses the highest catalytic activity. Fast electron exchange between the iron ions in different oxidation states and high defectiveness of the nanoparticles contribute, most likely, to the catalytic activity. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1383–1390, June, 2005.     

Low-valence palladium complexes: Stoichiometric reactions and catalysis

New data on the structure and reactivity of palladium clusters are surveyed. The mechanisms of stoichiometric and catalytic reactions of the palladium cluster complexes with alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, formic acid, CO, and phenol are discussed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 807–815, March, 1998.     

A dielectric study of the structure of propylene glycol

The dielectric spectra of propylene glycol over the frequency and temperature ranges 10 mHz–75 GHz and 175–423 K, respectively, were analyzed using the Dissado-Hill cluster model. A correlation between relaxation processes of breaking and formation of intermolecular H-bonds in clusters was obtained. A correlation of fluctuation processes of synchronous exchange of molecules between neighboring clusters corresponded to the redistribution of H-bonds between them. The Dissado-Hill theory was used to determine the integral relaxation times, n _DH and m _DH parameters and calculate the mean dipole moments of propylene glycol clusters and the energy characteristics of processes of their rearrangement. The mean dipole moments of clusters (23617–18.65 D) were compared with those of molecules in the liquid phase (3.67–3.03 D). The apparent activation enthalpy of processes of cluster rearrangements decreased from 141.8 to 25.2 kJ/mol, the activation energy decreased from 46.03 to 18.47 kJ/mol, and the energy of orientation dipole-dipole interactions, from 3.78 to 3.45 kJ/mol as the temperature increased.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Melting and Coalescence in the Mixed Cu–Ni Nanoclusters

Molecular dynamics simulation with the embedded atom method was applied to study the melting and coalescence in the mixed Cu–Ni nanoclusters. The validity of the model was tested by examining the consistency of the phase diagrams of the (Cu_682-mNi_m)₆₈₂ and (Cu_1048-mNi_m)₁₀₄₈ clusters with the Cu–Ni bulk. The coalescences of two mixed Cu–Ni clusters and a pure Cu cluster with a pure Ni cluster were simulated. The coalesced temperature T _c forming a liquid complex and melting temperature T _m of the cluster with the same size were compared. The results indicate that T _c is higher than T _m for the coalescences of both (CuNi)₆₈₂ and (CuNi)₁₀₄₈ clusters. The analysis of the relationship between the Cu–Ni bond content and T _c indicates that the formation of the Cu–Ni bonds contributes a lot to the phenomenon.     

μ-Acyl Os3 clusters containing metallocenyl substituents and products of their protonation

Previously unknown μ-acyl osmium clusters containing simultaneously permethyl-metallocenyl and Os₃ cluster fragments were synthesized. The IR, UV, NMR (¹H and¹³C), and FAB-MS spectra were examined. Protonation of the clusters proceeds at the metal atom of the metallocenyl fragment. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 180–183, January, 1999.     

Computation-led design of pollutant gas sensors with bare and carbon nanotube supported rhodium alloys

Quantum chemical study has been performed on finite-sized bi-metallic Rh3M alloys, M = Ag, Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, derived from magic cluster, Rh4. Bond length of C–O and N–O are noticed to be elongated in the presence of rhodium alloy clusters. CO2 and NO2 gases are found to be highly adsorbed on Rh3M clusters, which is confirmed by stretching frequency of C–O and N–O. DFT evaluated dipole moment and electronic charge redistribution suggests the sensing capability of CO2 and NO2 gases by Rh3M clusters which is further confirmed by the calculated HOMO–LUMO gap. Mixed rhodium alloy clusters supported on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) exhibits much higher ability to sense CO2 and NO2. On the other hand, SWCNT@Rh3M shows higher catalytic activity for the activation of CO2 and NO2 in comparison to bare Rh3M because of the higher electronic charge redistribution in the case of SWCNT@Rh3M. In case of SWCNT-supported gas adsorbed clusters, p electrons play a major role in bonding.