Effect of copper precursors on the catalytic activity of Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts prepared by different copper precursors were used for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO _x with NH₃. The Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst prepared by the copper nitrate (Cu/ZSM-5-N) presented the best performance among the Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts and showed above 90 % NO _x conversion at 225–405 °C. The average particle size of CuO was 5.82, 9.20, and 11.01 nm over Cu/ZSM-5-N, Cu/ZSM-5-S (prepared by copper sulfate), and Cu/ZSM-5-C (prepared by copper chloride), respectively. The Cu/ZSM-5-N catalyst showed the highly dispersed copper species, the strong surface acidity, and the excellent redox ability compared with the Cu/ZSM-5-C and Cu/ZSM-5-S catalysts. The Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ existed in the Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts and the abundant Cu⁺ over Cu/ZSM-5-N might be responsible for the superior SCR activity.     

Temperature-programmed reduction of lightly yttrium-doped Au/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The reducibility of Au catalysts on CeO₂ supports doped with 1 and 2.5 mass% Y₂O₃ by two types of preparation methods (impregnation and co-precipitation) has been studied by temperature-programmed reduction and compared with that of pure Au/CeO₂. The kinetic parameters of reduction were determined simulating each reduction process. The capacities of these catalysts to retain oxygen have been evaluated by temperature-programmed desorption. The catalytic activities in water gas shift reaction were determined measuring CO conversion between 413 and 623 K. The catalytic performances of all these catalysts were explained in terms of mobility of the oxygen ions of the CeO₂ lattice.     

Adsorption of NO,NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> and H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O on V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The adsorption of small molecules NO, NH₃ and H₂O on V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysts is studied with the semiempirical SCF MO method MSINDO as pre-stage for the selective catalytic reduction of NO. The mixed catalyst is represented by hydrogen-terminated cluster models. The local arrangement of the cluster atoms is in accordance with available experimental information. Partial relaxation of cluster atoms near the adsorption sites is taken into account. Calculated adsorption energies are compared with experimental literature data. Rapid convergence of computed properties with cluster size is observed. A possible reaction mechanism for the catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃ and O₂ is outlined.     

Insights into the selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> over Mn<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>(110): a DFT study coupled with microkinetic analysis

Nitric oxide (NO_x), as one of the main pollutants, can contribute to a series of environmental problems, and to date the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x with NH₃ in the presence of excess of O₂ over the catalysts has served as one of the most effective methods, in which Mn-based catalysts have been widely studied owing to their excellent low-temperature activity toward NH₃-SCR. However, the related structure-activity relation was not satisfactorily explored at the atomic level. By virtue of DFT+U calculations together with microkinetic analysis, we systemically investigate the selective catalytic reduction process of NO with NH₃ over Mn₃O₄(110), and identify the crucial thermodynamic and kinetic factors that limit the catalytic activity and selectivity. It is found that NH₃ prefers to adsorb on the Lewis acid site and then dehydrogenates into NH₂* assisted by either the two- or three-fold lattice oxygen; NH₂* would then react with the gaseous NO to form an important intermediate NH₂NO that prefers to convert into N₂O rather than N₂ after the sequential dehydrogenation, while the residual H atoms interact with O₂ and left the surface in the form of H₂O. The rate-determining step is proposed to be the coupling reaction between NH₂* and gaseous NO. Regarding the complex surface structure of Mn₃O₄(110), the main active sites are quantitatively revealed to be O_3c and Mn_4c.     

Effect of the microstructure of the supported catalysts CuO/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CuO/(CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) on their catalytic properties in carbon monoxide oxidation

The effect of the microstructure of titanium dioxide on the structure, thermal stability, and catalytic properties of supported CuO/TiO₂ and CuO/(CeO₂-TiO₂) catalysts in CO oxidation was studied. The formation of a nanocrystalline structure was found in the CuO/TiO₂ catalysts calcined at 500°C. This nanocrystalline structure consisted of aggregated fine anatase particles about 10 nm in size and interblock boundaries between them, in which Cu²⁺ ions were stabilized. Heat treatment of this catalyst at 700°C led to a change in its microstructure with the formation of fine CuO particles 2.5–3 nm in size, which were strongly bound to the surface of TiO₂ (anatase) with a regular well-ordered crystal structure. In the CuO/(CeO₂-TiO₂) catalysts, the nanocrystalline structure of anatase was thermally more stable than in the CuO/TiO₂ catalyst, and it persisted up to 700°C. The study of the catalytic properties of the resulting catalysts showed that the CuO/(CeO₂-TiO₂) catalysts with the nanocrystalline structure of anatase were characterized by the high-est activity in CO oxidation to CO₂.     

Influence of NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>-treating temperature on visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped P<Subscript>25</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The influence of NH₃-treating temperature on the visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped P₂₅-TiO₂ as well as the relationship between the surface composition structure of TiO₂ and its visible light photocatalytic activity were investigated. The results showed that N-doped P₂₅-TiO₂ treated at 600°C had the highest activity. The structure of P₂₅-TiO₂ was converted from anatase to rutile at 700°C. Moreover, no N-doping was detected at the surface of P₂₅-TiO₂. There was no simply linear relationship between the visible light photocatalytic activity and the concentration of doped nitrogen, and visible light absorption. The visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped P₂₅-TiO₂ was mainly influenced by the synergistic action of the following factors: (i) the formation of the single-electron-trapped oxygen vacancies (denoted as V_o^·); (ii) the doped nitrogen on the surface of TiO₂; (iii) the anatase TiO₂ structure.     

Carbon black oxidation mechanism in loose and tight contacts with Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The catalytic combustion of carbon black was investigated in the presence of CeO₂ and Al₂O₃. The influence of contact type between carbon particles and these oxides was examined by thermal analysis, the BET specific area, and EPR spectroscopy. For tight contact carbon black-catalyst mixtures, a new paramagnetic species is observed and can be considered as a fingerprint of the contact between the two solids. These new paramagnetic species increase the reactivity of the catalytic reaction of carbon black (CB) combustion and take part in the oxidation mechanism of CB. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2007, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 899–904. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> over MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Promoted Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Catalyst

A series of MoO₃ doped Fe₂O₃ catalysts prepared by the co-precipitation method were investigated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH₃ (NH₃-SCR). The catalysts displayed excellent catalytic activity from 225 to 400°C and high tolerance to SO₂/H₂O poisoning at 300°C. To characterize the catalysts the N₂-BET, XRD, Raman, NO-TPD, NH₃-TPD and in situ DRIFTS were carried out. It was found that the main reason explaining a high NH₃-SCR performance might be the synergistic effect between Fe and Mo species in the catalyst that could enhance the dispersion of Fe₂O₃ and increase NH₃ adsorption on the catalyst surface.     

Synthesis,structure and thermal decomposition of [Ni(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>][VO(O<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)]<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The compound [Ni(NH₃)₆][VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]₂ was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and vibrational spectra. The single crystal X-ray study revealed that the structure consists of [Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺ and [VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]⁻ ions. As a result of weak interionic interactions V′···O_p (O_p-peroxo oxygen), ([VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]⁻)₂ dimers are formed in the solid-state. The thermal decomposition of [Ni(NH₃)₆][VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]₂ is a multi-step process with overlapped individual steps; no defined intermediates were obtained. The final solid products of thermal decomposition up to 600°C were Ni₂V₂O₇ and V₂O₅.     

Interpretation of the difference of optimal Mo density in MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> HDS catalysts

The first part of this paper deals with the morphology of the MoS₂ phase and its oxide precursor, the MoO₃ phase, mainly from a geometrical point of view. After giving a brief review of the literature describing the structure of these compounds, Mo densities in both phases were calculated along various crystallographic planes. Further, using structural models recently proposed by others, Mo densities in MoS₂ were also calculated in the case of an epitactic growth on γ-Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ model surfaces. Then, the calculated Mo densities were compared with experimental results (Mo density when HDS activity is maximal) previously obtained for catalysts constituted of MoS₂ supported on a low SSA TiO₂, a high SSA TiO₂ and a conventional γ-alumina. It was suggested that either on alumina or titania the MoS₂ phase is growing as (100) MoS₂ planes. However, while on the alumina the optimal MoS₂ phase might be constituted of dispersed MoS₂ slabs covering only a part of the alumina surface (2.9–3.9 Mo atoms/nm²), on titania the optimal MoS₂ phase might be constituted of a uniform MoS₂ monolayer (5.2 atoms/nm² for the high SSA titania, which is equal to the Mo density of a perfect MoS₂ (100) plane). This difference may originate in the creation of a 'TiMoS' phase enhancing the S atoms mobility over Mo/TiO₂-sulfided catalysts. Indeed, while in the case of a γ-alumina carrier the active sites (labile S atoms) are located on the edge of MoS₂ slabs making the ratio Mo_edge/Mo_total a crucial parameter for the catalytic performances, in the case of a titania carrier the labile sulfur atoms might be statistically distributed all over the TiMoS active phase. Further, the higher Mo density observed over the high SSA titania (5.2 atoms/nm²) when compared to that over the low SSA titania (4.2 atoms/nm²) was supposedly due to the pH-swing method advantageously used to prepare the former carrier. Indeed, this method allows giving a solid with enhanced mechanical properties providing a good stability to the derived catalysts under experimental conditions. In addition, this TiO₂ carrier exhibits a great homogeneity, with a surface structure substantially uniform, which might be adequate for a long-range growth of (100) MoS₂ slabs.     

Physicochemical and catalytic properties of systems based on CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The effect of synthesis conditions, the nature of components, and the ratio between the components on the phase composition, the texture, and the redox and catalytic properties of the Ce-Zr-O, Ce-Zr-M₁-O (M₁ = Mn, Ni, Cu, Y, La, Pr, or Nd), N/Ce-Zr-O (N = Rh, Pd, or Pt), and Pd/Ce-Zr-M₂-O/Al₂O₃ (M₂ = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Pr, Nd, or Sm) was considered. A cubic solid solution with the fluorite structure was formed on the introduction of <50 mol % zirconium into CeO₂, and the stability of this solid solution depended on preparation procedure and treatment conditions. The presence of transition or rare earth elements in certain concentrations extended the range of compositions with the retained fluorite structure. The texture of the Ce-Zr-O system mainly depended on treatment temperature. An increase in this temperature resulted in a decrease in the specific surface area of the samples. The total pore volume varied over the range of 0.2–0.3 cm³/g and depended on the Ce/Zr ratio. The presence of transition or rare earth elements either increased the specific surface area of the system or made it more stable to thermal treatment. The introduction of the isovalent cation Zr⁴⁺ into CeO₂ increased the number of lattice defects both on the surface and in the bulk to increase the mobility of oxygen and facilitate its diffusion in the Ce_{1 − x} Zr _x O₂ lattice. The catalytic properties of the Ce-Zr-M₁-O or N/Ce-Zr-M₂-O systems were due to the presence of anion vacancies and the easy transitions Ce⁴⁺ ai Ce³⁺, M₁²ⁿ⁺ ai M₁ ⁿ⁺, and N ^δ+ → N ⁰ in the case of noble metals.     

Co oxidation with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen on CoO/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CuO/CoO/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The catalytic activity of the CoO/CeO₂ and CuO/CoO/CeO₂ systems in selective CO oxidation in the presence of hydrogen at 20–450°C ([CuO] = 1.0–2.5%, [CoO] = 1.0–7.0%) is reported. The maximum CO conversion (X) decreases in the following order: CuO/CoO/CeO₂ (X = 98–99%, T = 140–170°C) > CoO/CeO₂ (X = 67–84%, T = 230–240°C) > CeO₂ (X = 34%, T = 350°C). TPD, TPR, and EPR experiments have demonstrated that the high activity of CuO/CoO/CeO₂ is due to the strong interaction of the supported copper and cobalt oxides with cerium dioxide, which yields Cu-Co-Ce-O clusters on the surface. The carbonyl group in the complexes Co^δ+-CO and Cu⁺-CO is oxidized by oxygen of the Cu-Co-Ce-O clusters at 140–160°C and by oxygen of the Co-Ce-O clusters at 240°C. The decrease in the activity of the catalysts at high temperatures is due to the fact that hydrogen reduces the clusters on which CO oxidation takes place, yielding Co⁰ and Cu⁰ particles, which are inactive in CO oxidation. The hydrogenation of CO into methane at high temperatures is due to the appearance of Co⁰ particles in the catalysts.     

Influence of the composition of carriers based on ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on the properties of cobalt-containing catalysts on the selective reduction of NO with methane

A series of cobalt-containing granulated and structured catalysts based on zirconium and aluminum oxides has been studied. The optimum composition of binary oxide samples (80% ZrO₂ − 20% Al₂O₃) for the selective reduction of nitrogen monoxide with methane (84% conversion of NO achieved at 320 °C) has been determined. The activity of the structured catalysts depends on both the composition of the secondary carrier (ZrO₂, Al₂O₃, and their mixture) and on the nature of the skeleton of the cellular structure (cordierite, kaolin-aerosil). __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 237–241, July–August, 2007.     

Underpotential surface reduction of mesoporous CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticle films

The formation of variable-thickness CeO₂ nanoparticle mesoporous films from a colloidal nanoparticle solution (approximately 1–3-nm-diameter CeO₂) is demonstrated using a layer-by-layer deposition process with small organic binder molecules such as cyclohexanehexacarboxylate and phytate. Film growth is characterised by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, X-ray scattering and quartz crystal microbalance techniques. The surface electrochemistry of CeO₂ films before and after calcination at 500 °C in air is investigated. A well-defined Ce(IV/III) redox process confined to the oxide surface is observed. Beyond a threshold potential, a new phosphate phase, presumably CePO₄, is formed during electrochemical reduction of CeO₂ in aqueous phosphate buffer solution. The voltammetric signal is sensitive to (1) thermal pre-treatment, (2) film thickness, (3) phosphate concentration and (4) pH. The reversible ‘underpotential reduction’ of CeO₂ is demonstrated at potentials positive of the threshold. A transition occurs from the reversible ‘underpotential region’ in which no phosphate phase is formed to the irreversible ‘overpotential region’ in which the formation of the cerium(III) phosphate phase is observed. The experimental results are rationalised based on surface reactivity and nucleation effects.     

Cobalt boride catalysts for hydrogen storage systems based on NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>BH<Subscript>3</Subscript> and NaBH<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The catalytic activity of cobalt borides forming in situ under conditions of NH₃BH₃ and NaBH₄ hydrolysis have been investigated. The reaction properties of the catalysts depend on the nature of the hydride. According to high-temperature X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis data, the nature of the hydride determines the particle size, chemical composition, and crystallization properties of the cobalt borides.     

Thermal stability and surface structure of Mo/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Ce-doped Mo/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts

In order to explore the influence of CeO₂ on the structure and surface characteristics of molybdena, an investigation was undertaken by using N₂ adsorption (BET method), thermal analysis and in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared (DRIFT) techniques. In this work, the Mo/CeO₂ and Ce-Mo/Al₂O₃ samples were prepared by impregnation and co-precipitation methods with high Mo loadings. Combining the results one may notice that the presence of ceria led to the increase of polymerized surface Mo species so as to forming Mo-O-Ce linkages besides the formation of coupled O=Mo=O bonds indicative of polymeric MoO₃. From thermal analysis, it can be inferred that Mo/Al₂O₃ is the thermally most stable material in the temperature range used in the experiment (up to 900°C), whereas Ce-Mo/Al₂O₃ and Mo/CeO₂ samples undergo morphological modifications above 700°C resulting in lattice defects, which motivate the mobility of Mo and Ce ions and thus enhance the possibility of interaction between them. Additionally, their activity towards CO adsorption needs reduced ceria and molybdena containing coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS), oxygen vacancies and hydroxyl groups to form various carbonate species.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Nano-Structured WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Layers for Photoelectrochromic Devices

Nano-structured WO₃-TiO₂ layers were prepared by the sol-gel route. To obtain transparent, porous and crack free layers up to 0.8 μ m with a single dipping cycle a templating strategy was used. As a template three-dimensionally network based on organically modified silane was introduced to the WO₃ and TiO₂ sols. The WO₃ layers were dip-coated onto the conductive glass substrate (TCO) and the TiO₂ layers on the top of the WO₃ layer. The morphology and the structure of the layers were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS), Auger and Infrared spectroscopy. SEM image of the WO₃-TiO₂ layer confirmed the nano-porosity of the layers and give the size of the particles of about 10 nm for TiO₂ and 30 nm for WO₃ layer. Further analysis indicated that the titanium sol penetrates the WO₃ layer. Particles in the WO₃ layer consist of a crystalline monoclinic WO₃ core surrounded by a 5–10 nm amorphous phase consisting of WO₃, TiO₂ and SiO₂. The WO₃-TiO₂ layers were used to assemble all solid state photoelectrochromic (PE) devices. Under 1 sun irradiation (1000 W/m²) the visible transmittance of the PE device changes from 62% to 1.6%. The colouring and bleaching processes last about 10 minutes.     

Thermal synthesis of the CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-PrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>pigments

Summary The synthesis of new compounds based on the CeO₂-PrO₂-Nd₂O₃system, which can be used as pigments for colouring of ceramic glazes, is investigated in our laboratory. The optimum conditions for the syntheses of these compounds have been estimated. The methods of thermal analysis provided first information about the temperature region of the formation of the pigments investigated. The synthesis of these compounds was followed by thermal analysis using STA 449/C Jupiter (Netzsch, Germany).     

NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>5</Subscript>NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>BiCl<Subscript>5</Subscript>: an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of benzoxazole,benzimidazole and benzothiazole heterocycles

In this work, the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with different two-substituted aniline catalyzed by NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃BiCl₅ as heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst was reported. It was demonstrated that NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃BiCl₅ can act as an efficient and active catalyst and is reusable for six runs without a significant loss of their catalytic activity. Simple preparation of the catalyst, high catalytic activity and good reusability are noteworthy advantages of this catalytic system in the synthesis of benzoxazole, benzimidazole and benzothiazole heterocycles at room temperature under solvent-free conditions.     

Orientational disorder in crystal structures of (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>ZrF<Subscript>7</Subscript> and (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>NbOF<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Crystal structures of (NH₄)₃ZrF₇ (I) and (NH₄)₃NbOF₆ (II) are refined by X-ray diffraction at room temperature. The compounds are isostructural and belong to the structural type of elpasolite: space group F23; a(I) = 9.4185(3) Å, a(II) = 9.3371(5) Å; V(I) = 835.50(5) ų, V(II) = 814.02(8) ų; Z = 4; R(I) = 0.0145, and R(II) = 0.0138. The refinement of the structures in the space group Fm3m yields abnormally short X-X distances in the pentagonal bipyramid MX₇ (X = F, O). The oxygen atom in II is identified by Nb-X distances and occupies one of the axial vertices of the bipyramid. The Nb atom in II is statistically distributed over the position 24f, while Zr in I resides in the symmetry center. The pentagonal bipyramid MX₇ has six independent orientations in I and twelve in II. One of three crystallographically independent ammonium groups of the structures is disordered over six or twelve equivalent orientations.