Fabrication and application of highly ordered mesoporous Co3O4, NiO, and their metals

Highly ordered mesoporous Co₃O₄, NiO, and their metals were synthesized by nanocasting method using there corresponding mesoporous SBA-15 silica as a template. The obtained porous metal oxides have high surface areas, large pore volume, and a narrow pore size distribution. The N₂-adsorption data for mesoporous metal oxides have provided the BET area of 257.7 m² g⁻¹ and the total pore volume of 0.46 cm³ g⁻¹. The mesoporous metals were employed as a catalyst in the synthesis of (S)-3-pyrrolidinol from chiral (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile, and a high yield to (S)-3-pyrrolidinol-salt was obtained on the mesoporous Co metal catalyst.     

催化剂的性质对超临界乙醇条件下热解木质素液化的影响

研究了在超临界乙醇中、氢气存在下,一系列金属-酸双功能催化剂的酸性、孔径大小、负载的金属对热解木质素加氢裂解过程的影响．制备并采用N₂等温吸附和BET比表面、X射线衍射、NH₃-程序升温脱附技术对催化剂进行表征．实验结果表明催化剂酸性增强可促进热解木质素的缩聚反应,从而产生大量的焦炭和水,导致其液化效率降低．微孔催化剂比介孔催化剂孔径小,与强酸共同作用会导致热解木质素裂解生成更多的小分子气体．在催化剂上负载金属Ru可有效地抑制热解木质素的缩聚反应,促进其裂解液化．     

α-Al_2O_3介孔材料导热特性的模拟

本文针对α-Al2O3有序介孔材料的导热特性开展分子动力学模拟分析.提出了一种保证电中性的孔道结构构造方法;采用逆非平衡分子动力学方法(muller-plathe法),选取Matsui势为作用势,模拟计算了Al2O3介孔晶体材料在不同环境温度下沿孔道轴向方向的热导率;并借助全面实验分析法,设计了模拟条件,以考察孔径和孔隙率对热导率的影响.模拟结果显示:介孔Al2O3热导率先随温度的升高呈上升趋势,并在200—400 K之间取得极值;而后在400—1400 K范围内,热导率随温度的升高几乎呈线性下降.孔隙率一定时,随孔径增大,介孔Al2O3材料比表面积降低,界面散射的抑制作用减弱,使材料热导率略有上升;孔径一定时,随孔隙率上升,孔道壁面声子数减少,材料热导率下降明显;相对于孔径因素,材料孔隙率对声子导热影响更大.     

The effect of aging temperature on structure characteristics of ordered mesoporous silicas

A series of mesoporous silica materials were synthesized by applying Pluronic type polymers as pore creating agents. In order to differentiate the characteristics of porous structure of the obtained sorbents the temperature of aging process was changed in the synthesis. The parameters characterizing the pore structure were estimated from nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The changes of pore arrangement of the obtained materials being a result of different synthesis conditions were investigated by using a small angle X-ray scattering method. Correlations between the values of structure parameters and aging temperature were found.     

冷等离子体强化制备金属催化剂研究进展

冷等离子体属于非热平衡等离子体,具有较高的电子能量和较低的气体温度,是一种制备金属催化剂的绿色新方法.等离子体强化制备金属催化剂包含复杂的物理和化学多相反应.一方面,等离子体提供的高活性环境不但可以加速化学反应,使反应时间从数小时缩短至数分钟,还可以使热力学或者动力学上不可行的反应发生,实现非常规制备;另一方面,等离子体强化制备过程中,在介观尺度上等离子体对相接触行为的影响,可使获得的金属催化剂结构区别于传统方法制备的催化剂.本综述总结了冷等离子体制备金属催化剂的反应器结构、物理化学机理、获得金属催化剂的结构特性、制备面临的挑战,并对未来发展进行了展望.重点阐述了冷等离子体反应器、制备机制及其对金属催化剂结构和性能的影响.     

Structure and dynamic properties of liquids confined in MCM-41 mesopores

The microscopic structure and dynamic properties of water, methanol, and acetonitrile confined in mesoporous MCM-41 materials have been investigated under monolayer and capillary-condensation conditions as a function of pore size and temperature by in situ FTIR and X-ray diffraction and quasi-elastic neutron scattering techniques. Both interfacial and confinement effects on the structure and dynamics of the liquids in hydrophilic pores are discussed at the molecular level.     

Synthesis and characterization of Co (Ni or Cu)-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves with different amount of metal obtained by using microwave irradiation method

Co (Ni or Cu)-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves with different amount of metal were synthesized by using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide as a template and by a novel microwave irradiation method. These samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and N₂ physical adsorption. The experimental results show that Co (Ni or Cu)-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves were successfully synthesized. When the as-synthesized samples were calcined at 550 °C for 10 h, the template was effectively removed. Under microwave irradiation condition, Co-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves have specific surface areas in a range of 745.7-1188.8 m²/g and average pore sizes in a range of 2.46-2.75 nm; Ni-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves have specific surface areas in a range of 625.8-1161.3 m²/g and average pore sizes of ca. 2.7 nm; Cu-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves have specific surface areas in a range of 601.6-1142.9 m²/g and average pore sizes in a range of 2.46-2.76 nm. On the other hand, with increasing the introduced metal amount, the specific surface area and pore volume of the synthesized Co (Ni or Cu)-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves became small, and the mesoporous ordering of the samples became poor. Under the comparable synthesis conditions, the synthesized Co-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve has a bigger specific surface area and a more uniform pore distribution as compared with the synthesized Ni-MCM-41and Cu-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves.     

Ceramic materials as supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts

The performance and durability of low-temperature fuel cells seriously depend on catalyst support materials. Catalysts supported on high surface area carbons are widely used in low temperature fuel cells. However, the corrosion of carbonaceous catalyst-support materials such as carbon black has been recognized as one of the causes of performance degradation of low-temperature fuel cells, in particular under repeated start-stop cycles or high-potential conditions. To improve the stability of the carbon support, materials with a higher graphitic character such as carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers have been tested in fuel cell conditions. These nanostructured carbons show a several-fold lower intrinsic corrosion rate, however, do not prevent carbon oxidation, but rather simply decrease the rate. Due their high stability in fuel cell environment, ceramic materials (oxides and carbides) have been investigated as carbon-substitute supports for fuel cell catalysts. Moreover, the higher specific electrocatalytic activity of some ceramic supported metals than unsupported and carbon supported ones, suggests the possibility of a synergistic effect by supporting metal catalyst on ceramic supports. This paper presents an overview of ceramic materials tested as a support for fuel cell catalysts, with particular attention addressed to the electrochemical activity and stability of the supported catalysts.     

Water confined in mesoporous silica glasses: Influence of temperature on adsorption/desorption hysteresis loop and fluid structure

In natural as well as industrial processes, water is frequently confined in silica porous materials with pore sizes in the nanometer scale. Understanding the confinement effects on the fluid properties is a fundamental issue, helpful to optimize the industrial processes. The molecular simulation is a powerful tool to study complex polar fluid like water at the atomic scale. The water adsorption/desorption properties in a mesoporous silica glass are investigated by means of Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations (GCMC). The SPC and PN TrAZ potential are used to describe water-water and water-silica interactions. The numerical sample of mesoporous silica glass (pore size: 3.6nm) was obtained by off-lattice reconstruction, known to reproduce in a realistic way the geometrical complexity of high specific surface Vycor (pore size distribution, pore interconnections, etc). The intermolecular potential is shown to reproduce the experimental data at 300K (adsorption isotherm and isosteric heat of adsorption). The water structure is analyzed and confinement effects are emphasized. The temperature influence is studied: the hysteresis loop is shown to shrink with an increase in temperature.     

Ordered mesoporous silica materials (SBA-15) with good heat-resistant magnetism

A series of highly ordered mesoporous materials (CF-SBA-15) with heat-resistant magnetism have been successfully prepared from impregnation of cobalt salt, iron salt, and citric acid with as-synthesized SBA-15. XRD and N₂ isotherms indicate that these materials have highly ordered hexagonal mesoporous symmetry and open pore systems. The measurement of magnetic property shows that these materials are ferromagnetic even if calcined at 550 °C for 10 h in air, indicating their good heat-resistant magnetism. These results would be very important for recycle and regeneration of adsorbents and catalysts in practical applications. Moreover, this method may be useful for other mesoporous materials with thermally stable magnetism from a combination of other mesoporous materials such as MCM-41 with magnetic nanoparticles of MnFe₂O₄ and NiFe₂O₄.     

Multilayered Materials Comprising Mesoporous Thin Films and Metal Nanoparticles

A novel composite material based on metal nanoparticles (NP) and mesoporous thin films (MPTF), more specifically bilayers of MPTF with a submonolayer of NP deposited between them is introduced. By controlling the deposition conditions, it is possible to build a variety of multilayers including MPTF with different compositions (TiO₂, SiO₂) and pore sizes (templated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, F127, Brij 58) and NP of different characteristics and sizes (Au spheres, Au decorated SiO₂). By means of 2D small angle X‐ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, and ellipsometric porosimetry it is demonstrated that NP and MPTF retain their structure and properties within the new material. Importantly, the NP remain accessible for further reactions, a feature that is established by Au overgrowth. Interestingly, the extent of Au growth depends on the mesoporous size and the position of the MPTF with respect to the NP. This new architecture allows the NP to be in direct contact with two different chemical environments and, as a consequence, opens up the possibility to control identity and size of the molecules that can reach them. Thus, the obtained materials may be applied in the development of highly specific sensors and catalysts, in which spatial position plays a fundamental role.     

Preparation and characterization of carbamoylphosphonate(CMPO) silane grafted on various mesoporous silicas

The carbamoylphosphosphonate silane (CMPO analogue; 2-(diphenylphosphoryl)-N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl) acetamide) modified mesoporous silica was prepared via a post-synthesis grafting method for the effective purification of rare earth elements. The guest CMPO analogue was synthesized by direct coupling reaction of 2-(diphenylphosphoryl) acetic acid and 3-(triethoxysilyl)propan-1-amine. Various mesoporous silicates such as MCM-41, SBA-15, or amorphous silica nanoparticles were adopted as host materials. The resulting surface-modified mesoporous materials were characterized with respect to their structural integrity, surface area, and pore size and the concentration of the CMPO silane species. These CMPO functionalized periodic mesostructured silicates offer the potential of applications as catalysts, sensors, or environmental sorbents.     

Effect of ZnO/CdO on the structure and electrical conductivity in Li2O·MO·Bi2O3·B2O3 glasses (M=Zn, Cd)

Studies of structural and electrical properties have been carried out on a number of glasses with wide ranging compositions in the glass systems Li₂O·MO·Bi₂O₃·B₂O₃ (where M=Zn or Cd), in order to understand the effect of transition metal (TM) ions on the structure of these glasses. The density and molar volume measurements have also been made to understand the structural changes occurring in these glasses. The dc conductivity measured in the temperature range 423-623 K obeys Arrhenius law. It increases with increase in Li₂O/MO ratio. The results of infrared spectra indicate that TM ions (Zn²⁺ or Cd²⁺) behave as network former in the present system. Boron exists in both tri- and tetra-hedral units in these glasses and no boroxol ring formation takes place in the glass structure. Values of theoretical optical basicity have also been reported.     

A study on the structural and mechanical properties of ordered mesoporous Al2O3 film

Ordered mesoporous aluminum oxide films with a porosity range of 40-48% were synthesized by an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process using surfactant templating. To investigate the role of the hydrolysis reaction in the formation of a mesoporous structure, the changes of pore structure properties according to a variation of aging time and water molar ratio were monitored. From the tendencies of pore structure properties, the optimized condition for a high porosity and a highly ordered pore structure in ordered mesoporous alumina film was determined. This alumina film maintained the mesoporous structure even though it annealed at high temperatures, up to 1200 °C. Therefore, the ordered mesoporous alumina films synthesized in this study could be applicable as a material used at high temperature.     

Mesoporous (ZrO2-TiO2)/Al2O3 ternary carriers as hydrodesulfurization catalysts support

Ternary systems at various compositions were synthesized by coprecipitating Zr and Ti (to get a ZrO₂-TiO₂ 40-60 mol%) chlorides in aqueous basic media (provided by urea thermal decomposition) over an alumina substrate. Materials characterization included N₂ physisorption, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, high-resolution electron microscopy and Raman and UV-vis spectroscopies. High interaction among components was clearly evidenced by various techniques. Textural properties of ternary oxides could be tuned depending on composition of formulations. Mixed oxides with 10 or 20 mol% of ZrO₂-TiO₂ (at 40-60% mol, in turn) had the most suitable combination of textural properties (surface area, average pore diameter and pore volume) for the intended application (support of catalyst for hydrodesulfurization de oil-derived middle distillates). The suitability of those ternary supports was demonstrated in the dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization where the corresponding supported MoS₂ catalysts (at 2.8 atom Mo nm⁻²) were much more active (on a per mass of catalyst basis) than when impregnated over either alumina or zirconia-titania oxides.     

Mössbauer analysis of the state of iridium and platinum in supported catalysts

The state of iridium and platinum in supported noble metal catalysts was investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. With iridium, conventional absorption experiments with the 73 KeV γ-rays of¹⁹³Ir were preformed; platinum was studied in source experiments using the 77 KeV resonance in¹⁹⁷Au. First results for pure Pt catalysts on silica supports and for a used automotive catalytic converter are presented. In Pt-rich bimetallic Pt?Ir catalysts on amorphous silica, both Pt and Ir were studied after different treatments.     

Pillaring and photocatalytic properties of mesoporous α-Fe2O3/titanate nanocomposites via an exfoliation and restacking route

Mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃-pillared titanate nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized through an exfoliation−restacking route. Powder X-ray diffraction and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms revealed that the α-Fe₂O₃ pillared titanate has an interlayer distance of 3.27 nm, a specific surface area of 66 m²/g and an average pore size of 7.6 nm, suggesting the formation of a mesoporous pillared structure. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra show a red shift, indicative of a narrow band gap energy of ∼2.1 eV compared to the host layered titanate, which is essential in creating a visible light photocatalytic activity. The results of degradation of rhodamine B reveal that the present pillared mesoporous composites exhibit better photocatalytic activities than those of the pristine materials under visible irradiation, based on the band gap excitement and the dye-sensitized path, originated from their high surface area, mesoporosity and the electronic coupling between the host and the guest components.     

Structure of water in mesoporous organosilica by calorimetry and inelastic neutron scattering

In this paper, we describe the preparation of mesoporous organosilica samples with hydrophilic or hydrophobic organic functionality inside the silica channel. We synthesized mesoporous organosilica of identical pore sizes based on two different organic surface functionality namely hydrophobic (based on octyltriethoxysilane OTES) and hydrophilic (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane ATES) and MCM-41 was used as a reference system. The structure of water/ice in those porous silica samples have been investigated over a range temperatures by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). INS study revealed that water confined in hydrophobic mesoporous organosilica shows vibrational behavior strongly different than bulk water. It consists of two states: water with strong and weak hydrogen bonds (with ratio 1:2.65, respectively), compared to ice-Ih. The corresponding O-O distances in these water states are 2.67 and 2.87 ?, which strongly differ compared to ice-Ih (2.76 ?). INS spectra for water in hydrophilic mesoporous organosilica ATES show behavior similar to bulk water, but with greater degree of disorder.     

XAFS structural study of specific features of the active component of model palladium catalysts

Model low-percentage metal oxide palladium catalysts are prepared from acetate complexes of Pd and Mn to study the nature of the activity and the genesis of nanostructured membrane catalyst Pd-Mn systems. A comprehensive study of the prepared model precursor compounds; specific features of their metal components in gels and oxides; and the genesis of the active component, local structure, and charge state is performed by EXAFS and XANES. Possible versions of structural models for the stabilization of metals on oxide supports aare discussed.     

Preparation of high purity spherical γ-alumina using a reduction-magnetic separation process

A purified alumina hydrosol has been prepared by removing metal impurities using a new reduction-magnetic separation process. The amount of iron in the alumina hydrosol was reduced by over 78% from 0.0094% to 0.0020%. As a result of co-crystallization, the copper content was simultaneously reduced from 0.0003% to 0.0001%. Spherical γ-alumina granules were prepared by the oil-drop method using the purified alumina hydrosol as starting material. The γ-alumina granules had a bulk density of about 0.50 g cm⁻³, crush strength of around 90N per granule, specific surface area of about 200 m² g⁻¹ and pore volume of about 0.75 cm³ g⁻¹. The purification process employed during the preparation of the alumina hydrosol had no effect on the physical properties, pore structure and crystal structure of the final spherical alumina granules.