Electrochemical deposition of Pd nanoparticles on indium-tin oxide electrodes and their catalytic properties for formic acid oxidation

Pd nanoparticles (NPs) were directly deposited on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a bulk Pd²⁺ solution and the size of the Pd (NPs) was evaluated by SEM. The electrochemical deposition conditions of the Pd NPs were varied according to a scan rate. As the scan rate was decreased, the size of the Pd NPs increased, but the formic acid catalytic property was weakened. With regard to cycle number, with increased cycling, the size of the Pd NPs increased but the formic acid catalytic property decreased. As the conditions of electrochemical deposition were varied, the particle size and catalytic activity for formic acid were also changed.     

Palladium nanoparticles in aqueous solution: Preparation,properties, and effect of their size on catalytic activity

A method has been developed for the preparation of palladium nanoparticles with different sizes of up to 7 nm via the reduction of Pd(II) ions with hydrogen in an aqueous solution on seed metal nanoparticles (2.5 nm). The effect of the size of nanoparticles on their catalytic activity in methyl viologen reduction with molecular hydrogen in an alkaline medium has been studied. It has been found that the specific catalytic activity of palladium nanoparticles is independent of their size.     

Monodispersed Pd-Ni nanoparticles: composition control synthesis and catalytic properties in the Miyaura-Suzuki reaction

We have successfully prepared a series of magnetically separable "quasi-homogeneous" Pd-Ni nanoalloy catalysts with tunable composition in a one-pot wet chemical route. We have evaluated the catalytic activity of these Pd-Ni alloy catalysts with different compositions through the Miyaura-Suzuki coupling reaction. These palladium/non-noble metal alloy catalysts show better catalytic activity than an equal amount of palladium nanoparticles. Furthermore, these catalysts exhibited excellent performance in superparamagnetism owing to its great advantage for reducing the usage of noble metal.     

Preparation of Ag/HOPG model catalysts with a variable particle size and an in situ xps study of their catalytic properties in ethylene oxidation

The preparation of model silver catalysts supported on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite is described, and the effect of the Ag particle size on the catalytic ethylene oxidation into ethylene oxide, studied by in situ XPS and mass spectrometry, is considered. For a mean particle diameter of 8 nm, the adsorbed oxygen species characterized by an O 1s binding energy of 530.8 ± 0.2 eV (electrophilic oxygen) forms on the silver surface exposed to the ethylene-oxygen reaction mixture. Larger silver particles with a mean diameter of 40 nm additionally contain the adsorbed oxygen species characterized by an O 1s binding energy of 529.2 ± 0.2 eV (nucleophilic oxygen). The presence of both oxygen species on the surface of the larger particles ensures the formation of ethylene oxide, while the sample with the smaller silver particles is inactive in the epoxidation reaction. The O 1s signal at 530.8 eV is partly due to oxygen dissolved in the subsurface layers of silver.     

Structure and catalytic properties of nanosized alumina supported platinum and palladium particles synthesized by reaction in microemulsion

Mixtures of nanosized platinum and palladium particles have been prepared by reduction of salt-containing microemulsion droplets using hydrazine as the reducing agent. To avoid possible negative effects of the presence of sulfur compounds during the preparation the microemulsion was made using the sulfur-free nonionic polyoxyethylene 4 lauryl ether surfactant. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the as-prepared mixtures contained crystalline platinum particles of fairly homogeneous size (20 to 40 nm) with adsorbed amorphous palladium particles 2 to 5 nm in size. Catalyst samples were prepared by depositing the nanoparticles on a gamma-Al(2)O(3) support followed by heating in air at 600 degrees C. Alloyed particles of platinum and palladium with sizes ranging from 5 to 80 nm were obtained during the heating. The majority of the particles had the fcc structure and their compositional range was dependent upon the Pt:Pd molar ratio of the microemulsion. A catalyst prepared from a microemulsion with a 20:80 Pt:Pd molar ratio showed the highest catalytic activity for CO oxidation, while pure platinum and palladium catalysts showed higher sulfur resistance. These results differ from the performance of conventional wet-impregnated catalysts, where a 50:50 Pt:Pd molar ratio resulted in the highest catalytic activity as well as the highest sulfur resistance.     

Some coordination complexes of chromic chloride with aromatic aldehydes and their relevance to the Etard reaction

1:3- and 1:2-complexes of anhydrous chromic chloride with aromatic aldehydes have been prepared. The IR spectra of these complexes are consistent with coordination via carbonyl oxygen and are shown to be identical with the spectra of Etard adducts thus confirming the presence of coordinated aldehyde in the adducts.     

Size-controlled synthesis of colloidal platinum nanoparticles and their activity for the electrocatalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide

Using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizing agent, stable colloidal solutions of platinum nanoparticles of different size distributions have been prepared by reducing H2PtCl6 with hydrogen. The UV-vis adsorption peaks at 258 nm due to the adsorption of Pt(IV) species disappear completely, indicating that the Pt(IV) species has been used up and colloidal Pt has been formed. The electrodes have been prepared from aqueous Pt colloids and glassy carbon (GC). The effect of platinum particle size of Pt/GC catalyst electrode on the electrocatalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide has been investigated. The voltammetry shows that a higher potential is needed for the oxidation of absorbed carbon monoxide with a decrease of the platinum particle size for particle sizes larger than 1 nm. But for particle sizes smaller than 1 nm, the potential remains constant while the activity decreases with decreasing the size. The snowlike, well-dispersed, and highly ordered platinum nanoparticles demonstrate high activity in the oxidation reaction of carbon monoxide. The reason may be due to the geometric structure of platinum nanoparticles.     

Donor-acceptor properties, catalytic activity, and negative charge exoemission from the alumina surface modified with lithium cations

Donor-acceptor properties of alumina modified with lithium cations were studied by ESR of paramagnetic complexes of adsorbed anthraquinone. The results were compared with the data on negative ion emission (exoemission) accompanying the decomposition of isopropyl alcohol in the adsorption layer. The data on the activity measured by the pulse microcatalytic technique in isopropyl alcohol decomposition are discussed. Small additives of lithium were found to promote catalytic activity of the samples. The role of acid and basic sites in isopropyl alcohol decomposition was discussed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 616–621, April, 2006.     

Dynamic properties of a heterogeneous catalytic reaction with several steady states

For the simplest catalytic mechanism (three-stage) permitting several steady states of the surface, a qualitative analysis of the properties of its kinetic model trajectories has been performed. Types of the steady states have been determined. Absence of oscillations (damped and undamped) has been shown.

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Для простейшего каталитического механизма (трехстадийного), допускающего несколько стационарных состояний поверхности, проведен качественный анализ свойств траекторий его кинетической модели. Определены типы стационарных состояний. Показано отсутствие осцилляций (затухающих и незатухающих).

     

沉积-沉淀法和沉积-还原法制备Nb2O5负载的金纳米粒子及其催化CO氧化活性

采用不同的沉积法制备了氧化铌(Nb2O5)负载的金纳米粒子催化剂,即沉积-沉淀(DP)法、尿素辅助的DP法、沉积-还原(DR)法和一步法制备了1 wt%Au/Nb2O5催化剂.在众多类型Nb2O5(包括商业Nb2O5)中,采用水热法制备的层间型Nb2O5(Nb2O5(HT))最适合用作载体.结果表明,较大比表面积的Nb2O5(HT)使得金以纳米颗粒形式分散于其上.在优化的条件下,以DP和DR法沉积于Nb2O5(HT)上的金纳米粒子平均粒径为5 nm.采用DR法制备的Au/Nb2O5(HT)催化剂上CO转化率为50%时的温度为73oC.不沉积金的条件下,即使在250oC, Nb2O5(HT)对CO氧化反应也没有催化活性.因此,金的沉积对活性的促进作用非常明显.该简易Au/Nb2O5催化剂将金催化剂的类型扩展到酸性载体,这将增加新的应用.     

Structure and morphology controllable synthesis of Ag/carbon hybrid with ionic liquid as soft-template and their catalytic properties

Ag/carbon hybrids were fabricated by the redox of glucose and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in the presence of imidazolium ionic liquid ([C₁₄mim]BF₄) under hydrothermal condition. Monodisperse carbon hollow sub-microspheres encapsulating Ag nanoparticles and Ag/carbon cables were selectively prepared by varying the concentration of ionic liquid. Other reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time and the mole ratio of silver nitrate to glucose, play important roles in controlling the structures of the products. The products were characterized by XRD, TEM (HRTEM), SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), FTIR spectroscopy and a Raman spectrometer. The possible formation mechanism was proposed. The catalytic property of the hybrid in the oxidation of 1-butanol by H₂O₂ was also investigated.     

Progress on phthalocyanine-conjugated Ag and Au nanoparticles: Synthesis,characterization, and photo-physicochemical properties

Phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes are an important class of dyes with numerous (e.g., biological, photophysical, and analytical) applications. Among the methods used to improve the properties of these complexes, one should mention the introduction of different substituents, variation of the central metal ion, ligand exchange, and conjugation to nanomaterials (e.g., carbon-based nanomaterials and metal nanoparticles (NPs)). This work briefly reviews Pc complex conjugation to Ag and Au NPs, highlights the different NP shapes, and discusses the diversity of conjugation approaches. Moreover, the use of UV–Vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize Pc-NP hybrids is summarized. The effect of conjugation on Pc photo-physicochemical properties (fluorescence, singlet oxygen generation, triplet state formation, and optical limiting behavior) is discussed, and future perspectives for the synthesis and applications of new hybrids are provided.     

Ag-nanoparticle-loaded mesoporous silica: spontaneous formation of Ag nanoparticles and mesoporous silica SBA-15 by a one-pot strategy and their catalytic applications

A facile one-step method was proposed for the successful synthesis of Ag-nanoparticle-loaded mesoporous silica SBA-15 composites, where silver ions and their corresponding reductant aniline were added in the traditional synthetic system of mesoporous silica SBA-15 containing P123 as the surfactant and TEOS as the silica source. Mesoporous silica SBA-15 and Ag nanoparticles were spontaneously formed with Ag nanoparticles embedded in channels and even implanted in frameworks of mesoporous silica SBA-15. A tentative formation process was then proposed according to experimental observations. Furthermore, catalytic activities of Ag-nanoparticle-loaded silica SBA-15 composites toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH(4) and the reduction of H(2)O(2) were also investigated.     

ZnO and MgO nanoparticles: Synthesis and comparative study on their properties

We report the optical and structural properties of ZnO and MgO nanoparticles. The samples are obtained by a simple method using a new template of hexamethylene tetramine. The optical properties of the samples are studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. Their crystal structure and morphology are studied by XRD and scanning electron microscopy. The absorption spectra of MgO and ZnO show that the optical band gaps are 4.27 eV and 3.02 eV, respectively. In this investigation the photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine (IC) in water is studied. The effects of some parameters such as pH, amount of catalyst, initial concentration of dye, are examined.     

Synthesis of double-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapor deposition and their field emission properties

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) were synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition using Fe-Mo/MgO as a catalyst at 1000 degrees C under the mixture of methane and hydrogen gas. The nanotubes were purified by acid but were not damaged. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the purity of the tubes to be about 90%. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy image showed that DWCNTs have inner tube diameters of 1.4-2.6 nm and outer tube diameters of 2.3-3.4 nm. We observed radial breathing modes in Raman spectra, which are related to the diameter of inner nanotubes. The purified DWCNTs were mixed with organic vehicles and glass frit, and then they were screen-printed on glass substrate coated with indium tin oxide. The field emission properties of the screen-printed DWCNT films were examined by varying the amount of glass frit ingredient within the DWCNT paste. The results showed that DWCNT emitters had good emission properties such as turn-on field of 1.33-1.78 V/microm and high brightness. When the applied anode voltage was gradually increased, current density and brightness became saturated. We also observed DWCNTs adsorbed on the anode plate; they were DWCNTs peeled off from the cathode plate for field emission measurement.     

Synthesis of confined Ag nanowires within mesoporous silica via double solvent technique and their catalytic properties

Ag nanowires within the channels of mesoporous silica have been successfully synthesized via a double solvent technique, in which n-hexane is used as a hydrophobic solvent to disperse mesoporous silica and an AgNO(3) aqueous solution is used as a hydrophilic solvent to fill mesochannels. The morphology of the obtained Ag (nanowires, nanoparticles or nanorods) can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of AgNO(3) solution and the template pore size. HRTEM images demonstrate extensive Ag nanowires with several to tens of hundreds nanometers in length are deposited along the long axis of mesochannels when the atomic AgNO(3)/Si ratio is 0.090. When the atomic AgNO(3)/Si ratio is 0.068 or 0.11, there is a combination of Ag nanoparticles and nanowires; nanoparticles are mainly formed when the atomic AgNO(3)/Si ratio is higher than 0.14. Further, the catalytic results of the oxidation of styrene show that styrene oxide and benzaldehyde are the main products of the reaction, and the morphology and diversity of Ag in Ag/mesoporous silica composites have an effect on the conversion of styrene and selectivity of styrene oxide.     

Electrochemical synthesis of Cu-containing polyheteroarylenes and study of their catalytic properties

Method of electrochemical synthesis of new Cu-containing polyheteroarylenes that have biquinolyl units in their main chain is developed on the base of the soluble anode technique. The study of electrochemical properties of thus obtained Cu-containing polymer and the corresponding monomer complex revealed existence of two types of coordination environment: (1) copper Cu(I) in the tetrahedral surrounding of two biquinolyl ligands and (2) copper Cu(I) bound with only one biquinolyl fragment. The complexes with one biquinolyl polymer ligand showed high activity as catalysts for O₂ reduction in the presence of hydroquinone that is converted to quinone in the course of the reaction.     

蘑菇多酚氧化酶的性质及其催化反应动力学的研究

本文用二次丙酮法从磨菇中提取多酚氧化酶，用分光光度法测定多酚氧化酶催化邻苯二酚的氧化反应。实验结果表明：酶作用的最佳条件是pH等于7、温度30℃，反应活化能等于21．20kJ．mol-1。     

Layer-by-layer deposition of a polythiophene/Au nanoparticles multilayer with effective electrochemical properties

Multilayers consisting of a water soluble polythiophene derivative and Au nanoparticles have been deposited onto different electrode substrates by means of layer-by-layer deposition technique. The assembly of the films has been performed by taking advantage of the electrostatic interactions between the positively charged imidazolic moiety of the polythiophene chain and the negative charges of citrate ions surrounding Au nanoparticles, as well of the affinity of S to Au. The nanoparticles result stably grafted to the organic matrix. The resulting modified electrodes have been characterised through electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical and microscopic techniques. The results evidenced that a high number of individual nanoparticles is present inside the multilayer. The presence of nanoparticles is of chief importance for most effective charge percolation through the multilayer, as suggested by the responses to electroactive probe species in solution. The electrocatalytic performances of the modified electrodes have been tested with respect to the oxidation of ascorbic acid.