Interaction between oxygen and polycrystalline palladium at O<Subscript>2</Subscript> pressures of 10<Superscript>−6</Superscript>–10 Pa

The interaction between oxygen and polycrystalline palladium (Pd(poly)) at \(P_{O_2 } \) = 2.6 × 10^?6–10 Pa and T = 300–1300 K was studied by the thermal desorption (TD) method. The interaction between O₂ and Pd(poly) is governed by the O₂ pressure and the sample temperature. At low pressures of \(P_{O_2 } \) (≤1.3 × 10^?5 Pa), O₂ is chemisorbed dissociatively on the Pd(poly) surface. During chemisorption, the O_ads-surface bond energy and the O₂ sticking coefficient gradually decrease as the surface coverage θ increases. At \(P_{O_2 } \) ≥ 10^?2 Pa and T ≤ 500 K, after the saturation of the O_ads layer (θ ～ 0.5), O_ads atoms penetrate under the surface layer of the metal to form surface palladium oxide. At \(P_{O_2 } \) ≥ 1 Pa and T > 500 K, after the saturation of the surface oxide film 2 ML in thickness (n ～ 2), O_ads atoms penetrate into the oxide film and then into the subsurface palladium layer and diffuse deep into the metal bulk. As a result, the oxygen uptake at 700 K is n ～ 50. Upon heating, the surface oxides decompose, desorbing O₂, which gives rise to a low-temperature TD peak with T _max = 715 K. The release of oxygen inserted in the subsurface layers of palladium shows itself as a distinct high-temperature TD peak with T _max ≥ 750 K.     

Oxygen desorption from polycrystalline palladium: Thermal desorption of O<Subscript>2</Subscript> from a chemisorbed layer of O<Subscript>ads</Subscript> in the course of the decomposition of PdO surface oxide and in the release of oxygen from the bulk of palladium

The desorption of oxygen from polycrystalline palladium (Pd(poly)) was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) at 500–1300 K and the amounts of oxygen absorbed by palladium (n) from 0.05 to 50 monolayers. It was found that the desorption of O₂ from Pd(poly), which occurred from a chemisorbed oxygen layer (O_ads), in the release of oxygen from a near-surface metal layer in the course of the decomposition of PdO surface oxide, and in the release of oxygen from the bulk of palladium (O_abs), was governed by repulsive interactions between O_ads atoms and the formation and decomposition of O_ads-Pd*-O_abs structures (Pd* is a surface palladium atom). At θ ≤ 0.5, the repulsive interactions between O_ads atoms (ɛ_aa = 10 kJ/mol) resulted in the desorption of O₂ from Pd(poly) at 650–950 K. At 0.5 ≤ n ≤ 1.0, the release of inserted oxygen from a near-surface palladium layer occurred during TPD in the course of the migration of O_abs atoms to the surface and the formation-decomposition of O_ads-Pd*-O_abs structures. As a result, the desorption of O₂ occurred in accordance with a first-order reaction with a thermal desorption (TD) peak at T _max ∼ 700 K. At 1.0 ≤ n ≤ 2.0, the decomposition of PdO surface oxide occurred at a constant surface cover-age with oxygen during TPD in the course of the formation-decomposition of O_ads-Pd*-O_abs structures. Because of this, the desorption of O₂ occurred in accordance with a zero-order reaction at low temperatures with a TD peak at T _max ∼ 675 K. At 1.0 ≤ n ≤ 50, oxygen atoms diffused from deep palladium layers in the course of TPD and arrived at the surface at high temperatures. As a result, O₂ was desorbed with a high-temperature TD peak at T > 750 K.     

Oxygen dissolution in polycrystalline palladium at O2 pressures of 0.1 to 100 Pa

Oxygen dissolution in polycrystalline palladium Pd(poly) at O₂ pressures ( $P_{O_2 } $ ) of 0.1 to 100 Pa and a temperature of 600 K has been investigated by temperature-programmed desorption. The dissolution process under these conditions includes O₂ chemisorption on the oxide film surface, the insertion of Oads atoms under the oxide layer, and their diffusion into the subsurface layers of palladium. During chemisorption, a structure ensuring that the O_ads coverage of the surface increases with increasing $P_{O_2 } $ forms on the surface of the oxide film. This is favorable for O_ads penetration through the oxide film and increases the amount of absorbed oxygen. The O_ads coverage of the surface calculated via the Langmuir equation at an O₂ desorption activation energy of E _des = 125 kJ/mol correlates with the number of absorbed oxygen monolayers (n). At n ≥ 1, oxygen absorption by Pd(poly) is due to the diffusion of O atoms in the palladium lattice. After the accumulation of 14–18 oxygen monolayers in the subsurface layers of palladium, oxygen absorption practically stops depending on $P_{O_2 } $ . Thus, the acceleration of oxygen dissolution in palladium is due to the formation of the surface oxide film and the increase in the O_ads coverage of this film, which facilitates the insertion of O_ads atoms into the subsurface layers of palladium.     

Mechanism of the decomposition of the surface oxide film on polycrystalline palladium

The decomposition of thin surface oxide films on polycrystalline palladium Pd(poly) at 500–1300 K was investigated by mathematical modeling. This process was analyzed in terms of a model including O₂ desorption from the chemisorbed oxygen layer (O_ads) and the passage of oxygen inserted under the surface layer of the metal (O_abs) and oxygen dissolved in metal subsurface layers (O_dis) to the surface. O₂ desorption was modeled on a surface with a square lattice of adsorption sites, with account taken of the energy of the lateral repulsive interactions between adjacent O_ads atoms (ε_aa). At ε_aa = 10 kJ/mol and when the activation energy of O₂ desorption for a chemisorbed-oxygen surface coverage of θ ≈ 0 is E_des⁰ = 230 kJ/mol, the calculated spectra are in agreement with the oxygen temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) spectra obtained for Pd(poly) at θ ≤ 0.5. The passage of O_abs and O_dis atoms to the surface was calculated using a first-order equation, with account taken of the activation energy for these atoms coming out to the surface (E₂ and E₃, respectively). As the oxide film is heated, O₂ desorption is accompanied by the passage of O_abs and then O_dis to the surface, which leads to an increase in the O_ads surface coverage and, accordingly, to a buildup of lateral surroundings in the adsorbed layer. Owing to this fact and to the repulsive interactions between O_ads atoms, the bonds between O_ads and the surface weaken and E_des decreases. As a consequence, the O₂ desorption rate increases and a low-temperature peak with T_max ≈ 710 K, which is due to the passage of O_abs atoms to the surface, and then a high-temperature peak with T_max ≈ 770 K, which is due to the passage of O_dis atoms to the surface, appear in the TPD spectrum. At ε_aa = 10 kJ/mol, E_des⁰ = 230 kJ/mol, E₂ = 145 kJ/mol, and E₃ = 160 kJ/mol and when the number of inserted oxygen monolayers is θ_abs ≤ 0.3 and the number of oxygen monolayers dissolved in subsurface layers is θ_dis ≤ 10, the TPD spectra calculated for the given model are in agreement with the O₂ TPD spectra that are observed for Pd(poly) and are due to the decomposition of surface oxide films.     

State of palladium in palladium-aluminosilicate catalysts as studied by XPS and the catalytic activity of the catalysts in the deep oxidation of methane

Palladium catalysts based on Siralox and AS aluminosilicate supports for the deep oxidation of methane were studied. With the use of XRD analysis, it was found that they were heterophase systems consisting of an amorphous aluminosilicate and γ-Al₂O₃ stabilized against agglomeration. It was found that the catalytic activity of palladium-aluminosilicate catalysts in the deep oxidation of methane at 500°C depended on the support precalcination temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study the states of the AS-30 aluminosilicate support calcined at 600, 800, or 1000°C and palladium supported on it. It was found that the action of an acid impregnation solution of palladium nitrate on the aluminosilicate calcined at 800°C resulted in a structural rearrangement of the aluminosilicate surface. This rearrangement resulted in the stabilization of both palladium oxide and palladium metal particles at surface defects and the incorporation of these particles into the aluminosilicate after catalyst calcination. As a result, an anomalous decrease in catalytic activity was observed in aluminosilicate samples calcined at 800°C. According to XPS data, palladium in the catalyst was stabilized in the following three phases: metal (E _b(Pd 3d _5/2) = 334.8 eV), oxide (E _b(Pd 3d _5/2) = 336.8 eV), and “interaction” (E _b(Pd 3d _5/2) = 335.8 eV) phases. The ratio between these phases depended on support and catalyst calcination temperatures. The interaction phase, which consisted of PdO_x clusters stabilized in the aluminosilicate structure, was responsible for the retention of activity after calcination at high temperatures (800°C). Based on an analysis of XPS data, it was hypothesized that palladium in the interaction phase occurred in a charged state with the formal charge on the Pd atom close to 1 + (δ+ phase).     

Catalytic Etching of Platinoid Gauzes during the Oxidation of Ammonia by Air. Reconstruction of Surface of Platinoid Gauzes at 1133 K in Air,in Ammonia,and in an NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> + O<Subscript>2</Subscript> Reaction Medium

The structure, morphology, and chemical composition of the surface and near-surface layers of platinoid wires of polycrystalline gauzes, containing Pt (81 wt %), Pd (15 wt %), Rh (3.5 wt %), and Ru (0.5 wt %) after treatment at 1133 K in various media—in air, in ammonia, and after NH3 oxidation in air—are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A thin film is found on the surface of the initial gauze containing an oxide layer of Rh₂O₃ with a thickness of ~2 nm, on the surface of which an inhomogeneous graphite-like layer 10–50 nm thick is located. It is shown that the heat treatment of gauzes in air leads to the partial removal of the surface graphite-like film that forms the reticulated structure on the wire surface. The treatment of gauzes in an ammonia atmosphere leads to the complete removal of the graphite-like and oxide layers and to the growth of metal grains of ~10 μm. After the catalytic reaction of NH3 oxidation, a deep structural rearrangement of the surface layer of the wire takes place, as a result of which crystalline metal agglomerates of ~10 μm are formed. It is supposed that the reaction of NH3 molecules with oxygen atoms penetrated on the defects leads to the local increase of temperature, due to which the metal atoms emerge on the surface and form large crystalline agglomerates and pores in the region of the grain boundaries.     

Aluminum oxide and systems based on it: Properties and applications

The metastable forms of aluminum oxide that exist in the range of 300–800°C are characterized; differences in the microstructures of homogeneous γ-, η-, and χ-Al₂O₃ are demonstrated; and the acid-base properties of the above modifications are compared. The catalytic properties of aluminum oxide in ethanol dehydration and propionitrile ammonolysis were studied. It was found that an increased surface concentration of Lewis acid sites, including strong acid sites (ν(CO) = 2237 cm^?1), is required for preparing an effective catalyst for the dehydration of ethanol, whereas the rate of propionitrile conversion increased proportionally to the surface concentration of Brønsted acid sites. γ-Aluminum oxide was used to prepare catalysts for carbon monoxide oxidation. It was found that the supporting of Pd on γ-Al₂O₃ did not change the support structure. Palladium on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃-550 (T _calcin = 550°C, S _BET = 300 m²/g) occurred as single particles (2–3 nm) and aggregates (～100 nm). The single particles were almost completely covered with a layer of aluminum oxide to form core-shell structures. According to XPS data, they were in atypical states (BE(Pd 3d _5/2) = 336.0 and 338.0 eV), which were not reduced by hydrogen in the range of 15–450°C and were resistant to the action of the reaction mixture. Palladium on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃-800 (S _BET = 160 m²/g) was in the states Pd⁰ and PdO, which are typical of Pd/Al₂O₃, and the proportions of these states can change under the action of the reaction mixture. An increase in the T _calcin of the Pd/Al₂O₃(800)-450 catalyst from 450 to 800 → 1000 → 1200°C led to the agglomeration of palladium particles and to an increase in the temperature of 50% CO conversion from 145 to 152 → 169 → 189°C, respectively. α-Aluminum oxide was used in the preparation of an effective Mn-Bi-O/α-Al₂O₃ supported catalyst for the synthesis of nitrous oxide by the oxidation of ammonia with oxygen: the NH₃ conversion was 95–97% at 84.4% N₂O selectivity.     

Properties of Pd–Ag/C catalysts in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of acetylene

Samples of Pd/C and Pd–Ag/C, where C represents carbon nanofibers (CNFs), are synthesized by methane decomposition on a Ni–Cu–Fe/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The properties of Pd/CNF are studied in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of acetylene into ethylene. It is found that the activity of the catalyst in hydrogenation reaction increases, while selectivity decreases considerably when the palladium content rises. The obtained dependences are caused by the features of palladium’s interaction with the carbon support. At a low Pd content (up to 0.04 wt %) in the catalyst, the metal is inserted into the interlayer space of graphite and the catalytic activity is zero. It is established by EXAFS that the main share of palladium in catalysts of 0.05–0.1 wt % Pd/CNF constitutes the metal in the atomically dispersed state. The coordination environment of palladium atoms consists of carbon atoms. An increase in the palladium content in a Pd/CNF catalyst up to 0.3 wt % leads to the formation of highly dispersed (0.8–1 nm) Pd particles. The Pd/CNF samples where palladium is mainly in the atomically dispersed state exhibit the highest selectivity in the acetylene hydrogenation reaction. The addition of silver to a 0.1 wt % Pd/CNF catalyst initially probably leads to the formation of Pd–Ag clusters and then to alloyed Pd–Ag particles. An increase in the silver content in the catalyst above 0.3% causes the enlargement of the alloyed particles and the palladium atoms are blocked by a silver layer, which considerably decreases the catalytic activity in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene.     

Improvement of the Pd/Al2O3 Catalyst by the Control of the Sol-Gel Preparative Parameters

In this work, the metal dispersion of the Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by sol-gel method is improved by an adequate optimisation of the preparative variables. First, the gelation temperature and the ageing time are selected, in order to avoid the reduction of the metal precursor (palladium acetylacetonate, Pd(acac)₂) by the solvent (sec-butanol, sB). The metal sintering effect on the catalysts treated in oxygen at 500°C is then minimized when the alumina pore size is controlled by the variation of the alumium alkoxide (AsB) concentration and the acetic acid amount ([AcA]/[AsB]). The appearance of new palladium particles on the alumina surface and the matching between the particle diameters and the pore sizes were also effective for the metallic surface area improvement on the samples treated in oxygen at 800°C. Compared to the reference catalysts, the higher metal dispersion obtained on the sol-gel ones was the determinant factor for their higher catalytic activity in methane combustion.     

An XPS study of the oxidation of noble metal particles evaporated onto the surface of an oxide support in their reaction with NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The interaction of the model catalysts Rh/Al₂O₃, Pd/Al₂O₃, Pt/Al₂O₃, and Pt/SiO₂ with NO _x (mixture of 10 Torr of NO and 10 Torr of O₂) was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Samples of the model catalysts were prepared under vacuum conditions as oxide films ≥100 Å in thickness on tantalum foil with evaporated platinum-group metal particles. According to transmission electron microscopic data, the platinum-group metal particle size was several nanometers. It was found by XPS that the oxidation of Rh and Pd nanoparticles in their interaction with NO _x occurs already at room temperature. The particles of platinum were more stable: their oxidation under the action of NO _x was observed at elevated temperatures of ～300°C. At room temperature, the interaction of platinum nanoparticles with NO _x hypothetically leads to the dissolution (insertion) of oxygen atoms in the bulk of the particles with the retention of their metallic nature. It was found that dissolved oxygen is much more readily reducible by hydrogen than the lattice oxygen of the platinum oxide particles.     

Experimental study of intermediates and wave phenomena in co oxidation on platinum metal (Pt,Pd) surfaces

The mechanism of catalytic CO oxidation on Pt(100) and Pd(110) single-crystal surfaces and on Pt and Pd sharp tip (～10³ Å) surfaces has been studied experimentally by temperature-programmed reaction, temperature desorption spectroscopy, field electron microscopy, and molecular beam techniques. Using the density functional theory the equilibrium states and stretching vibrations of oxygen atoms adsorbed on the Pt(100) surface have been calculated. The character of the mixed adsorption layer was established by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy—molecular adsorption (O_2ads, CO_ads) on Pt(100)-hex and dissociative adsorption (O_ads, CO_ads) on Pt(100)-(1×1). The origin of kinetic self-oscillations for the isothermal oxidation of CO in situ was studied in detail on the Pt and Pd tips by field electron microscopy. The initiating role of the reversible phase transition (hex) ? (1 × 1) of the Pt(100) nanoplane in the generation of regular chemical waves was established. The origination of self-oscillations and waves on the Pt(100) nanoplane was shown to be caused by the spontaneous periodical transition of the metal from the low-active state (hex) to the highly active catalytic state (1 × 1). A relationship between the reactivity of oxygen atoms (O_ads) and the concentration of CO_ads molecules was revealed for the Pd(110) surface. Studies using the isotope label ¹⁸O_ads demonstrated that the low-temperature formation of CO₂ at 150 K is a result of the reaction of CO with the highly reactive state of atomic oxygen (O_ads). The possibility of the low-temperature oxidation of CO via interaction with the so-called “hot” oxygen atoms (O_hot) appearing on the surface at the instant of dissociation of O_2ads molecules was studied by the molecular beam techniques.     

An Atomic‐Scale View of CO and H2 Oxidation on a Pt/Fe3O4 Model Catalyst

Metal–support interactions are frequently invoked to explain the enhanced catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles dispersed over reducible metal oxide supports, yet the atomic‐scale mechanisms are rarely known. In this report, scanning tunneling microscopy was used to study a Pt_1‐6/Fe₃O₄ model catalyst exposed to CO, H₂, O₂, and mixtures thereof at 550 K. CO extracts lattice oxygen atoms at the cluster perimeter to form CO₂, creating large holes in the metal oxide surface. H₂ and O₂ dissociate on the metal clusters and spill over onto the support. The former creates surface hydroxy groups, which react with the support, ultimately leading to the desorption of water, while oxygen atoms react with Fe from the bulk to create new Fe₃O₄(001) islands. The presence of the Pt is crucial because it catalyzes reactions that already occur on the bare iron oxide surface, but only at higher temperatures.     

Theoretical study of V<Subscript>20</Subscript>O<Subscript>50</Subscript> oxovanadate cluster compounds with alkali metal atoms

The energies and structural and spectroscopic characteristics of model М _n V₂₀O₅₀ systems corresponding to compounds of the V₂₀O₅₀ oxovanadate cluster with alkali metal atoms (M = Li, K; n = 1–20) have been calculated by the density functional theory method (B3LYP). It has been demonstrated that, in the K _n V₂₀O₅₀ compounds, all the metal atoms are coordinated in the outer sphere to the edges of the hollow dodecahedral V₂₀O₅₀ cage to form three-center O_t?K?O_t bridges with terminal oxygen atoms. In the Li _n V₂₀O₅₀ compounds, the metal atoms can be coordinated both outside and inside the V₂₀O₅₀ cage. At n = 4, the most favorable isomer is endohedral Li₄O₄@V₂₀O₄₆ in the quintet state (S = 5), in which the four Li atoms are located in the inner cavity of the inverted O₄@V₂₀O₄₆ isomer of the oxovanadate cluster with four O atoms oriented to the cage center and form with them a corrugated eight-membered ring Li₄O₄. The decrease in energy caused by the formation of the endohedral isomer (4Li + V₂₀O₄₅₀ → Li₄O₄@V₂₀O₄₆) is estimated at ~377 kcal/mol. The exohedral isomer 4Li ? V₂₀O₅₀ (S = 5), in which the Li atoms are coordinated to the outside of the V₂₀O₅₀ cage, is ~23 kcal/mol less favorable. For the other members of the Li series with n from 4 to 20, the endohedral isomers with the inner Li₄O₄ ring remain preferable. At n > 4, the extra Li atoms fill the outer sphere of the cage, being coordinated to its edges to form three-center O_t?Li?O_t bridges with terminal oxygen atoms. The specific energy of formation of Li _n V₂₀O₅₀ (by the scheme nLi + V₂₀O₄₅₀ → Li₄O₄@V₂₀O₄₆Li_n-4) per Li atom monotonically decrease from ~98 (n = 2) to ~80 kcal/mol (n = 20). For K _n V₂₀O₅₀, these energies are ~20?25 kcal/mol lower than for the lithium analogues and decrease from ~80 (n = 2) to ~64 kcal/mol (n = 12). The atoms of both alkali metals in the M _n V₂₀O₅₀ systems have large positive effective charges (0.85e?0.92e for K and 0.65e?0.78e for Li), which also monotonically decrease with increasing n. The addition of each alkali metal atom is accompanied by its ionization (М → М⁺) along with the reduction of one of the neighboring pentavalent vanadium atoms to the tetravalent state (V^V → V^IV) and localization of the unpaired electron in its 3d shell. For all Li _n V₂₀O₅₀ complexes, the states with maximal multiplicity and parallel spins are the most preferable.     

Low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide over (Mn1 − x M x )O2 (M = Co, Pd) catalysts

(Mn_{1 ? x} M _x )O₂ (M = Co, Pd) materials synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and dried at 80°C have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and adsorption and have been tested in CO oxidation under CO + O₂ TPR conditions and under isothermal conditions at room temperature in the absence and presence of water vapor. The synthesized materials have the tunnel structure of cryptomelane irrespective of the promoter nature and content. Their specific surface area is 110–120 m²/g. MnO₂ is morphologically uniform, and the introduction of cobalt or palladium into this oxide disrupts its uniformity and causes the formation of more or less crystallized aggregates varying in size. The (Mn,Pd)O₂ composition contains Pd metal, which is in contact with the MnO₂-based oxide phase. The average size of the palladium particles is no larger than 12 nm. The initial activity of the materials in CO oxidation, which was estimated in terms of the 10% CO conversion temperature, increases in the following order: MnO₂ (100°C) < (Mn,Co)O₂ (98°C) < (Mn,Co,Pd)O₂ (23°C) < (Mn,Pd)O₂ (?12°C). The high activity of (Mn,Pd)O₂ is due to its surface containing palladium in two states, namely, oxidized palladium (interaction phase) palladium metal (clusters). The latter are mainly dispersed in the MnO₂ matrix. This catalyst is effective in CO oxidation even at room temperature when there is no water vapor in the reaction mixture, but it is inactive in the presence of water vapor. Water vapor causes partial reduction of Mn⁴⁺ ions and an increase in the proportion of palladium metal clusters.     

Mechanisms of oxygen adsorption and desorption on polycrystalline palladium

The adsorption and desorption of oxygen on a polycrystalline palladium (Pd(poly)) surface (10-to 100-μm crystallites; ～32% (100), ～18% (111), ～34% (311), and ～15% (331)) at P _O2 ≤ 1.3 × 10^?5 Pa and T = 500–1300 K have been studied by TPD and mathematical modeling. The kinetics of O₂ adsorption and desorption on Pd(poly) are primarily governed by the formation and decomposition of oxygen adsorption structures on the (100) and (111) crystallite faces. The O₂ adsorption rate is constant at ? ≤ 0.15–0.25 owing to the formation of the p(2 × 2) structure with an O_ads-surface bonding energy of D(Pd-O) = 364 kJ/mol on the (100) and (111) faces. The adsorption rate decreases with increasing coverage at ? ≥ 0.15–0.25 because of the growth, on the (100) face, of the c(2 × 2) structure, in which D(Pd-O) is reduced to 324 kJ/mol by lateral interactions in the adsorption layer. A high-temperature (～800 K) O₂ desorption peak is observed for ? ≤ 0.25, which is due to O₂ desorption from a disordered adsorption layer according to a second-order rate law with an activation energy of E _des = 230 kJ/mol. A lower temperature (～700 K) O₂ desorption peak is observed for ? ≥ 0.25, which is due to O₂ released by the c(2 × 2) structure according to a first-order rate law with E _des = 150 kJ/mol. At ? ≥ 0.25, there are repulsive interactions between O_ads atoms on Pd(poly) (ε_aa = 5–10 kJ/mol).     

Development of magnetic,ferrite supported palladium catalysts for 2,4-dinitrotoluene hydrogenation

Cobalt, copper, and nickel ferrite spinel nanoparticles have been synthesized by using a combination of sonochemical treatment and combustion. The magnetic nanoparticles have been used as supports to prepare ~4 wt% palladium catalysts. The ferrites were dispersed in an ethanolic solution of Pd(II) nitrate by ultrasonication. The palladium ions were reduced to metallic Pd nanoparticles, which were then attached to the surface of the different metal oxide supports. Thus, three different catalysts (Pd/CoFe₂O₄, Pd/CuFe₂O₄, Pd/NiFe₂O₄) were made and tested in the hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). A possible reaction mechanism, including the detected species, has been envisaged based on the results. The highest 2,4-diaminotoluene (TDA) yield (99 n/n%) has been achieved by using the Pd/NiFe₂O₄ catalyst. Furthermore, the TDA yield was also reasonable (84.2 n/n%) when the Pd/CoFe₂O₄ catalyst was used. In this case, complete and easy recovery of the catalyst from the reaction medium is ensured, as the ferrite support is fully magnetic. Thus, the catalyst is very well suited for applicationy in the hydrogenation of DNT or other aromatic nitro compounds.     

Oxidation of the polycrystalline gold foil surface and XPS study of oxygen states in oxide layers

Gold oxide films obtained on the surface of polycrystalline gold foil upon oxidation by oxygen activated by a high-frequency discharge have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High-frequency O₂ activation affords oxide films more than 3–5 nm thick. As follows from Au4f spectra, the surface gold atoms are oxidized to the oxidation state +3. The O1s spectra have a composite shape and are decomposed into four components that characterize nonequivalent states of oxygen in the resulting oxide films. It is assumed that the two major oxygen states (E _b(O1s) = 529.0 and 530.0 eV) correspond to the oxygen atoms in two-and three-dimensional gold oxide Au₂O₃, respectively. The oxygen states characterized by the higher binding energies (E _b(O1s) = 531.8 and 535.2 eV) likely correspond to molecular oxygen in peroxide and superoxide groups, respectively.     

Influence of the Support on the Catalytic Characteristics of the Deposited Palladium in the Liquid-Phase Hydrogenation of Diphenylacetylene

Palladium catalysts on various types of supports were studied in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene. Samples of Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃, Pd/MgAl₂O₄, Pd/Al₂O₃, and Pd/TiO₂ were characterized by the chemisorption of the CO and IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. The use of n-hexane as the solvent increases the reaction rate, which can be explained by the better solubility of hydrogen in the liquid phase. It is established that the acid–base properties of the support do not affect the activity and selectivity of the catalysts in the reaction under study. However, they alter the electronic state of palladium. According to the catalytic tests, Pd/TiO₂ has the highest activity (turnover frequency) and selectivity to alkene. The comparison of the obtained catalytic data and the results of IR spectroscopy made it possible to conclude that this is due to the electron density redistribution between the palladium and TiO _x particles, which is caused by the strong metal–support interaction.     

Redox Behavior and Transport Properties of Composites Based on (Fe,Ni)<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4 ± δ</Subscript> for Anodes of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The Fe–Ni–O system designed for producing bimetal-containing composite anodes of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) was studied. The solubility of nickel in the structure of spinel (Fe,Ni)₃O_{4 ± δ} at atmospheric oxygen pressure is ~1/3. Moderate reduction at 1023 K and p(O₂) ≈ 10^–20 atm leads to partial decomposition of spinels, forming an electron-conducting phase (Fe,Ni)_1–yO and submicron bimetallic Fe–Ni particles on the oxide surface, which have potentially high catalytic activity. The electron conductivity has a thermally activated character and increases substantially during the reduction. In the anode conditions of SOFCs, the electric conductivity reaches 30–100 S/cm, while the thermal expansion coefficients are ~12 × 10^–6 K^–1, which ensures compatibility with solid electrolytes. At the same time, significant volume changes during the redox cycling (up to ~1% on the linear scale) necessitate the introduction of additional components such as yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The polarization resistance of the model composite anode of reduced Fe₂NiO_{4 ± δ} and YSZ deposited on the YSZ solid electrolyte membrane was ~1.8 Ohm cm² at 923 K in a 4% H_2–Ar–H₂O atmosphere.     

Palladium nanoparticles and nanowires deposited electrochemically: AFM and electrochemical characterization

Palladium nanoparticles and nanowires electrochemically deposited onto a carbon surface were studied using cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The ex situ and in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) topographic images showed that nanoparticles and nanowires of palladium were preferentially electrodeposited to surface defects on the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface and enabled the determination of the Pd nanostructure dimensions on the order of 50–150 nm. The palladium nanoparticles and nanowires electrochemically deposited onto a glassy carbon surface behave differently with respect to the pH of the electrolyte buffer solution. In acid or mild acid solutions under applied negative potential, hydrogen can be adsorbed/absorbed onto/into the palladium lattice. By controlling the applied negative potential, different quantities of hydrogen can be incorporated, and this process was followed, analysing the oxidation peak of hydrogen. It is also shown that the growth of the Pd oxide layer begins at negative potentials with the formation of a pre-monolayer oxide film, at a potential well before the hydrogen evolution region. At positive potentials, Pd(0) nanoparticles undergo oxidation, and the formation of a mixed oxide layer was observed, which can act as nucleation points for Pd metal growth, increasing the metal electrode surface coverage. Depending on thickness and composition, this oxide layer can be reversibly reduced. AFM images confirmed that the PdO and PdO₂ oxides formed on the surface may act as nucleation points for Pd metal growth, increasing the metal electrode surface coverage. Dedicated to Professor Dr. Algirdas Vaskelis on the occasion of his 70th birthday.