Preparation and evaluation of carbon-supported catalysts for ethanol oxidation

Supported PtSnIr/C, PtSn/C, and IrSn/C catalysts with potential application in a direct alcohol fuel cell were prepared by chemical reduction employing Pechini methodology. The catalyst particles were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Linear sweep voltammetry (LV), chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were performed by using a glassy carbon working electrode covered with the catalyst in a 1 M ethanol?+?0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution at 60 °C. It was demonstrated through XPS that PtSnIr/C and IrSn/C contain both IrO₂ and SnO₂. LV and chronoamperometry show a better catalytic behavior for ethanol oxidation on PtSnIr/C in the low-potential region and the improvement is attributed to the presence of both Sn and Ir oxides. The EIS accurately established that PtSnIr/C improved ethanol oxidation at lower potentials than PtSn/C.     

Homogeneous mono-and bimetallic catalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexene

In the absence of solvent, the first-row transition-metal acetylacetonate complexes and RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ give fairly high turnovers for the allylic oxidation of cyclohexene under atmospheric pressure of oxygen. Synergetic effect is observed for the oxidation of cyclohexene by using M(acac)_n−RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ bimetallic catalysts.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of multimetal oxygen-evolving catalysts

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a pivotal role in water-splitting. Here, we report a facile method to synthesize multimetal supported on commercial carbon black via a time-saving microwave process. Crystalline FeNi₃ nanoparticles homogeneously doped with Mo are formed via a microwave treatment and activated to metal oxyhydroxide in-situ during cyclic voltammetry test with overpotential of only 280 mV at 10 mA cm^− 2 for OER in alkaline electrolyte, outperforming RuO₂. Our synthesis methodology is a promising alternative for large-scale production, delivering a valuable contribution to catalyst preparation and electrocatalytic water oxidation research.     

Microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of CuInTe2 and CuInSe2 nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of the CuInTe(2) (CIT) and CuInSe(2) (CIS) alloys have been prepared using the microwave-assisted polyol method. In this simple and quick reaction the polyol is both the solvent and the reducing agent. XRD studies show that nanoparticles of CIT and CIS are formed in the body-centered tetragonal structure and their average diameters are approximately 94 and approximately 83 nm, respectively. Electron microscopy studies show that these formed particles are poorly aggregated with a mean diameter of 100 and 85 nm, respectively. The products have been characterized by different analytical techniques, and the electronic properties have been measured using photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS).     

Insight into the role of iron in platinum-based bimetallic catalysts for selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

Selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CAL) toward cinnamyl alcohol (COL) is an extremely important and challenging reaction. Herein, a series of Pt_xFe_y-Al₂O₃ bimetallic catalysts with varied Pt to Fe ratios were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method. The introduction of Fe significantly modifies the electronic and surface properties of Pt, which clearly enhances the C=O hydrogenation selectivity. Among all the catalysts, Pt₃Fe-Al₂O₃ displays the best catalytic performance and the conversion of CAL is 96.6% with 77.2% selectivity of COL within 1 h. In addition, Pt₃Fe-Al₂O₃ had excellent reusability with 76% COL selectivity after five runs of the recycle process. Further characterization of the fresh, used and cycled catalysts revealed that the structure and electronic state of the synthesized Pt_xFe_y-Al₂O₃ are unchanged after hydrogenation reaction. The identical-location transmission electron microscopy (IL-TEM) results revealed that the interaction between the nanoparticles and the supports was strong and the catalyst was relatively stable.     

Microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of copper nanocrystals without using additional protective agents

We report the synthesis of 2 nm copper nanocrystals (Cu NCs) via a microwave-assisted polyol method without using additional protective and reducing agents. The Cu NCs are oxidation resistant and exhibit photoluminescence and highly stable properties in a colloidal dispersion.     

Synthesis of carbon-supported sub-2 nanometer bimetallic catalysts by strong metal–sulfur interaction

Small-sized bimetallic nanoparticles that integrate the advantages of efficient exposure of the active metal surface and optimal geometric/electronic effects are of immense interest in the field of catalysis, yet there are few universal strategies for synthesizing such unique structures. Here, we report a novel method to synthesize sub-2 nm bimetallic nanoparticles (Pt–Co, Rh–Co, and Ir–Co) on mesoporous sulfur-doped carbon (S–C) supports. The approach is based on the strong chemical interaction between metals and sulfur atoms that are doped in the carbon matrix, which suppresses the metal aggregation at high temperature and thus ensures the formation of small-sized and well alloyed bimetallic nanoparticles. We also demonstrate the enhanced catalytic performance of the small-sized bimetallic Pt–Co nanoparticle catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

The strong interactions between metal and sulfur atoms doped in a carbon matrix allow for the synthesis of supported sub-2 nanometer M–Co (M = Pt, Rh, Ir) bimetallic nanocluster catalysts.     

Co-Pt bimetallic catalysts for the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-containing mixtures

The performance of a Co-Pt powder and of Co-Pt catalysts supported on γ-Al₂O₃ and on the graphite-like carbon material Sibunit in selective CO oxidation in hydrogen-containing mixtures is considered. Fine particles of metal-metal solid solutions and intermetallides were obtained by the decomposition of a Co- and Pt-containing double complex salt in a hydrogen atmosphere at ～400°C. As compared to their Pt and Co monometallic counterparts, the bimetallic catalysts are more active and allow the CO concentration in hydrogen-containing mixtures to be reduced from 1 to 10^?3 vol %. This effect is likely due to the formation of bimetallic particles of a Co-Pt solid solution on the support surface.     

Complete oxidation of ethanol over vanadium based catalysts

V2O5/γ-Al2O3-TiO2 catalysts were prepared by the mixing sol-gel and co-impregnation method. The performance of the catalysts for complete oxidation of ethanol was performed in a conventional fixed-bed quartz reactor. And the effects of support, preparation methods and vanadium content have been investigated. The results showed that 5% V2O5 catalyst supported on γ-Al2O3-TiO2 possessed the best ethanol conversion under the considered temperature. This may be ascribed to the highly dispersible active component, mutual function between the active component and the carriers. The nature of the best performance for 5%V/γ-Al2O3-TiO2 catalyst may be related to the high V4+ amounts on the surface. And the surface V4+ species may play an important role in the formation of active site for the total ethanol oxidation.     

Effect of atomic-layer-deposited TiO2 on carbon-supported Ni catalysts for electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation in alkaline media

Thin TiO₂ layers were deposited onto a carbon-supported Ni catalyst (Ni/C) through atomic layer deposition (ALD) and the resulting TiO₂-coated Ni/C (ALD(TiO₂)-Ni/C) was utilized for electrochemical glycerol oxidation in alkaline media. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that the Ni surface phase of ALD(TiO₂)-Ni/C mainly consisted of Ni(OH)₂ while that of uncoated Ni/C was a mixed phase of NiO and Ni(OH)₂. The ALD(TiO₂)-Ni/C exhibited electrocatalytic activity at least 2.4 times higher than that of Ni/C. Density functional theory calculations were used to investigate how the modified Ni surface with the TiO₂ coating affects the adsorption/desorption of glycerol.     

Mixed oxides of transition metals as catalysts for total ethanol oxidation

Oxides of transition metals could be suitable alternatives to catalysts based on noble metals in the oxidation processes used for the abatement of volatile organic compounds. Mixed oxides of transition metals can exhibit good efficiency and thermal stability, as well as being inexpensive. In this work, oxide catalysts containing various combinations of Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, and Al, grained or supported on oxidised aluminium foil Al₂O₃/Al, were studied in terms of their chemical and physical properties, including their chemical composition, porous structure, phase composition, reducibility, and activity in total ethanol oxidation. Ternary co-precipitated catalysts in the form of grains obtained from layered double hydroxide-like precursors were highly active, especially those containing manganese. Deposition of the selected precursors on an anodised aluminium foil-support afforded less active catalysts, mainly because the required metal molar ratios were not achieved, and insufficient amounts of metals were deposited. However, by controlling the preparation conditions (pH), higher loading of active components and higher catalytic activity were obtained.     

Enhanced electrochemical activity for ethanol oxidation on the carbon-supported Pt3Te nanocatalysts by addition of Ru

Ternary Pt–Te–Ru catalysts with different atomic ratios were synthesized by reducing the precursor with formic acid. The physical and electrochemical characterization of the Pt₃TeRu_0.25/C catalyst was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy equipped with TEM (TEM-EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, ethanol oxidation, and CO stripping. In TEM images, the Pt₃TeRu_0.25/C nanoparticles with an average particle size of around 2.9 nm were well dispersed on the carbon support. The Pt₃TeRu_0.25/C catalyst was superior to the Pt₃Te/C catalyst in respect of catalytic activity, durability, and CO tolerance. The positive effect of the Ru presence in the Pt₃TeRu_0.25/C catalyst was ascribed to the interactions of Ru or Ru oxides.     

Carbon-supported sulfide bimetallic catalysts for hydrodesulfurization

It has been established that the activity of carbon-supported sulfide Ni–Mo, Ni–W and Co–Mo catalysts is much higher compared to the traditional -Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ supported systems. The effect of surface area of the support and of the catalyst composition on their catalytic properties has been studied.

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, Ni–Mo, Ni–W Co–Mo , . .

     

Synergetic effect of surface and subsurface Ni species at Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts for CO oxidation

Various well-defined Ni-Pt(111) model catalysts are constructed at atomic-level precision under ultra-high-vacuum conditions and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. Subsequent studies of CO oxidation over the surfaces show that a sandwich surface (NiO(1-x)/Pt/Ni/Pt(111)) consisting of both surface Ni oxide nanoislands and subsurface Ni atoms at a Pt(111) surface presents the highest reactivity. A similar sandwich structure has been obtained in supported Pt-Ni nanoparticles via activation in H(2) at an intermediate temperature and established by techniques including acid leaching, inductively coupled plasma, and X-ray adsorption near-edge structure. Among the supported Pt-Ni catalysts studied, the sandwich bimetallic catalysts demonstrate the highest activity to CO oxidation, where 100% CO conversion occurs near room temperature. Both surface science studies of model catalysts and catalytic reaction experiments on supported catalysts illustrate the synergetic effect of the surface and subsurface Ni species on the CO oxidation, in which the surface Ni oxide nanoislands activate O(2), producing atomic O species, while the subsurface Ni atoms further enhance the elementary reaction of CO oxidation with O.     

High performance carbon-supported catalysts for fuel cells via phosphonation

Carbon-supported catalysts were phosphonated using 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid, and the resulting catalysts with largely enhanced proton conductivity performed substantially better than the untreated counterparts in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.     

Ultrasonic assisted polyol synthesis of highly dispersed Pt/MWCNT electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

A novel chemical method based on ultrasonic assisted polyol synthesis for the fabrication of highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was developed. The simple and green method took only about 10 min at ambient temperature. The structure and chemical nature of the resulting Pt/MWCNT composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The results showed that the prepared Pt nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on the MWCNT surface. The mean size of Pt nanoparticles was about 2.8 nm. Electrochemical properties of Pt/MWCNT electrode for methanol oxidation were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and excellent electrocatalytic activities could be observed. The possible formation mechanism of Pt/MWCNTs was also discussed.     

Designed synthesis of atom-economical pd/ni bimetallic nanoparticle-based catalysts for sonogashira coupling reactions

We synthesized Ni/Pd core/shell nanoparticles from the consecutive thermal decomposition of metal-surfactant complexes. The nanoparticle catalyst was atom-economically applied for various Sonogashira coupling reactions.     

Heteroatom-doped porous carbon-supported single-atom catalysts for electrocatalytic energy conversion

Electrocatalysts play a crucial role in the development of renewable energy conversion and storage nan-otechnologies.The unique advantages of heteroatom-doped p...     

Hydrogenation of benzophenone by carbon-supported Pd catalysts

Catalytic activity of palladium catalysts with two different types of carbon support, Norit (an activated carbon), and bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes (BCNT) have been tested for benzophenone hydrogenation. The selectivity toward the two possible reaction products (benzhydrol and diphenylmethane) can be directed by the catalyst support. It has been found that the Norit support preferred the over-hydrogenation of benzhydrol to diphenylmethane. The BCNT support proved to be much more selective and resulted as much as 99.3% benzhydrol selectivity at 96.3% benzophenone conversion. The high benzhydrol selectivity might be explained by the presence of covalently bonded nitrogen atoms in the catalyst (BCNT: 6.19 w/w%, Norit 0.54 w/w%) that can inhibit the over-hydrogenation process, thereby BCNTs are better catalyst supports for benzhydrol production than the commonly used activated carbon–supported catalysts.     

浸渍沉淀法制备活性炭负载Co-Mo双金属脱硫催化剂

以氧化改性活性炭为载体,尿素为沉淀剂,采用浸渍沉淀法制备了负载型Co-Mo催化剂,并用CO还原SO₂反应作为模型反应考察了催化剂的催化活性。结果表明,催化剂焙烧温度500℃、Co/Mo物质的量比0.45、最佳反应条件(硫化温度为500℃、空速为7 000 mL/(g·h)、CO/SO₂物质的量比为2:1,反应温度为450℃)时,催化剂具有最好的催化活性和选择性。XRD表征结果表明,催化CO还原SO₂反应的活性相为CoS₂和MoS₂,硫化温度影响活性相的形成。该催化剂稳定性好,反应运行24 h后活性仍能保持最高活性的99%。