Catalytic Performance of MnOx Nanorods in Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

Various manganese oxide nanorods with similar one-dimensional morphology were prepared by calcination of MnOOH nanorods under different gas atmosphere and at different temper-atures, which were synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The morphology and structure of MnO_x catalysts were characterized by a series of techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and tempera-ture programmed reduction (TPR). The catalytic activities of the prepared MnO_x nanorods were tested in the liquid phase aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol, which follow a sequence as MnO₂>Mn₂O₃≈Mn₃O₄>MnOOH with benzaldehyde being the main product. On the basis of H₂-TPR results, the superior activity of MnO₂ is ascribed to its lower reduction temperature and therefore high oxygen mobility and excellent redox ability. Moreover, a good recycling ability was observed over MnO₂ catalysts by simply thermal treatment in air.     

Selective Alkane Oxidation by Manganese Oxide: Site Isolation of MnOx Chains at the Surface of MnWO4 Nanorods

The electronic and structural properties of vanadium‐containing phases govern the formation of isolated active sites at the surface of these catalysts for selective alkane oxidation. This concept is not restricted to vanadium oxide. The deliberate use of hydrothermal techniques can turn the typical combustion catalyst manganese oxide into a selective catalyst for oxidative propane dehydrogenation. Nanostructured, crystalline MnWO₄ serves as the support that stabilizes a defect‐rich MnO_x surface phase. Oxygen defects can be reversibly replenished and depleted at the reaction temperature. Terminating MnO_x zigzag chains on the (010) crystal planes are suspected to bear structurally site‐isolated oxygen defects that account for the unexpectedly good performance of the catalyst in propane activation.     

Understanding the Role of Gold Nanoparticles in Enhancing the Catalytic Activity of Manganese Oxides in Water Oxidation Reactions

The Earth‐abundant and inexpensive manganese oxides (MnO_x) have emerged as an intriguing type of catalysts for the water oxidation reaction. However, the overall turnover frequencies of MnO_x catalysts are still much lower than that of nanostructured IrO₂ and RuO₂ catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that doping MnO_x polymorphs with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can result in a strong enhancement of catalytic activity for the water oxidation reaction. It is observed that, for the first time, the catalytic activity of MnO_x/AuNPs catalysts correlates strongly with the initial valence of the Mn centers. By promoting the formation of Mn³⁺ species, a small amount of AuNPs (<5 %) in α‐MnO₂/AuNP catalysts significantly improved the catalytic activity up to 8.2 times in the photochemical and 6 times in the electrochemical system, compared with the activity of pure α‐MnO₂.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Silver(I) Pyrazolato Coordination Polymer

Coinage metal(I)···metal(I) interactions are widely of interest in fields such as supramolecular assembly and unique luminescent properties, etc. Only two types of polynuclear silver(I) pyrazolato complexes have been reported, however, and no detailed spectroscopic characterizations have been reported. An unexpected synthetic method yielded a polynuclear silver(I) complex [Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]_n (L1Clpz⁻ = 4-chloride-3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolate anion) by the reaction of {[Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]₃}₂ with (ⁿBu₄N)[Ag(CN)₂]. The obtained structure was compared with the known hexanuclear silver(I) complex {[Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]₃}₂. The Ag···Ag distances in [Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]_n are slightly shorter than twice Bondi’s van der Waals radius, indicating some Ag···Ag argentophilic interactions. Two Ag–N distances in [Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]_n were found: 2.0760(13) and 2.0716(13) Å, and their N–Ag–N bond angles of 180.00(7)° and 179.83(5)° indicate that each silver(I) ion is coordinated by two pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms with an almost linear coordination. Every five pyrazoles point in the same direction to form a 1-D zig-zag structure. Some spectroscopic properties of [Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]_n in the solid-state are different from those of {[Ag(μ-L1Clpz)]₃}₂ (especially in the absorption and emission spectra), presumably attributable to this zig-zag structure having longer but differently arranged intramolecular Ag···Ag interactions of 3.39171(17) Å. This result clearly demonstrates the different physicochemical properties in the solid-state between 1-D coordination polymer and metalacyclic trinuclear (hexanuclear) or tetranuclear silver(I) pyrazolate complexes.     

Deep Oxidation of Methane Over Cu and Ag Modified Manganese Oxide Catalysts

Cu-Mn and Ag-Mn composite oxide catalysts were prepared by the modification of high specific surface area MnO₂ precursor with Cu or Ag, and used for CH₄ deep oxidation. The results were compared with that of unmodified MnOx. It is found that both Cu and Ag additives increase the oxidation activity of manganese oxide below 420°C; however, only Ag lowers the CH₄ complete oxidation temperature (T₉₈), whereas Cu increases the T₉₈. The catalysts were characterized by means of BET, XRD and H₂-TPR. Due to the synergetic effects of Cu and Ag ions with manganese oxide, the activity of the oxygen species is improved, leading to the increase of the oxidation activities of the modified catalysts, especially below 420°C.     

Using the Interaction between Copper and Manganese to Stabilize Copper Single-atom for CO Oxidation.

The interaction between Cu and Mn has been used to immobilize the Cu single-atom on MnO₂ surface by redox-driven hydrolysis. Comprehensive structure and property characterizations demonstrate that the existence of an Cu−Mn interaction on the catalyst surface can effectively restrain the aggregation of Cu single atoms and improve carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation activity. The interaction of forming the Cu−O−Mn entity is beneficial for CO catalytic activity as the migration of reactive oxygen species and the coordination effect of active centers accelerate the reaction. In particular, 3%-Cu₁/MnO₂ shows an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) value (342.75 μmol/g) more than ten times that of pure MnO₂ (27.79 μmol/g) and has high CO catalytic activity (T_90%=80 °C), it can maintain CO conversion of 95 % after 15 cycles. This work offers a reliable method for synthesizing Cu single-atom catalysts and deepens understanding of the interaction effect between single transition metal atoms and supports that can improve the catalytic activity of CO oxidation.     

Enhanced water electrolysis: Electrocatalytic generation of oxygen gas at manganese oxide nanorods modified electrodes

This study is concerned with the electrocatalytic evolution of oxygen gas at manganese oxide nanorods modified Pt, Au and GC electrodes in 0.5 M KOH solution. The electrochemical measurements revealed a significant enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt, Au and GC electrodes towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) upon the electrodeposition of manganese oxide nanoparticles (nano-MnO_x), that is, the onset potentials of the OER at the modified Pt, Au and GC electrodes are more negative by about 300, 550 and 300 mV, respectively, compared with the bare (i.e., unmodified) electrodes. MnO_x is electrodeposited in a porous nano-texture structure which covers the entire surface of the substrates homogeneously. The MnO_x of a single crystalline manganite phase (γ-MnOOH) plays a vital role as a catalytic mediator, which facilitates the charge transfer during the water oxidation into molecular oxygen and thus the OER is accomplished at less positive potentials.     

Sur une série de solutions solides de formule Ca2−xLnxMnO4 (Ln = Pr,Nd, Sm,Eu, Gd)

A new series of solid solutions Ca_2−xLn_xMnO₄ (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu et Gd) in which manganese is found in both oxidation state of +III and +IV, have a structure derived from that of K₂NiF₄. The cationic distribution in sites of nine-fold coordination is random.     

Boosting Water Oxidation through In Situ Electroconversion of Manganese Gallide: An Intermetallic Precursor Approach

For the first time, the manganese gallide (MnGa₄) served as an intermetallic precursor, which upon in situ electroconversion in alkaline media produced high‐performance and long‐term‐stable MnO_x‐based electrocatalysts for water oxidation. Unexpectedly, its electrocorrosion (with the concomitant loss of Ga) leads simultaneously to three crystalline types of MnO_x minerals with distinct structures and induced defects: birnessite δ‐MnO₂, feitknechtite β‐MnOOH, and hausmannite α‐Mn₃O₄. The abundance and intrinsic stabilization of Mn^III/Mn^IV active sites in the three MnO_x phases explains the superior efficiency and durability of the system for electrocatalytic water oxidation. After electrophoretic deposition of the MnGa₄ precursor on conductive nickel foam (NF), a low overpotential of 291 mV, comparable to that of precious‐metal‐based catalysts, could be achieved at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 with a durability of more than five days.     

Stabilizing Low-Valence Single Atoms by Constructing Metalloid Tungsten Carbide Supports for Efficient Hydrogen Oxidation and Evolution

Designing novel single-atom catalysts (SACs) supports to modulate the electronic structure is crucial to optimize the catalytic activity, but rather challenging. Herein, a general strategy is proposed to utilize the metalloid properties of supports to trap and stabilize single-atoms with low-valence states. A series of single-atoms supported on the surface of tungsten carbide (M-WC_x, M=Ru, Ir, Pd) are rationally developed through a facile pyrolysis method. Benefiting from the metalloid properties of WC_x, the single-atoms exhibit weak coordination with surface W and C atoms, resulting in the formation of low-valence active centers similar to metals. The unique metal-metal interaction effectively stabilizes the low-valence single atoms on the WC_x surface and improves the electronic orbital energy level distribution of the active sites. As expected, the representative Ru-WC_x exhibits superior mass activities of 7.84 and 62.52 A mg_Ru⁻¹ for the hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions (HOR/HER), respectively. In-depth mechanistic analysis demonstrates that an ideal dual-sites cooperative mechanism achieves a suitable adsorption balance of H_ad and OH_ad, resulting in an energetically favorable Volmer step. This work offers new guidance for the precise construction of highly active SACs.     

Galvanic replacement synthesis of AgxAu1–x@CeO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) core@shell nanospheres with greatly enhanced catalytic performance

A galvanic replacement strategy has been successfully adopted to design Ag_xAu_1–x@CeO₂ core@shell nanospheres derived from Ag@CeO₂ ones. After etching using HAuCl₄, the Ag core was in situ replaced with Ag_xAu_1–x alloy nanoframes, and void spaces were left under the CeO₂ shell. Among the as-prepared Ag_xAu_1–x@CeO₂ catalysts, Ag_0.64Au_0.36@CeO₂ shows the optimal catalytic performance, whose catalytic efficiency reaches even 2.5 times higher than our previously reported Pt@CeO₂ nanospheres in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by ammonia borane (AB). Besides, Ag_0.64Au_0.36@CeO₂ also exhibits a much lower 100% conversion temperature of 120 °C for catalytic CO oxidation compared with the other samples.     

Highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution promoted by O–Mo–C interfaces of ultrafine β-Mo2C nanostructures

Optimizing interfacial contacts and thus electron transfer phenomena in heterogeneous electrocatalysts is an effective approach for enhancing electrocatalytic performance. Herein, we successfully synthesized ultrafine β-Mo₂C nanoparticles confined within hollow capsules of nitrogen-doped porous carbon (β-Mo₂C@NPCC) and found that the surface layer of molybdenum atoms was further oxidized to a single Mo–O surface layer, thus producing intimate O–Mo–C interfaces. An arsenal of complementary technologies, including XPS, atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM, and XAS analysis clearly reveals the existence of O–Mo–C interfaces for these surface-engineered ultrafine nanostructures. The β-Mo₂C@NPCC electrocatalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water. Theoretical studies indicate that the highly accessible ultrathin O–Mo–C interfaces serving as the active sites are crucial to the HER performance and underpinned the outstanding electrocatalytic performance of β-Mo₂C@NPCC. This proof-of-concept study opens a new avenue for the fabrication of highly efficient catalysts for HER and other applications, whilst further demonstrating the importance of exposed interfaces and interfacial contacts in efficient electrocatalysis.

Ultrafine β-Mo₂C nanostructures encapsulated in N-doped carbon capsules featuring O–Mo–C interfaces as the active sites for HER have been unveiled.     

Effect of the oxidation state of manganese in the manganese oxides used in the synthesis of Mn-substituted cordierite on the properties of the product

Catalysts based on Mn-substituted cordierite 2MnO · 2Al₂O₃ · 5SiO₂ have been synthesized using different manganese oxides (MnO, Mn₂O₃, and MnO₂) at a calcination temperature of 1100°C. The catalysts differ in their physicochemical properties, namely, phase composition (cordierite content and crystallinity), manganese oxide distribution and dispersion, texture, and activity in high-temperature ammonia oxidation. The synthesis involving MnO yields Mn-substituted cordierite with a defective structure, because greater part of the manganese cations is not incorporated in this structure and is encapsulated and the surface contains a small amount of manganese oxides. This catalyst shows the lowest ammonia oxidation activity. The catalysts prepared using Mn₂O₃ or MnO₂ are well-crystallized Mn-substituted cordierite whose surface contains different amounts of manganese oxides differing in their particle size. They ensure a high nitrogen oxides yield in a wide temperature range. The product yield increases with an increasing surface concentration of Mn³⁺ cations. The highest NO_x yield (about 76% at 800–850°C) is observed for the MnO₂-based catalyst, whose surface contains the largest amount of manganese oxides.     

Development of the bifunctional catalyst Mn-Fe-Beta for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides

The catalytic properties of the Mn-Fe-Beta system with Mn contents in the range 0.1–16 wt.% were studied in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO _x with ammonia. The catalyst structure was investigated using IR spectra of adsorbed NO, temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen (H₂-TPR), X-ray diffraction analysis, and ESR. The use of manganese as a promoter substantially increases the activity of iron-containing catalysts in the SCR of NO _x with ammonia. At low contents (<2 wt.%), Mn exists in the cation form and the catalytic activity of the Mn-Fe-Beta system does not increase. At a higher content of Mn, clusters MnO _x begin to form, which are highly active in the oxidation of NO to NO₂ and the low-temperature catalytic activity of the Mn-Fe-Beta system increases. The observed increase in the low-temperature catalytic activity in the process of SCR of NO _x with ammonia is related to a change in the reaction route. The MnO _x clusters favor the oxidation of NO and the iron cations facilitate the reaction of “fast” SCR.     

MnO2-0.39IrOx复合氧化物用于酸性介质中水氧化反应的性能

通过Adams方法成功制备MnO₂-0.39IrO_x(0.39为Ir/Mn的原子比)催化剂并将其用于酸性介质中高效析氧反应(OER)。电化学测试发现,MnO₂-0.39IrO_x仅需253 mV的过电势即可驱动10 mA·cm^-2的水氧化电流密度,并可稳定运行200 h。在1.50 V(vs RHE)电势下,MnO₂-0.39IrO_x的贵金属Ir的质量活性为61.3 mA·mg^-1,是IrO₂的35.8倍,说明MnO₂掺杂大大提升了贵金属利用率。结构分析发现MnO₂-0.39IrO_x独特的片状结构大幅度提高了催化剂的电化学活性表面积,并且Ir位点与Mn位点之间存在一定的电子相互作用。催化过程分析表明,MnO₂-0.39IrO_x表面出现一定的重构现象,并且Mn组分对Ir位点的化学环境实现了持续优化,从而实现了催化剂的高效酸性OER性能。     

Facilitating the reduction of V–O bonds on VOx/ZrO2 catalysts for non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation

Supported vanadium oxide is a promising catalyst in propane dehydrogenation due to its competitive performance and low cost. Nevertheless, it remains a grand challenge to understand the structure–performance correlation due to the structural complexity of VO_x-based catalysts in a reduced state. This paper describes the structure and catalytic properties of the VO_x/ZrO₂ catalyst. When using ZrO₂ as the support, the catalyst shows six times higher turnover frequency (TOF) than using commercial γ-Al₂O₃. Combining H₂-temperature programmed reduction, in situ Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical studies, we find that the interaction between VO_x and ZrO₂ can facilitate the reduction of V–O bonds, including V O, V–O–V and V–O–Zr. The promoting effect could be attributed to the formation of low coordinated V species in VO_x/ZrO₂ which is more active in C–H activation. Our work provides a new insight into understanding the structure–performance correlation in VO_x-based catalysts for non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation.

Low coordinated VO_x species on ZrO₂ with more reduced V–O bonds leads to improved catalytic activity for propane dehydrogenation.     

Formation of Active Structures in Monolith Copper–Manganese Oxide Catalysts for Air-Heating Devices

Impregnation catalysts based on CuO, MnO_x, and CuO–MnO_x with different Cu/Mn ratios supported on ceramic monoliths of alumina and silica are studied by BET, mercury porosimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, temperature-programmed reduction with H₂, diffuse reflectance electron spectroscopy, and differential dissolution. It is found that, in the butane oxidation reaction, CuO–MnO_x catalysts exert a synergistic effect, which is attributed to the formation of highly defective phases of complex oxides of the nonstoichiometric spinel type with a large number of interparticle boundaries in the near-surface layers of the support.     

Catalytic epoxidation of alkenes over supported manganese oxide with hydrogen peroxide: effect of supports and manganese loading

Manganese oxides supported on γ-Al₂O₃, amorphous SiO₂, MCM-41, and TiO₂ prepared by an impregnation method were used as heterogeneous catalysts for epoxidation of alkenes with 30 % H₂O₂ in the presence of NaHCO₃ aqueous solution. The effect of support and manganese loading on their activity was studied. The 1.3-MnO _x /γ-Al₂O₃ exhibited superior epoxidazing activity of styrene, compared with other supported MnO _x . Hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, UV–vis and ESR analyses suggested that Mn²⁺ (catalytic activity species) dominated in 1.3 % MnO _x /γ-Al₂O₃ due to a strong interaction between MnO _x and γ-Al₂O₃. Recycling studies showed the catalyst was a heterogeneous one and retained its activity after recycling four times.     

锰负载量对活性炭载锰氧化物的结构及催化分解臭氧性能的影响简

将高锰酸钾与活性炭（AC）原位氧化还原制备的活性炭载锰氧化物（MnO_x/AC）用作臭氧分解的催化剂. 采用扫描电镜、X射线光电子能谱、X射线衍射、电子自旋共振波谱、拉曼光谱以及程序升温还原研究了设计Mn负载量对负载锰氧化物性质（形貌、氧化态和晶体结构）的影响. 结果表明,Mn负载量由0.44%增至11%,负载锰氧化物在活性炭表面由疏松的地衣状变为堆叠的纳米球状体,负载层的厚度由~180 nm增加至~710 nm,结构由氧化态+2.9到+3.1的低结晶β-MnOOH生长为由氧化态+3.7到+3.8的δ-MnO₂结晶. MnO_x/AC室温催化分解低浓度臭氧的活性与负载锰氧化物的形貌及含量密切相关. Mn负载量为1.1%的MnO_x/AC具有疏松的地衣状形貌,催化分解臭氧的性能最高,Mn负载量为11%的MnO_x/AC具有紧密的堆积结构,因而表现出最低的催化臭氧分解活性.     

Origin of the N-coordinated single-atom Ni sites in heterogeneous electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction reaction

Heterogeneous Ni–N–C single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted great research interest regarding their capability in facilitating the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), with CO accounting for the major product. However, the fundamental nature of their active Ni sites remains controversial, since the typically proposed pyridinic-type Ni configurations are inactive, display low selectivity, and/or possess an unfavorable formation energy. Herein, we present a constant-potential first-principles and microkinetic model to study the CO₂RR at a solid–water interface, which shows that the electrode potential is crucial for governing CO₂ activation. A formation energy analysis on several NiN_xC_4−x (x = 1–4) moieties indicates that the predominant Ni moieties of Ni–N–C SACs are expected to have a formula of NiN₄. After determining the potential-dependent thermodynamic and kinetic energy of these Ni moieties, we discover that the energetically favorable pyrrolic-type NiN₄ moiety displays high activity for facilitating the selective CO₂RR over the competing H₂ evolution. Moreover, model polarization curves and Tafel analysis results exhibit reasonable agreement with existing experimental data. This work highlights the intrinsic tetrapyrrolic coordination of Ni for facilitating the CO₂RR and offers practical guidance for the rational improvement of SACs, and this model can be expanded to explore mechanisms of other electrocatalysis in aqueous solutions.

A constant-potential first-principles and microkinetic model is developed to uncover the nature of heterogeneous Ni–N–C catalysts. It highlights the crucial role of a pyrrolic-type NiN₄ moiety in electrochemical CO₂ reduction.