Sample records for catalyst x-ray diffraction

  1. Deactivation of Zeolite Catalyst H-ZSM-5 during Conversion of Methanol to Gasoline: Operando Time- and Space-Resolved X-ray Diffraction.

    PubMed

    Rojo-Gama, Daniel; Mentel, Lukasz; Kalantzopoulos, Georgios N; Pappas, Dimitrios K; Dovgaliuk, Iurii; Olsbye, Unni; Lillerud, Karl Petter; Beato, Pablo; Lundegaard, Lars F; Wragg, David S; Svelle, Stian

    2018-03-15

    The deactivation of zeolite catalyst H-ZSM-5 by coking during the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons was monitored by high-energy space- and time-resolved operando X-ray diffraction (XRD) . Space resolution was achieved by continuous scanning along the axial length of a capillary fixed bed reactor with a time resolution of 10 s per scan. Using real structural parameters obtained from XRD, we can track the development of coke at different points in the reactor and link this to a kinetic model to correlate catalyst deactivation with structural changes occurring in the material. The "burning cigar" model of catalyst bed deactivation is directly observed in real time.

  2. Pt and Ru X-ray absorption spectroscopy of PtRu anode catalysts in operating direct methanol fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Stoupin, Stanislav; Chung, Eun-Hyuk; Chattopadhyay, Soma; Segre, Carlo U; Smotkin, Eugene S

    2006-05-25

    In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, ex situ X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray powder diffraction enabled detailed core analysis of phase segregated nanostructured PtRu anode catalysts in an operating direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). No change in the core structures of the phase segregated catalyst was observed as the potential traversed the current onset potential of the DMFC. The methodology was exemplified using a Johnson Matthey unsupported PtRu (1:1) anode catalyst incorporated into a DMFC membrane electrode assembly. During DMFC operation the catalyst is essentially metallic with half of the Ru incorporated into a face-centered cubic (FCC) Pt alloy lattice and the remaining half in an amorphous phase. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis suggests that the FCC lattice is not fully disordered. The EXAFS indicates that the Ru-O bond lengths were significantly shorter than those reported for Ru-O of ruthenium oxides, suggesting that the phases in which the Ru resides in the catalysts are not similar to oxides.

  3. Mild Hydroprocessing with Dispersed Catalyst of Highly Asphaltenic Pitch

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Isquierdo, Fernanda

    Asphaltene are known to have diverse negative impacts on heavy oil extraction and hydroprocessing. This research then, explores the optimal conditions to convert asphaltenes into lighter material using mild conditions of pressure and temperature, and investigates changes in asphaltene structure during hydroprocessing. Feedstock and products were characterized by Simulated Distillation, Microdeasphalting, Sulfur content, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Solid catalysts were analyzed by Themogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Dynamic light scattering. Based on the results obtained from X-ray diffraction and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis a mechanism for the asphaltene hydroprocessing at mild conditions is proposed in which the alky peripheric portion from the original asphaltenes is partially removed during the reaction. The consequence of that process being an increase in the stacking of the aromatics sheets in the remaining asphaltenes. Also, this study investigates different for ultradispersed catalyst compositions, where CoWS, CoMoS, NiWS, FeWS, NiMo/NaHFeSi 2O6 and NaHFeSi2O6 showed a high asphaltene conversion as determined by asphaltene microdeasphalting, FeMoS and NaHFeSi 2O6 presented a high Vacuum Residue as determined by distillation (SIMDIST) analysis conversion, and in terms of sulfur removal CoMoS gave the higher conversion. In addition, all the catalyst tested showed a coke production lower than 1%. Finally, a kinetic study for the pitch hydroprocessing using CoMoS as catalysts gave a global activation energy of 97.3 kJ/mol.

  4. Non-Noble Metal Oxide Catalysts for Methane Catalytic Combustion: Sonochemical Synthesis and Characterisation

    PubMed Central

    Jędrzejczyk, Roman J.; Dziedzicka, Anna; Kuterasiński, Łukasz; Sitarz, Maciej

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to obtain nanocrystalline mixed metal-oxide–ZrO2 catalysts via a sonochemically-induced preparation method. The effect of a stabiliser’s addition on the catalyst parameters was investigated by several characterisation methods including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and µRaman. The sonochemical preparation method allowed us to manufacture the catalysts with uniformly dispersed metal-oxide nanoparticles at the support surface. The catalytic activity was tested in a methane combustion reaction. The activity of the catalysts prepared by the sonochemical method was higher than that of the reference catalysts prepared by the incipient wetness method without ultrasonic irradiation. The cobalt and chromium mixed zirconia catalysts revealed their high activities, which are comparable with those presented in the literature. PMID:28686190

  5. Stages in molecular beam epitaxy growth of GaAs nanowires studied by x-ray diffraction.

    PubMed

    Mariager, Simon O; Lauridsen, Søren L; Sørensen, Claus B; Dohn, Asmus; Willmott, Phillip R; Nygård, Jesper; Feidenhans'l, Robert

    2010-03-19

    GaAs nanowires were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and studied by glancing-angle x-ray diffraction during five different stages of the growth process. An entire forest of randomly positioned epitaxial nanowires was sampled simultaneously and a large variation in the Au-Ga catalyst was found. Au, AuGa, AuGa(2) and the hexagonal beta phase were all identified in several orientations and in similar amounts. The nanowires are shown to consist of regular zinc blende crystal, its twin and the hexagonal wurtzite. The evolution of the various Au-Ga catalysts and the development in the twin to the wurtzite abundance ratio indicate that the Au catalyst is saturated upon initiation of growth leading to an increased amount of wurtzite structure in the wires. A specular x-ray scan identifies the various Au-Ga alloys, three Au lattice constants and a rough interface between nanowires and catalyst. Reciprocal space maps were obtained around Au Bragg points and show the development of the Au catalyst from a distribution largely oriented with respect to the lattice to a non-uniform distribution with several well-defined lattice constants.

  6. A versatile in situ spectroscopic cell for fluorescence/transmission EXAFS and X-ray diffraction of heterogeneous catalysts in gas and liquid phase.

    PubMed

    Hannemann, Stefan; Casapu, Maria; Grunwaldt, Jan Dierk; Haider, Peter; Trüssel, Philippe; Baiker, Alfons; Welter, Edmund

    2007-07-01

    A new spectroscopic cell suitable for the analysis of heterogeneous catalysts by fluorescence EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure), transmission EXAFS and X-ray diffraction during in situ treatments and during catalysis is described. Both gas-phase and liquid-phase reactions can be investigated combined with on-line product analysis performed either by mass spectrometry or infrared spectroscopy. The set-up allows measurements from liquid-nitrogen temperature to 973 K. The catalysts are loaded preferentially as powders, but also as self-supporting wafers. The reaction cell was tested in various case studies demonstrating its flexibility and its wide applicability from model studies at liquid-nitrogen temperature to operando studies under realistic reaction conditions. Examples include structural studies during (i) the reduction of alumina-supported noble metal particles prepared by flame-spray pyrolysis and analysis of alloying in bimetallic noble metal particles (0.1%Pt-0.1%Pd/Al(2)O(3), 0.1%Pt-0.1%Ru/Al(2)O(3), 0.1%Pt-0.1%Rh/Al(2)O(3), 0.1%Au-0.1%Pd/Al(2)O(3)), (ii) reactivation of aged 0.8%Pt-16%BaO-CeO(2) NO(x) storage-reduction catalysts including the NO(x) storage/reduction cycle, and (iii) alcohol oxidation over gold catalysts (0.6%Au-20%CuO-CeO(2)).

  7. Reactor for nano-focused x-ray diffraction and imaging under catalytic in situ conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Richard, M.-I.; Fernández, S.; Hofmann, J. P.; Gao, L.; Chahine, G. A.; Leake, S. J.; Djazouli, H.; De Bortoli, Y.; Petit, L.; Boesecke, P.; Labat, S.; Hensen, E. J. M.; Thomas, O.; Schülli, T.

    2017-09-01

    A reactor cell for in situ studies of individual catalyst nanoparticles or surfaces by nano-focused (coherent) x-ray diffraction has been developed. Catalytic reactions can be studied in flow mode in a pressure range of 10-2-103 mbar and temperatures up to 900 °C. This instrument bridges the pressure and materials gap at the same time within one experimental setup. It allows us to probe in situ the structure (e.g., shape, size, strain, faceting, composition, and defects) of individual nanoparticles using a nano-focused x-ray beam. Here, the setup was used to observe strain and facet evolution of individual model Pt catalysts during in situ experiments. It can be used for heating other (non-catalytically active) nanoparticles (e.g., nanowires) in inert or reactive gas atmospheres or vacuum as well.

  8. Reactor for nano-focused x-ray diffraction and imaging under catalytic in situ conditions.

    PubMed

    Richard, M-I; Fernández, S; Hofmann, J P; Gao, L; Chahine, G A; Leake, S J; Djazouli, H; De Bortoli, Y; Petit, L; Boesecke, P; Labat, S; Hensen, E J M; Thomas, O; Schülli, T

    2017-09-01

    A reactor cell for in situ studies of individual catalyst nanoparticles or surfaces by nano-focused (coherent) x-ray diffraction has been developed. Catalytic reactions can be studied in flow mode in a pressure range of 10 -2 -10 3 mbar and temperatures up to 900 °C. This instrument bridges the pressure and materials gap at the same time within one experimental setup. It allows us to probe in situ the structure (e.g., shape, size, strain, faceting, composition, and defects) of individual nanoparticles using a nano-focused x-ray beam. Here, the setup was used to observe strain and facet evolution of individual model Pt catalysts during in situ experiments. It can be used for heating other (non-catalytically active) nanoparticles (e.g., nanowires) in inert or reactive gas atmospheres or vacuum as well.

  9. Comparison of iridium- and ruthenium-based, Pt-surface-enriched, nanosize catalysts for the oxygen-reduction reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaplan, D.; Goor, M.; Alon, M.; Tsizin, S.; Burstein, L.; Rosenberg, Y.; Popov, I.; Peled, E.

    2016-02-01

    Pt-surface-enriched nanosize catalysts (Pt-SENS catalysts) with ruthenium and iridium cores, supported on XC72, were synthesized and characterized. The structure and composition of the catalysts are determined by Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical characterization tests, including oxygen-reduction-catalysis activity and durability studies of catalysts are performed with the use of cyclic-voltammetry and rotating-disk-electrode (RDE) techniques at room temperature. The ORR activity of the homemade catalysts is also compared to ORR activity of commercial 50%Pt/C catalyst. It is determined that the Ir-based catalyst (Pt/Ir/XC72) shows higher ORR activity in terms of A g-1 of Pt (at 0.85 V vs. RHE) than the Ru-based catalyst (Pt/Ru/XC72) and the commercial 50%Pt/C. The Ru-based catalyst shows similar ORR activity in terms of A g-1 of Pt, to that of the commercial 50%Pt/C, but with much lower durability.

  10. Hard and soft X-ray microscopy and tomography in catalysis: bridging the different time and length scales.

    PubMed

    Grunwaldt, Jan-Dierk; Schroer, Christian G

    2010-12-01

    X-ray microscopic techniques are excellent and presently emerging techniques for chemical imaging of heterogeneous catalysts. Spatially resolved studies in heterogeneous catalysis require the understanding of both the macro and the microstructure, since both have decisive influence on the final performance of the industrially applied catalysts. A particularly important aspect is the study of the catalysts during their preparation, activation and under operating conditions, where X-rays have an inherent advantage due to their good penetration length especially in the hard X-ray regime. Whereas reaction cell design for hard X-rays is straightforward, recently smart in situ cells have also been reported for the soft X-ray regime. In the first part of the tutorial review, the constraints from a catalysis view are outlined, then the scanning and full-field X-ray microscopy as well as coherent X-ray diffraction imaging techniques are described together with the challenging design of suitable environmental cells. Selected examples demonstrate the application of X-ray microscopy and tomography to monitor structural gradients in catalytic reactors and catalyst preparation with micrometre resolution but also the possibility to follow structural changes in the sub-100 nm regime. Moreover, the potential of the new synchrotron radiation sources with higher brilliance, recent milestones in focusing of hard X-rays as well as spatiotemporal studies are highlighted. The tutorial review concludes with a view on future developments in the field of X-ray microscopy that will have strong impact on the understanding of catalysts in the future and should be combined with in situ electron microscopic studies on the nanoscale and other spectroscopic studies like microRaman, microIR and microUV-vis on the macroscale.

  11. Alkali-Resistant Mechanism of a Hollandite DeNOx Catalyst.

    PubMed

    Hu, Pingping; Huang, Zhiwei; Gu, Xiao; Xu, Fei; Gao, Jiayi; Wang, Yue; Chen, Yaxin; Tang, Xingfu

    2015-06-02

    A thorough understanding of the deactivation mechanism by alkalis is of great importance for rationally designing improved alkali-resistant deNOx catalysts, but a traditional ion-exchange mechanism cannot often accurately describe the nature of the deactivation, thus hampering the development of superior catalysts. Here, we establish a new exchange-coordination mechanism on the basis of the exhaustive study on the strong alkali resistance of a hollandite manganese oxide (HMO) catalyst. A combination of isothermal adsorption measurements of ammonia with X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra reveals that alkali metal ions first react with protons from Brønsted acid sites of HMO via the ion exchange. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction patterns and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra coupled with theoretical calculations demonstrate that the exchanged alkali metal ions are subsequently stabilized at size-suitable cavities in the HMO pores via a coordination model with an energy savings. This exchange-coordination mechanism not only gives a wholly convincing explanation for the intrinsic nature of the deactivation of the reported catalysts by alkalis but also provides a strategy for rationally designing improved alkali-resistant deNOx catalysts in general.

  12. Synthesis of boron nitride nanostructures from catalyst of iron compounds via thermal chemical vapor deposition technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    da Silva, Wellington M.; Ribeiro, Hélio; Ferreira, Tiago H.; Ladeira, Luiz O.; Sousa, Edésia M. B.

    2017-05-01

    For the first time, patterned growth of boron nitride nanostructures (BNNs) is achieved by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) technique at 1150 °C using a mixture of FeS/Fe2O3 catalyst supported in alumina nanostructured, boron amorphous and ammonia (NH3) as reagent gas. This innovative catalyst was synthesized in our laboratory and systematically characterized. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction profile of the synthesized catalyst indicates the coexistence of three different crystal structures showing the presence of a cubic structure of iron oxide and iron sulfide besides the gamma alumina (γ) phase. The results show that boron nitride bamboo-like nanotubes (BNNTs) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets were successfully synthesized. Furthermore, the important contribution of this work is the manufacture of BNNs from FeS/Fe2O3 mixture.

  13. Studies on KIT-6 Supported Cobalt Catalyst for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gnanamani, M.; Jacobs, G; Graham, U

    2010-01-01

    KIT-6 molecular sieve was used as a support to prepare cobalt catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) using an incipient wetness impregnation method to produce cobalt loadings of 15 and 25 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission election microscopy (STEM), extended X-ray absorption fine spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. The catalytic properties for FTS were evaluated using a 1L CSTR reactor. XRD, pore size distribution, and STEM analysis indicate that the KIT-6 mesostructure remains stable during and after cobalt impregnation and tends to form smaller cobalt particles, probably located inside the mesopores.more » The mesoporous KIT-6 exhibited a slightly higher cobalt dispersion compared to amorphous SiO{sub 2} supported catalyst. With the higher Co loading (25 wt%) on KIT-6, partial structural collapse was observed after the FTS reaction. Compared to an amorphous SiO{sub 2} supported cobalt catalyst, KIT-6 supported cobalt catalyst displayed higher methane selectivity at a similar Co loading, likely due to diffusion effects.« less

  14. Novel anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Basri, S; Kamarudin, S K; Daud, W R W; Yaakob, Z; Kadhum, A A H

    2014-01-01

    PtRu catalyst is a promising anodic catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) but the slow reaction kinetics reduce the performance of DMFCs. Therefore, this study attempts to improve the performance of PtRu catalysts by adding nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe). Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used to increase the active area of the catalyst and to improve the catalyst performance. Electrochemical analysis techniques, such as energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), are used to characterize the kinetic parameters of the hybrid catalyst. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is used to investigate the effects of adding Fe and Ni to the catalyst on the reaction kinetics. Additionally, chronoamperometry (CA) tests were conducted to study the long-term performance of the catalyst for catalyzing the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The binding energies of the reactants and products are compared to determine the kinetics and potential surface energy for methanol oxidation. The FESEM analysis results indicate that well-dispersed nanoscale (2-5 nm) PtRu particles are formed on the MWCNTs. Finally, PtRuFeNi/MWCNT improves the reaction kinetics of anode catalysts for DMFCs and obtains a mass current of 31 A g(-1) catalyst.

  15. Novel Anode Catalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

    PubMed Central

    Basri, S.; Kamarudin, S. K.; Daud, W. R. W.; Yaakob, Z.; Kadhum, A. A. H.

    2014-01-01

    PtRu catalyst is a promising anodic catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) but the slow reaction kinetics reduce the performance of DMFCs. Therefore, this study attempts to improve the performance of PtRu catalysts by adding nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe). Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used to increase the active area of the catalyst and to improve the catalyst performance. Electrochemical analysis techniques, such as energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), are used to characterize the kinetic parameters of the hybrid catalyst. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is used to investigate the effects of adding Fe and Ni to the catalyst on the reaction kinetics. Additionally, chronoamperometry (CA) tests were conducted to study the long-term performance of the catalyst for catalyzing the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The binding energies of the reactants and products are compared to determine the kinetics and potential surface energy for methanol oxidation. The FESEM analysis results indicate that well-dispersed nanoscale (2–5 nm) PtRu particles are formed on the MWCNTs. Finally, PtRuFeNi/MWCNT improves the reaction kinetics of anode catalysts for DMFCs and obtains a mass current of 31 A g−1 catalyst. PMID:24883406

  16. Molecularly Designed Ultrafine/Nanostructured Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-04-08

    Ti. UdIOVic. R R, Cananaeh. /iXn. S. Kawi, T. Mure, and B1 C Gates STUDIIES OF- NANOSTRUCTURED M50 TYPE STEEL USING X - RAY AB3SORPTION SPFECTROSCOPY...hydrogenation of titanium or zirconium sponges and related systems and as a powerful activator for heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts. X - ray ... X - ray diffraction). Quantitave measurements of the gas evolved during the reduction (1 mol H2 per mol Ti), protonolysis and cross experiments using K

  17. Calcium Oxide Derived from Waste Shells of Mussel, Cockle, and Scallop as the Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Production

    PubMed Central

    Chaiyut, Nattawut; Worawanitchaphong, Phatsakon

    2013-01-01

    The waste shell was utilized as a bioresource of calcium oxide (CaO) in catalyzing a transesterification to produce biodiesel (methyl ester). The economic and environmen-friendly catalysts were prepared by a calcination method at 700–1,000°C for 4 h. The heterogeneous catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The effects of reaction variables such as reaction time, reaction temperature, methanol/oil molar ratio, and catalyst loading on the yield of biodiesel were investigated. Reusability of waste shell catalyst was also examined. The results indicated that the CaO catalysts derived from waste shell showed good reusability and had high potential to be used as biodiesel production catalysts in transesterification of palm oil with methanol. PMID:24453854

  18. Electrochemical characterization of nano-sized Pd-based catalysts as cathode materials in direct methanol fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Choi, M; Han, C; Kim, I T; An, J C; Lee, J J; Lee, H K; Shim, J

    2011-01-01

    To improve the catalytic activity of palladium (Pd) as a cathode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), we prepared palladium-titanium oxide (Pd-TiO2) catalysts which the Pd and TiO2 nanoparticles were simultaneously impregnated on carbon. We selected Pd and TiO2 as catalytic materials because of their electrochemical stability in acid solution. The crystal structure and the loading amount of Pd and TiO2 on carbon were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The electrochemical characterization of Pd-TiO2/C catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction was carried out in half and single cell systems. The catalytic activities of the Pd-TiO2 catalysts were strongly influenced by the TiO2 content. In the single cell test, the Pd-TiO2 catalysts showed very comparable performance to the Pt catalyst.

  19. CaO Nanocatalyst for Transesterification Reaction of Palm Oil to Biodiesel: Effect of Precursor’s Concentration on the Catalyst Behavior

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hassan, N.; Ismail, K. N.; Hamid, K. H. Ku; Hadi, Abdul

    2018-05-01

    Depletion of fossil fuel sources in a few decades due to industrialization and motorization has led to a keen interest in the production of alternative fuels like biodiesel. Research on the development and improvement of more efficient transesterification process for biodiesel production has attain great attention in the last decade. The using of low cost catalyst is one of the main focuses on the biodiesel production. As a basic heterogeneous catalyst, CaO has been examined in the transesterification of vegetable oils for biodiesel production. In this research, calcium oxide (CaO-X) catalysts were prepared by sol-gel method at different Ca2+ precursor concentration (X = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 M). The crystalline structure and morphology of the synthesized catalysts were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. All the synthesized catalysts were then applied to transesterification reaction of palm oil to produce biodiesel. The characterization by x-ray diffraction demonstrate CaO-1.0 was partially hydrated due to the incomplete reaction during synthesis. As a matter of fact, formation of H2O on the surface of CaO causes lower basic strength of the catalysts, thus responsible in lowering the catalytic activity. It is demonstrated that CaO-2.0 exhibits mesoporous structure with least chemisorb amount of H2O on the catalysts surface has a very active catalytic activity. It was found that 2.0M of calcium precursor has high catalytic activity and 81% FAME yield was obtained within 3h reaction.

  20. Co-Pt core-shell nanostructured catalyst prepared by selective chemical vapor pulse deposition of Pt on Co as a cathode in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Seo, Sang-Joon; Chung, Ho-Kyoon; Yoo, Ji-Beom

    2014-01-15

    A new type of PtCo/C catalyst for use as a cathode in polymer electrolyte fuel cells was prepared by selective chemical vapor pulse deposition (CVPD) of Pt on the surface of Co. The activity of the prepared catalyst for oxygen reduction was higher than that of a catalyst prepared by sequential impregnation (IMP) with the two metallic components. This catalytic activity difference occurs because the former catalyst has smaller Pt crystallites that produce stronger Pt-Co interactions and have a larger Pt surface area. Consequently, the CVPD catalyst has a great number of Co particles that are in close contact withmore » the added Pt. The Pt surface was also electronically modified by interactions with Co, which were stronger in the CVPD catalyst than in the IMP catalyst, as indicated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry measurements of the catalysts.« less

  1. Pt deposited TiO2 catalyst fabricated by thermal decomposition of titanium complex for solar hydrogen production

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Truong, Quang Duc; Le, Thanh Son; Ling, Yong-Chien

    2014-12-01

    C, N codoped TiO2 catalyst has been synthesized by thermal decomposition of a novel water-soluble titanium complex. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of the synthesized TiO2 catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the Pt deposited TiO2 catalysts synthesized at different temperatures was evaluated by means of hydrogen evolution reaction under both UV-vis and visible light irradiation. The investigation results reveal that the photocatalytic H2 evolution rate strongly depended on the crystalline grain size as well as specific surface area of the synthesized catalyst. Our studies successfully demonstrate a simple method for the synthesis of visible-light responsive Pt deposited TiO2 catalyst for solar hydrogen production.

  2. Facile approach to prepare Pt decorated SWNT/graphene hybrid catalytic ink

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mayavan, Sundar, E-mail: sundarmayavan@cecri.res.in; Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-701; Mandalam, Aditya

    Highlights: • Pt NPs were in situ synthesized onto CNT–graphene support in aqueous solution. • The as-prepared material was used directly as a catalyst ink without further treatment. • Catalyst ink is active toward methanol oxidation. • This approach realizes both scalable and greener production of hybrid catalysts. - Abstract: Platinum nanoparticles were in situ synthesized onto hybrid support involving graphene and single walled carbon nanotube in aqueous solution. We investigate the reduction of graphene oxide, and platinum nanoparticle functionalization on hybrid support by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The as-preparedmore » platinum on hybrid support was used directly as a catalyst ink without further treatment and is active toward methanol oxidation. This work realizes both scalable and greener production of highly efficient hybrid catalysts, and would be valuable for practical applications of graphene based fuel cell catalysts.« less

  3. Mössbauer study of modified iron-molybdenum catalysts for methanol oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ivanov, K. I.; Mitov, I. G.; Krustev, St. V.; Boyanov, B. S.

    2010-03-01

    The preparation and catalytic properties of mixed Fe-Mo-W catalysts toward methanol oxidation are investigated. Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and chemical studies revealed the formation of two types of solid solutions with compositions Fe2(MoxW1-xO4)3 and (MoxW1-x)O3. The solid solutions formed are characterized by high activity and selectivity upon methanol oxidation and are of interest in view of their practical application. Sodium-doped iron-molybdenum catalysts are also investigated and the NaFe(MoO4)2 formation was established.

  4. Self catalytic growth of indium oxide (In2O3) nanowires by resistive thermal evaporation.

    PubMed

    Kumar, R Rakesh; Rao, K Narasimha; Rajanna, K; Phani, A R

    2014-07-01

    Self catalytic growth of Indium Oxide (In2O3) nanowires (NWs) have been grown by resistive thermal evaporation of Indium (In) in the presence of oxygen without use of any additional metal catalyst. Nanowires growth took place at low substrate temperature of 370-420 degrees C at an applied current of 180-200 A to the evaporation boat. Morphology, microstructures, and compositional studies of the grown nanowires were performed by employing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) respectively. Nanowires were uniformly grown over the entire Si substrate and each of the nanowire is capped with a catalyst particle at their end. X-ray diffraction study reveals the crystalline nature of the grown nanowires. Transmission electron microscopy study on the nanowires further confirmed the single crystalline nature of the nanowires. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis on the nanowires and capped nanoparticle confirmed that Indium act as catalyst for In2O3 nanowires growth. A self catalytic Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) growth mechanism was responsible for the growth of In2O3 nanowires. Effect of oxygen partial pressure variation and variation of applied currents to the evaporation boat on the nanowires growth was systematically studied. These studies concluded that at oxygen partial pressure in the range of 4 x 10(-4), 6 x 10(-4) mbar at applied currents to the evaporation boat of 180-200 A were the best conditions for good nanowires growth. Finally, we observed another mode of VLS growth along with the standard VLS growth mode for In2O3 nanowires similar to the growth mechanism reported for GaAs nanowires.

  5. Controlling Catalyst Bulk Reservoir Effects for Monolayer Hexagonal Boron Nitride CVD.

    PubMed

    Caneva, Sabina; Weatherup, Robert S; Bayer, Bernhard C; Blume, Raoul; Cabrero-Vilatela, Andrea; Braeuninger-Weimer, Philipp; Martin, Marie-Blandine; Wang, Ruizhi; Baehtz, Carsten; Schloegl, Robert; Meyer, Jannik C; Hofmann, Stephan

    2016-02-10

    Highly controlled Fe-catalyzed growth of monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) films is demonstrated by the dissolution of nitrogen into the catalyst bulk via NH3 exposure prior to the actual growth step. This "pre-filling" of the catalyst bulk reservoir allows us to control and limit the uptake of B and N species during borazine exposure and thereby to control the incubation time and h-BN growth kinetics while also limiting the contribution of uncontrolled precipitation-driven h-BN growth during cooling. Using in situ X-ray diffraction and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with systematic growth calibrations, we develop an understanding and framework for engineering the catalyst bulk reservoir to optimize the growth process, which is also relevant to other 2D materials and their heterostructures.

  6. One-pot catalytic conversion of cellulose into polyols with Pt/CNTs catalysts.

    PubMed

    Yang, Li; Yan, Xiaopei; Wang, Qiwu; Wang, Qiong; Xia, Haian

    2015-03-02

    A series of Pt nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized using the incipient-wetness impregnation method. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques. The characterization results indicate that the Pt nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of the CNTs, and the mean size was less than 5 nm. These catalysts were utilized to convert cellulose to hexitol, ethylene glycerol (EG), and 1,2-propylene glycol (1,2-PG) under low H2 pressure. The total yields were as high as 71.4% for EG and 1,2-PG using 1Pt/CNTs as the catalyst in the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose under mild reaction conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Insights into the dominant factors of porous gold for CO oxidation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kameoka, Satoshi, E-mail: kameoka@tagen.tohoku.ac.jp; Miyamoto, Kanji; Tanabe, Toyokazu

    2016-01-21

    Three different porous Au catalysts that exhibit high catalytic activity for CO oxidation were prepared by the leaching of Al from an intermetallic compound, Al{sub 2}Au, with 10 wt. %-NaOH, HNO{sub 3}, or HCl aqueous solutions. The catalysts were investigated using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Broad diffraction peaks generated during the leaching process correlated with high activity for all the porous Au catalysts. CO oxidation catalyzed by porous Au leached with NaOH and HNO{sub 3} is considered to be dominated by different mechanisms atmore » low (< 320 K) and high (> 370 K) temperatures. Activity in the low-temperature region is mainly attributed to the perimeter interface between residual Al species (AlO{sub x}) and porous Au, whereas activity in the high-temperature region results from a high density of lattice defects such as twins and dislocations, which were evident from diffraction peak broadening and were observed with high-resolution TEM in the porous Au leached with NaOH. It is proposed that atoms located at lattice defects on the surfaces of porous Au are the active sites for catalytic reactions.« less

  8. New Ni-based quaternary disk-shaped catalysts for low-temperature CO2 methanation: Fabrication, characterization, and performance.

    PubMed

    Moon, Dea Hyun; Lee, Sang Moon; Ahn, Jeong Yoon; Nguyen, Dinh Duc; Kim, Sung Su; Chang, Soon Woong

    2018-07-15

    Ni-based quaternary disk catalysts were manufactured for low-temperature CO 2 methanation reactions, and the reaction activity was examined with respect to the thermal treatment conditions. By applying varying reduction and combustion treatments, the same catalysts were compared, and the Ni oxidation conditions and physical features were confirmed through X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analyses. In addition, oxygen adsorption/desorption changes were measured by temperature-programmed reduction after pre-treating with oxygen and hydrogen. The reduction treatment catalyst showed a conversion of 20% at 280 °C, and the 70% calcined catalyst did not form a NiO crystalloid. The activation of the catalyst increased because of NiO movement on the catalyst surface, which enabled easy transformation to metallic Ni. The prepared catalyst is a highly reactive, yet stable, candidate for practical catalytic CO 2 methanation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Enhancement of Electrode Stability Using Platinum-Cobalt Nanocrystals on a Novel Composite SiCTiC Support.

    PubMed

    Millán, María; Zamora, Héctor; Rodrigo, Manuel A; Lobato, Justo

    2017-02-22

    PtCo alloy catalysts for high temperature PEMFCs (protonic exchange membrane fuel cells) were synthesized on a novel noncarbonaceous support (SiCTiC) using the impregnation method with NaBH 4 as the reducing agent at different synthesis temperatures to evaluate the effect of this variable on their physicochemical and electrochemical properties. The catalysts were characterized by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray,and temperature-programmed reduction. In addition, the electrochemical characterization (i.e., cyclic voltammetry, oxygen reduction reaction, and chronoamperometry) was carried out with a rotating disk electrode. For the cyclic voltammetry investigation, 400 cycles were performed in hot phosphoric acid and a half-cell to evaluate the stability of the synthesized catalysts. The catalyst synthesized on SiCTiC exhibited excellent durability compared to the catalyst synthesized on a Vulcan support. In addition, all synthesized catalysts exhibited better catalytic activity than that of the PtCo/C catalysts. The best results were observed for the catalyst synthesized at 80 °C due to its shorter Pt-Pt nearest-neighbor and higher alloy degree. Finally, a preliminary stability test was conducted in an HT-PEMFC, and promising results in terms of stability and performance were observed.

  10. Monomolecular Siloxane Film as a Model of Single Site Catalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Martynowycz, Michael W.; Hu, Bo; Kuzmenko, Ivan; ...

    2016-09-06

    Achieving structurally well-defined catalytic species requires a fundamental understanding of surface chemistry. Detailed structural characterization of the catalyst binding sites in situ, such as single site catalysts on silica supports, is technically challenging or even unattainable. Octadecyltrioxysilane (OTOS) monolayers formed from octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) at the air-liquid interface after hydrolysis and condensation at low pH were chosen as a model system of surface binding sites in silica-supported Zn 2+ catalysts. We characterize the system by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity (XR), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XFS). Previous X-ray and infrared surface studies of OTMS/OTOS films at the airliquid interface proposedmore » the formation of polymer OTOS structures. According to our analysis, polymer formation is inconsistent with the X-ray observations and structural properties of siloxanes; it is energetically unfavorable and thus highly unlikely. We suggest an alternative mechanism of hydrolysis/condensation in OTMS leading to the formation of structurally allowed cyclic trimers with the six-membered siloxane rings, which explain well both the X-ray and infrared results. XR and XFS consistently demonstrate that tetrahedral [Zn(NH 3) 4] 2+ ions bind to hydroxyl groups of the film at a stoichiometric ratio of OTOS:Zn ~ 2:1. The high binding affinity of zinc ions to OTOS trimers suggests that the six-membered siloxane rings are binding locations for single site Zn/SiO 2 catalysts. Finally, our results show that OTOS monolayers may serve as a platform for studying silica surface chemistry or hydroxyl-mediated reactions.« less

  11. Characterization of double oxide system Cu-Cr-O supported on γ-Al2O3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cherkezova-Zheleva, Z.; Kolev, H.; Krstić, J.; Dimitrov, D.; Ivanov, K.; Loncarević, D.; Jovanović, D.; Mitov, I.

    2009-09-01

    Series of alumina supported chromium-copper catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Dispersion and porosity was also obtained. The experimental and catalytic test results have drawn a conclusion that an interaction between copper and chromium ions takes place. This interaction is responsible for the enhanced catalytic activity of studied catalysts in reaction of total oxidation of industrial formaldehyde production exhaust gas, which contains CO, dimethyl ether and methanol as main components.

  12. Composition and structure of pyrophoric nickel catalysts according to X-ray diffraction data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osadchaya, T. Yu.; Afineevskii, A. V.; Prozorov, D. A.; Kochetkov, S. P.; Rumyantsev, R. N.; Lukin, M. V.

    2017-01-01

    The properties of a nickel catalyst obtained by treatment of nickel-aluminum alloy with sodium hydroxide in the presence of H2O2 and additionally stabilized with increased pressure were studied. Additional stabilization decreased the catalyst activity by 25%, but gave a more distinct picture for an XRD analysis of the active catalyst surface and decreased the time of deactivation of the dehydrated catalyst with air oxygen. The catalyst stabilization was explained by the displacement of water, decrease in the pore size, and surface inhomogeneity.

  13. Ru-assisted synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites with high activity for ethanol electrooxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Ke; Bin, Duan; Yang, Beibei; Wang, Caiqin; Ren, Fangfang; Du, Yukou

    2015-07-01

    Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of a highly branched noble metal, the controllable synthesis has attracted much attention. This article reports the synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites by a facile method using an oil bath in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, potassium bromide and ascorbic acid. The morphology, structure, and composition of the as-prepared catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the electrochemical measurement, the as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 bimetallic nanodendrites provide a large electrochemically active surface area and exhibit high peak current density in the forward scan toward ethanol electrooxidation, which is nearly four times higher than those of a pure Pd catalyst. The as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 catalysts also exhibit significantly enhanced cycling stability toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium, which are mainly ascribed to the synergetic effect between Pd and Ru. This indicates that the Pd7/Ru1 catalysts should have great potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells.Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of a highly branched noble metal, the controllable synthesis has attracted much attention. This article reports the synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites by a facile method using an oil bath in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, potassium bromide and ascorbic acid. The morphology, structure, and composition of the as-prepared catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the electrochemical measurement, the as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 bimetallic nanodendrites provide a large electrochemically active surface area and exhibit high peak current density in the forward scan toward ethanol electrooxidation, which is nearly four times higher than those of a pure Pd catalyst. The as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 catalysts also exhibit significantly enhanced cycling stability toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium, which are mainly ascribed to the synergetic effect between Pd and Ru. This indicates that the Pd7/Ru1 catalysts should have great potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr02713f

  14. Zirconium and silver co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles as visible light catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol, degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naraginti, Saraschandra; Stephen, Finian Bernard; Radhakrishnan, Adhithya; Sivakumar, A.

    2015-01-01

    Catalytic activity of Zr and Ag co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange was studied using sodium borohydride as reducing agent. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The rate of the reduction/degradation was found to increase with increasing amount of the photocatalyst which could be attributed to higher dispersity and small size of the nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of Zr and Ag co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles showed no significant difference even after recycling the catalyst four times indicating a promising potential for industrial application of the prepared photocatalyst.

  15. Identification of a Catalytically Highly Active Surface Phase for CO Oxidation over PtRh Nanoparticles under Operando Reaction Conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hejral, U.; Franz, D.; Volkov, S.; Francoual, S.; Strempfer, J.; Stierle, A.

    2018-03-01

    Pt-Rh alloy nanoparticles on oxide supports are widely employed in heterogeneous catalysis with applications ranging from automotive exhaust control to energy conversion. To improve catalyst performance, an atomic-scale correlation of the nanoparticle surface structure with its catalytic activity under industrially relevant operando conditions is essential. Here, we present x-ray diffraction data sensitive to the nanoparticle surface structure combined with in situ mass spectrometry during near ambient pressure CO oxidation. We identify the formation of ultrathin surface oxides by detecting x-ray diffraction signals from particular nanoparticle facets and correlate their evolution with the sample's enhanced catalytic activity. Our approach opens the door for an in-depth characterization of well-defined, oxide-supported nanoparticle based catalysts under operando conditions with unprecedented atomic-scale resolution.

  16. Synthesis of zirconia (ZrO2) nanowires via chemical vapor deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baek, M. K.; Park, S. J.; Choi, D. J.

    2017-02-01

    Monoclinic zirconia nanowires were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using ZrCl4 powder as a starting material at 1200 °C and 760 Torr. Graphite was employed as a substrate, and an Au thin film was pre-deposited on the graphite as a catalyst. The zirconia nanostructure morphology was observed through scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Based on X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy data, the resulting crystal structure was found to be single crystalline monoclinic zirconia. The homogeneous distributions of Zr, O and Au were studied by scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping, and there was no metal droplet at the nanowire tips despite the use of an Au metal catalyst. This result is apart from that of conventional metal catalyzed nanowires.

  17. Self-Supported Copper Oxide Electrocatalyst for Water Oxidation at Low Overpotential and Confirmation of Its Robustness by Cu K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liu, Xiang; Cui, Shengsheng; Sun, Zijun

    Developing efficient water oxidation catalysts made of earth-abundant elements is a demanding challenge that should be met to fulfill the promise of water splitting for clean energy. Herein we report an annealing approach to synthesize binder-free, self-supported heterogeneous copper oxide (CuO) on conductive electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), producing electrodes with excellent electrocatalytic properties such as high efficiency, low overpotential, and good stability. The catalysts were grown in situ on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) by electrodeposition from a simple Cu(II) salt solution, followed by annealing at a high temperature. Under optimal conditions, the CuO-based OER catalyst shows an onsetmore » potential of <0.58 V (vs Ag/AgCl) in 1.0 M KOH at pH 13.6. From the Tafel plot, the required overpotentials for current densities of 0.1 and 1.0 mA/cm2 are only 360 and 430 mV, respectively. The structure and the presence of a CuO motif in the catalyst have been identified by high-energy X-ray diffraction (HE-XRD), Cu K-edge X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra including X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). To the best of our knowledge, this represents the best catalytic activity for CuO-based OER catalysts to date.« less

  18. Preparation of Supported Palladium Catalysts using Deep Eutectic Solvents.

    PubMed

    Iwanow, Melanie; Finkelmeyer, Jasmin; Söldner, Anika; Kaiser, Manuela; Gärtner, Tobias; Sieber, Volker; König, Burkhard

    2017-09-12

    Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) dissolve metal salts or oxides and are used as solvent and carbon source for the preparation of supported palladium catalysts. After dissolving of the palladium salt in the DES, the pyrolysis of the mixture under nitrogen atmosphere yields catalytically active palladium on supporting material composed of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen (CNO) by a simple single step preparation method without further activation. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and CHNS/O elementary analysis. The amount of functional groups on the surface of the supporting material was determined by Boehm titrations. Moreover, the activity of the prepared catalysts was evaluated in the hydrogenation of linear alkenes and compared with a commercial Pd/C catalyst. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. Preparation of Ru-doped SnO2-supported Pt catalysts and their electrocatalytic properties for methanol oxidation.

    PubMed

    Pang, H L; Zhang, X H; Zhong, X X; Liu, B; Wei, X G; Kuang, Y F; Chen, J H

    2008-03-01

    Ru-doped SnO2 nanoparticles were prepared by chemical precipitation and calcinations at 823 K. Due to high stability in diluted acidic solution, Ru-doped SnO2 nanoparticles were selected as the catalyst support and second catalyst for methanol electrooxidation. The micrograph, elemental composition, and structure of the Ru-doped SnO2 nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The electrocatalytic properties of the Ru-doped SnO2-supported Pt catalyst (Pt/Ru-doped SnO2) for methanol oxidation have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Under the same loading mass of Pt, the Pt/Ru-doped SnO2 catalyst shows better electrocatalytic performance than the Pt/SnO2 catalyst and the best atomic ratio of Ru to Sn in Ru-doped SnO2 is 1/75. Additionally, the Pt/Ru-doped SnO2 catalyst possesses good long-term cycle stability.

  20. Effect of Ni Core Structure on the Electrocatalytic Activity of Pt-Ni/C in Methanol Oxidation

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Jian; Wang, Rongfang; Wang, Hui; Liao, Shijun; Key, Julian; Linkov, Vladimir; Ji, Shan

    2013-01-01

    Methanol oxidation catalysts comprising an outer Pt-shell with an inner Ni-core supported on carbon, (Pt-Ni/C), were prepared with either crystalline or amorphous Ni core structures. Structural comparisons of the two forms of catalyst were made using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and methanol oxidation activity compared using CV and chronoamperometry (CA). While both the amorphous Ni core and crystalline Ni core structures were covered by similar Pt shell thickness and structure, the Pt-Ni(amorphous)/C catalyst had higher methanol oxidation activity. The amorphous Ni core thus offers improved Pt usage efficiency in direct methanol fuel cells. PMID:28811402

  1. Effects of Sulfation Level on the Desulfation Behavior of Presulfated Pt-BaO/Al2O3 Lean NOx Trap Catalysts: A Combined H2 Temperature-Programmed Reaction, in Situ Sulfur K-Edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction Study

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kim, D.H.; Hanson, J.; Szanyi, J.

    2009-04-30

    Desulfation by hydrogen of presulfated Pt (2 wt %)-BaO(20 wt %)/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} with various sulfur loading (S/Ba = 0.12, 0.31, and 0.62) were investigated by combining H{sub 2} temperature programmed reaction (TPRX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in situ sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), and synchrotron time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD) techniques. We find that the amount of H{sub 2}S desorbed during the desulfation in the H{sub 2} TPRX experiments is not proportional to the amount of initial sulfur loading. The results of both in situ sulfur K-edge XANES and TR-XRD show that at low sulfur loadings, sulfates weremore » transformed to a BaS phase and remained in the catalyst rather than being removed as H{sub 2}S. On the other hand, when the deposited sulfur level exceeded a certain threshold (at least S/Ba = 0.31) sulfates were reduced to form H{sub 2}S, and the relative amount of the residual sulfide species in the catalyst was much less than at low sulfur loading. Unlike samples with high sulfur loading (e.g., S/Ba = 0.62), H{sub 2}O did not promote the desulfation for the sample with S/Ba of 0.12, implying that the formed BaS species originating from the reduction of sulfates at low sulfur loading are more stable to hydrolysis. The results of this combined spectroscopy investigation provide clear evidence to show that sulfates at low sulfur loadings are less likely to be removed as H{sub 2}S and have a greater tendency to be transformed to BaS on the material, leading to the conclusion that desulfation behavior of Pt-BaO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} lean NO{sub x} trap catalysts is markedly dependent on the sulfation levels.« less

  2. Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of hydroquinone using sewage sludge-derived carbonaceous catalysts.

    PubMed

    Xu, Jinglu; Yu, Yang; Ding, Kang; Liu, Zhiying; Wang, Lei; Xu, Yanhua

    2018-03-01

    This study converted sewage sludge into a carbonaceous catalyst via pyrolysis and employed it in the ozonation of hydroquinone. The catalyst was characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Intermediate products were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and a pathway for hydroquinone degradation was proposed. The results showed that sludge pyrolyzed at 700 °C promoted hydroquinone degradation, compared with commercial activated carbon derived from coal. When the catalyst dose was 0.5 g/L, the hydroquinone (200 mg/L) removal rate reached 97.86% after exposure to ozone (the ozone concentration was 17 mg/L and the flow rate was 50 mL/min) for 60 min. The results indicated that basic groups contributed to the catalysis.

  3. One-pot solvothermal synthesis of ordered intermetallic Pt2In3 as stable and efficient electrocatalyst towards direct alcohol fuel cell application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jana, Rajkumar; Peter, Sebastian C.

    2016-10-01

    Ordered intermetallic Pt2In3 nanoparticles have been synthesized by superhydride reduction of K2PtCl4 and InCl3.xH2O precursors using facile, one-pot solvothermal method. We report surfactant free solvothermal synthesis of a novel ordered Pt2In3 intermetallic nanoparticles for the first time. The structure and morphology of the catalyst has been confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic properties of the catalysts have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The as prepared Pt2In3 catalyst exhibit far superior electrocatalytic activity and stability towards alcohol oxidation over commercial Pt/C. The specific activity of as synthesized catalyst was found to be 3.2 and 2.3 times higher than commercial Pt/C for methanol and ethanol oxidation, respectively. This improved activity and durability of the Pt2In3 nanoparticles can make the catalyst an ideal catalyst candidate for direct alcohol fuel cell.

  4. Synthesis and characterization of molybdenum catalysts supported on {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CeO{sub 2} composite oxides

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Farooq, Muhammad; Ramli, Anita; Subbarao, Duvvuri

    2012-09-26

    The physical and chemical properties of a catalyst play a vital role in various industrial applications. Molybdenum catalysts supported on {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CeO{sub 2} mixed oxides with varying loading of CeO{sub 2} (5, 10, 15, 20 wt% with respect to {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) were prepared by wet impregnation method. The physiochemical properties of these synthesized Mo catalysts were studied with various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive analysis (FESEM-EDX) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). The results showed that the addition of CeO{submore » 2} into the support affected the binding energies of the elements and reducibility of the metal oxides formed after calcination of catalyst samples due to the change in metal-support interaction. Further, the characterization techniques showed that the active metal was well dispersed on the surface of support material.« less

  5. Dry Reforming of Ethane and Butane with CO 2 over PtNi/CeO 2 Bimetallic Catalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Yan, Binhang; Yang, Xiaofang; Yao, Siyu; ...

    2016-09-21

    Dry reforming is a potential process to convert CO 2 and light alkanes into syngas (H 2 and CO), which can be subsequently transformed to chemicals and fuels. Here in this work, PtNi bimetallic catalysts have been investigated for dry reforming of ethane and butane using both model surfaces and supported powder catalysts. The PtNi bimetallic catalyst shows an improvement in both activity and stability as compared to the corresponding monometallic catalysts. The formation of PtNi alloy and the partial reduction of Ce 4+ to Ce 3+ under reaction conditions are demonstrated by in-situ Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (AP-XPS),more » X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) measurements. A Pt-rich bimetallic surface is revealed by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) following CO adsorption. Combined in-situ experimental results and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the Pt-rich PtNi bimetallic surface structure would weaken the binding of surface oxygenates/carbon species and reduce the activation energy for C-C bond scission, leading to an enhanced dry reforming activity.« less

  6. Dry Reforming of Ethane and Butane with CO 2 over PtNi/CeO 2 Bimetallic Catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yan, Binhang; Yang, Xiaofang; Yao, Siyu

    Dry reforming is a potential process to convert CO 2 and light alkanes into syngas (H 2 and CO), which can be subsequently transformed to chemicals and fuels. Here in this work, PtNi bimetallic catalysts have been investigated for dry reforming of ethane and butane using both model surfaces and supported powder catalysts. The PtNi bimetallic catalyst shows an improvement in both activity and stability as compared to the corresponding monometallic catalysts. The formation of PtNi alloy and the partial reduction of Ce 4+ to Ce 3+ under reaction conditions are demonstrated by in-situ Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (AP-XPS),more » X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) measurements. A Pt-rich bimetallic surface is revealed by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) following CO adsorption. Combined in-situ experimental results and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the Pt-rich PtNi bimetallic surface structure would weaken the binding of surface oxygenates/carbon species and reduce the activation energy for C-C bond scission, leading to an enhanced dry reforming activity.« less

  7. Highly efficient Cu-decorated iron oxide nanocatalyst for low pressure CO 2 conversion

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Halder, Avik; Kilianová, Martina; Yang, Bing

    We report a nanoparticulate iron oxide based catalyst for CO2 conversion with high efficiency at low pressures and on the effect of the presence of copper on the catalyst's restructuring and its catalytic performance. In situ X-ray scattering reveals the restructuring of the catalyst at the nanometer scale. In situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) shows the evolution of the composition and oxidation state of the iron and copper components under reaction conditions along with the promotional effect of copper on the chemical transformation of the iron component. X-ray diffraction (XRD), XANES and Raman spectroscopy proved that the startingmore » nano catalyst is composed of iron oxides differing in chemical nature (alpha-Fe2O3, Fe3O4, FeO(OH)) and dimensionality, while the catalyst after CO2 conversion was identified as a mixture of alpha-Fe, Fe3C, and traces of Fe5C2. The significant increase of the rate CO2 is turned over in the presence of copper nanoparticles indicates that Cu nanoparticles activate hydrogen, which after spilling over to the neighbouring iron sites, facilitate a more efficient conversion of carbon dioxide.« less

  8. Gallium-rich Pd-Ga phases as supported liquid metal catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taccardi, N.; Grabau, M.; Debuschewitz, J.; Distaso, M.; Brandl, M.; Hock, R.; Maier, F.; Papp, C.; Erhard, J.; Neiss, C.; Peukert, W.; Görling, A.; Steinrück, H.-P.; Wasserscheid, P.

    2017-09-01

    A strategy to develop improved catalysts is to create systems that merge the advantages of heterogeneous and molecular catalysis. One such system involves supported liquid-phase catalysts, which feature a molecularly defined, catalytically active liquid film/droplet layer adsorbed on a porous solid support. In the past decade, this concept has also been extended to supported ionic liquid-phase catalysts. Here we develop this idea further and describe supported catalytically active liquid metal solutions (SCALMS). We report a liquid mixture of gallium and palladium deposited on porous glass that forms an active catalyst for alkane dehydrogenation that is resistant to coke formation and is thus highly stable. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, supported by theoretical calculations, confirm the liquid state of the catalytic phase under the reaction conditions. Unlike traditional heterogeneous catalysts, the supported liquid metal reported here is highly dynamic and catalysis does not proceed at the surface of the metal nanoparticles, but presumably at homogeneously distributed metal atoms at the surface of a liquid metallic phase.

  9. Enhanced metal loading in SBA-15-type catalysts facilitated by salt addition. Synthesis, characterization and catalytic epoxide alcoholysis activity of molybdenum incorporated porous silica

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Budhi, Sridhar; Peeraphatdit, Chorthip; Pylypenko, Svitlana

    2014-02-07

    We report a novel method to increase the metal loading in SBA-15 silica matrix via direct synthesis. It was demonstrated through the synthesis and characterization of a series of molybdenum containing SBA-15 mesoporous silica catalysts prepared with and without diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DHP) as an additive. Catalysts prepared with DHP show a 2–3 times increase in incorporation of molybdenum in the silica matrix and pore size enlargement. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using nitrogen sorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). Themore » catalytic activity of catalysts prepared with DHP for alcoholysis of epoxides was superior than the catalyst prepared without DHP. Alcoholysis of epoxides was demonstrated for a range of alcohols and epoxides under ambient conditions in as little as 30 min with high selectivity.« less

  10. Effects of sulfation level on the desulfation behavior of pre-sulfated Pt BaO/Al2O3 lean NOx trap catalysts: a combined H2 Temperature-Programmed Reaction, in-situ sulfur K-edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction Study

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kim, Do Heui; Szanyi, Janos; Kwak, Ja Hun

    2009-04-03

    Desulfation by hydrogen of pre-sulfated Pt(2wt%) BaO(20wt%)/Al2O3 with various sulfur loading (S/Ba = 0.12, 0.31 and 0.62) were investigated by combining H2 temperature programmed reaction (TPRX), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in-situ sulfur K-edge x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), and synchrotron time-resolved x-ray diffraction (TR-XRD) techniques. We find that the amount of H2S desorbed during the desulfation in the H2 TPRX experiments is not proportional to the amount of initial sulfur loading. The results of both in-situ sulfur K-edge XANES and TR-XRD show that at low sulfur loadings, sulfates were transformed to a BaS phase and remained in the catalyst, rathermore » than being removed as H2S. On the other hand, when the deposited sulfur level exceeded a certain threshold (at least S/Ba = 0.31) sulfates were reduced to form H2S, and the relative amount of the residual sulfide species in the catalyst was much less than at low sulfur loading. Unlike samples with high sulfur loading (e.g., S/Ba = 0.62), H2O did not promote the desulfation for the sample with S/Ba of 0.12, implying that the formed BaS species originating from the reduction of sulfates at low sulfur loading are more stable to hydrolysis. The results of this combined spectroscopy investigation provide clear evidence to show that sulfates at low sulfur loadings are less likely to be removed as H2S and have a greater tendency to be transformed to BaS on the material, leading to the conclusion that desulfation behavior of Pt BaO/Al2O3 lean NOx trap catalysts is markedly dependent on the sulfation levels.« less

  11. Cuboid Ni2 P as a Bifunctional Catalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Generation from Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane and Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

    PubMed

    Du, Yeshuang; Liu, Chao; Cheng, Gongzhen; Luo, Wei

    2017-11-16

    The design of high-performance catalysts for hydrogen generation is highly desirable for the upcoming hydrogen economy. Herein, we report the colloidal synthesis of nanocuboid Ni 2 P by the thermal decomposition of nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl 2 ⋅6 H 2 O) and trioctylphosphine. The obtained nanocuboid Ni 2 P was characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. For the first time, the as-synthesized nanocuboid Ni 2 P is used as a bifunctional catalyst for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Owing to the strong synergistic electronic effect between Ni and P, the as-synthesized Ni 2 P exhibits catalytic performance that is superior to its counterpart without P doping. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Investigations of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) fading mechanisms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sarma, Loka Subramanyam; Chen, Ching-Hsiang; Wang, Guo-Rung; Hsueh, Kan-Lin; Huang, Chiou-Ping; Sheu, Hwo-Shuenn; Liu, Ding-Goa; Lee, Jyh-Fu; Hwang, Bing-Joe

    In this report, we present the microscopic investigations on various fading mechanisms of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). High energy X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Raman spectroscopic analysis were applied to a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) before and after fuel cell operation to figure out the various factors causing its fading. High energy XRD analysis of the fresh and faded MEA revealed that the agglomeration of the catalyst particles in the cathode layer of the faded MEA was more significant than in the anode layer of the faded MEA. The XAS analysis demonstrated that the alloying extent of Pt (J Pt) and Ru (J Ru) in the anode catalyst was increased and decreased, respectively, from the fresh to the faded MEA, indicating that the Ru environment in the anode catalyst was significantly changed after the fuel cell operation. Based on the X-ray absorption edge jump measurements at the Ru K-edge on the anode catalyst of the fresh and the faded MEA it was found that Ru was dissolved from the Pt-Ru catalyst after the fuel cell operation. Both the Ru K-edge XAS and EDX analysis on the cathode catalyst layer of the faded MEA confirms the presence of Ru environment in the cathode catalyst due to the Ru crossover from the anode to the cathode side. The changes in the membrane and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) after the fuel cell operation were observed from the Raman spectroscopy analysis.

  13. Electrical enhancement of direct methanol fuel cells by metal-plasma ion implantation Pt-Ru/C multilayer catalysts.

    PubMed

    Weng, Ko-Wei; Chen, Yung-Lin; Chen, Ya-Chi; Lin, Tai-Nan

    2009-02-01

    Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) have been widely studied owing to their simple cell configuration, high volume energy density, short start-up time, high operational reliability and other favorable characteristics. However, major limitations include high production cost, poisoning of the catalyst and methanol crossover. This study adopts a simple technique for preparing Pt-Ru/C multilayer catalysts, including magnetron sputtering (MS) and metal-plasma ion implantation (MPII). The Pt catalysts were sputtered onto the gas diffusion layer (GDL), followed by the implantation of Ru catalysts using MPII (at an accelerating voltage of 20 kV and an implantation dose of 1 x 10(16) ions/cm2). Pt-Ru is repeatedly processed to prepare Pt-Ru/C multilayer catalysts. The catalyst film structure and microstructure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), respectively. The cell performance was tested using a potential stat/galvano-stat. The results reveal that the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of four multilayer structures enhances the cell performance of DMFC. The measured power density is 2.2 mW/cm2 at a methanol concentration of 2 M, with an OCV of 0.493 V.

  14. Ultrasonic-assisted preparation of nano eggshell powder: a novel catalyst in green and high efficient synthesis of 2-aminochromenes.

    PubMed

    Mosaddegh, Elaheh

    2013-11-01

    The nano eggshell powder (NESP) has been prepared by ultrasound irradiation and used as a novel and biodegradable catalyst with high catalytic activity and reusability in green synthesis of 2-aminochromenes via condensation of α- or β-phathol, malononitrile and aromatic aldehydes at 120 °C under solvent-free conditions. The reaction proceeds to completion within 10-35 min in 91-98% yield. Nano eggshell catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence, thermal gravimetric, surface area and elemental analyses. In addition, the catalytic activity and chemical structure of nano-sized eggshell were compared with pure CaCO3. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Methanol steam reforming over Ni-CeO 2 model and powder catalysts: Pathways to high stability and selectivity for H 2/CO 2 production

    DOE PAGES

    Liu, Zongyuan; Yao, Siyu; Johnston-Peck, Aaron; ...

    2017-08-25

    Here, nickel-ceria has been reported as a very good catalysts for the reforming of methane. Here, the methanol steam reforming reaction on both powder (Ni-CeO 2) and model (Ni-CeO 2-x(111)) catalysts was investigated. The active phase evolution and surface species transformation on powder catalysts were studied via in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance infrared transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Phase transitions of NiO → NiC → Ni and CeO 2 → CeO 2-x were observed during the reaction. The simultaneous production of H 2/CO 2 demonstrates that the active phase of the catalysts contains metallic Ni supported over partially reducedmore » ceria. The DRIFTS experiments indicate that a methoxy to formate transition is associated with the reduction of ceria whereas the formation of carbonate species results from the presence of metallic Ni. A study of the reaction of methanol with Ni-CeO 2-x(111) by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) points to the essential role of metal-support interactions in an oxygen transfer from ceria to Ni that contributes to the high selectivity of the catalysts.« less

  16. Methanol steam reforming over Ni-CeO 2 model and powder catalysts: Pathways to high stability and selectivity for H 2/CO 2 production

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liu, Zongyuan; Yao, Siyu; Johnston-Peck, Aaron

    Here, nickel-ceria has been reported as a very good catalysts for the reforming of methane. Here, the methanol steam reforming reaction on both powder (Ni-CeO 2) and model (Ni-CeO 2-x(111)) catalysts was investigated. The active phase evolution and surface species transformation on powder catalysts were studied via in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance infrared transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Phase transitions of NiO → NiC → Ni and CeO 2 → CeO 2-x were observed during the reaction. The simultaneous production of H 2/CO 2 demonstrates that the active phase of the catalysts contains metallic Ni supported over partially reducedmore » ceria. The DRIFTS experiments indicate that a methoxy to formate transition is associated with the reduction of ceria whereas the formation of carbonate species results from the presence of metallic Ni. A study of the reaction of methanol with Ni-CeO 2-x(111) by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) points to the essential role of metal-support interactions in an oxygen transfer from ceria to Ni that contributes to the high selectivity of the catalysts.« less

  17. Sulfonated reduced graphene oxide as a highly efficient catalyst for direct amidation of carboxylic acids with amines using ultrasonic irradiation.

    PubMed

    Mirza-Aghayan, Maryam; Tavana, Mahdieh Molaee; Boukherroub, Rabah

    2016-03-01

    Sulfonated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO-SO3H) were prepared by grafting sulfonic acid-containing aryl radicals onto chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) under sonochemical conditions. rGO-SO3H catalyst was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). rGO-SO3H catalyst was successfully applied as a reusable solid acid catalyst for the direct amidation of carboxylic acids with amines into the corresponding amides under ultrasonic irradiation. The direct sonochemical amidation of carboxylic acid takes place under mild conditions affording in good to high yields (56-95%) the corresponding amides in short reaction times. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. One step electrochemical synthesis of bimetallic PdAu supported on nafion–graphene ribbon film for ethanol electrooxidation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shendage, Suresh S., E-mail: sureshsshendage@gmail.com; Singh, Abilash S.; Nagarkar, Jayashree M., E-mail: jm.nagarkar@ictmumbai.edu.in

    2015-10-15

    Highlights: • Electrochemical deposition of bimetallic PdAu NPs. • Highly loaded PdAu NPs are obtained. • Nafion–graphene supported PdAu NPs shows good activity for ethanol electrooxidation. - Abstract: A nafion–graphene ribbon (Nf–GR) supported bimetallic PdAu nanoparticles (PdAu/Nf–GR) catalyst was prepared by electrochemical codeposition of Pd and Au at constant potential. The prepared catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The average particle size of PdAu nanoparticles (NPs) determined from XRD was 3.5 nm. The electrocatalytic activity of the PdAu/Nf–GR catalyst was examined by cyclic voltametry.more » It was observed that the as prepared catalyst showed efficient activity and good stability for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium.« less

  19. Highly Active PdNi/RGO/Polyoxometalate Nanocomposite Electrocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation.

    PubMed

    Hu, Jing; Wu, Xiaofeng; Zhang, Qingfan; Gao, Mingyan; Qiu, Haifang; Huang, Keke; Feng, Shouhua; Wang, Tingting; Yang, Ying; Liu, Zhelin; Zhao, Bo

    2018-02-27

    A PdNi/RGO/polyoxometalate nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized by a simple wet-chemical method. Characterizations such as transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are employed to verify the morphology, structure, and elemental composition of the as-prepared nanocomposite. Inspired by the fast-developing fuel cells, the electrochemical catalytic performance of the nanocomposite toward methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline media is further tested. Notably, the nanocomposite exhibits excellent catalytic activity and long-term stability toward alcohol electrooxidation compared with the PdNi/RGO and commercial Pd/C catalyst. Furthermore, the electrochemical results reveal that the prepared nanocomposite is attractive as a promising electrocatalyst for direct alcohol fuel cells, in which the phosphotungstic acid plays a crucial role in enhancing the electrocatalytic activities of the catalyst.

  20. Promotion of redox and stability features of doped Ce-W-Ti for NH3-SCR reaction over a wide temperature range

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Kun; Han, Weiliang; Lu, Gongxuan; Lu, Jiangyin; Tang, Zhicheng; Zhen, Xinping

    2016-08-01

    In this study, transition metals Co, Mn, and Cu were introduced into a Ce-W-Ti catalyst to promote low-temperature catalytic activity. Among these metal-modified M/Ce-W-Ti catalysts (M represents Co, Mn, or Cu), the Cu/Ce-W-Ti catalyst with an optimized Cu content of 5 wt.% exhibited more than 90% conversion of nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the selective catalytic reduction by NH3 over a wide temperature range (260-400 °C). This catalyst likewise exhibited higher resistance to SO2 gas and water vapor under severe test conditions. On the basis of the characterization results by powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we concluded that the superior catalytic properties of the Cu/Ce-W-Ti catalyst could be attributed to the highly dispersed Cu species, which increased the contents of Ce3+ species and adsorbed oxygen species in the catalysts. In addition, the NH3 temperature-programmed desorption results demonstrated that the Cu species doped into the Ce-W-Ti catalysts optimized surface acid content.

  1. Self-Protection Mechanism of Hexagonal WO3-Based DeNOx Catalysts against Alkali Poisoning.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Li; Zhou, Meijuan; Huang, Zhiwei; Chen, Yaxin; Gao, Jiayi; Ma, Zhen; Chen, Jianmin; Tang, Xingfu

    2016-11-01

    A good catalyst for efficiently controlling NO x emissions often demands strong resistance against alkali poisoning. Although the traditional ion-exchange model, based on acid-base reactions of alkalis with Brønsted acid sites, has been established over the past two decades, it is difficult to be used as a guideline to develop such an alkali-resistant catalyst. Here we establish a self-protection mechanism of deNO x catalysts against alkali poisoning by systematically studying the intrinsic nature of alkali resistance of V 2 O 5 /HWO (HWO = hexagonal WO 3 ) that shows excellent resistance to alkali poisoning in selective catalytic reduction of NO x with NH 3 (SCR). Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopies demonstrate that V 2 O 5 /HWO has spatially separated catalytically active sites (CASs) and alkali-trapping sites (ATSs). During the SCR process, ATSs spontaneously trap alkali ions such as K + , even if alkali ions initially block CASs, thus releasing CASs to realize the self-protection against alkali poisoning. X-ray photoelectron spectra coupled with theoretical calculations indicate that the electronic interaction between the alkali ions and ATSs with an energy saving is the driving force of the self-protection. This work provides a strategy to design alkali-resistant deNO x catalysts.

  2. Hydrocracking of Jatropha Oil over non-sulfided PTA-NiMo/ZSM-5 Catalyst

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Xiaosong; Liu, Jing; Fan, Kai; Rong, Long

    2017-01-01

    The PTA-NiMo/ZSM-5 catalyst impregnated with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) was designed for the transformation of Jatropha oil into benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) aromatics. The produced catalyst was characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD). The catalytic performance was evaluated by gas chromatography (GC). The liquid products were 70 wt% of the feed oil, and the majority of the liquid products were BTX. The aromatization activity of the catalyst was improved by the addition of PTA and the hierarchical process. The favorable PTA amount was 20 wt% and the yield of BTX was 59 wt% at 380 °C, 3 MPa, H2/oil (v/v) = 1000 and LHSV = 1 h−1 over the PTA20-NiMo/HZ0.5 catalyst (PTA 20 wt%) without sulfurization. PMID:28134313

  3. Tetraalkylammonium Salts as Hydrogen-Bonding Catalysts.

    PubMed

    Shirakawa, Seiji; Liu, Shiyao; Kaneko, Shiho; Kumatabara, Yusuke; Fukuda, Airi; Omagari, Yumi; Maruoka, Keiji

    2015-12-21

    Although the hydrogen-bonding ability of the α hydrogen atoms on tetraalkylammonium salts is often discussed with respect to phase-transfer catalysts, catalysis that utilizes the hydrogen-bond-donor properties of tetraalkylammonium salts remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrate hydrogen-bonding catalysis with newly designed tetraalkylammonium salt catalysts in Mannich-type reactions. The structure and the hydrogen-bonding ability of the new ammonium salts were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR titration studies. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  4. Fe3-xCuxO4 as highly active heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts toward elemental mercury removal.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Changsong; Sun, Lushi; Zhang, Anchao; Wu, Xiaofeng; Ma, Chuan; Su, Sheng; Hu, Song; Xiang, Jun

    2015-04-01

    A series of novel spinel Fe3-xCuxO4 (0

  5. The black rock series supported SCR catalyst for NO x removal.

    PubMed

    Xie, Bin; Luo, Hang; Tang, Qing; Du, Jun; Liu, Zuohua; Tao, Changyuan

    2017-09-01

    Black rock series (BRS) is of great potential for their plenty of valued oxides which include vanadium, iron, alumina and silica oxides, etc. BRS was used for directly preparing of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst by modifying its surface texture with SiO 2 -TiO 2 sols and regulating its catalytic active constituents with V 2 O 5 and MoO 3 . Consequently, 90% NO removal ratio was obtained within 300-400 °C over the BRS-based catalyst. The structure and properties of the BRS-based catalyst were characterized by the techniques of N 2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H 2 -temperature programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR), and NH 3 -temperature programmed desorption (NH 3 -TPD). The results revealed that the BRS-based catalyst possesses favorable properties for NO x removal, including highly dispersed active components, abundant surface-adsorbed oxygen O α , well redox property, and numerous Brønsted acid sites. Particularly, the BRS-based catalyst exhibited considerable anti-poisoning performance compared with commercial TiO 2 -based catalyst. The former catalyst shows a NO conversion surpassing 80% from 300 to 400 °C for potassium poisoning, and a durability of SO 2 and H 2 O exceeding 85% at temperatures from 300 to 450 °C.

  6. Porous Ni-Mn oxide nanosheets in situ formed on nickel foam as 3D hierarchical monolith de-NOx catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cai, Sixiang; Zhang, Dengsong; Shi, Liyi; Xu, Jing; Zhang, Lei; Huang, Lei; Li, Hongrui; Zhang, Jianping

    2014-06-01

    In this work, we successfully in situ decorated nickel foam with porous Ni-Mn oxide nanosheets (3DH-NM/NF) as 3D hierarchical monolith de-NOx catalysts via a simple hydrothermal reaction and calcination process. The catalysts were carefully examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H2 temperature-programmed reduction and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption measurements. The results indicated that the nanosheets are composed of a Ni6Mn1O8 spinel and the metal species are uniformly dispersed in bi-metal oxides. As a result, the strong synergistic effects between the Mn and Ni species have been observed. The active oxygen species, reducible species and acidity are enhanced by the in situ formation of the nanosheets on the surface of nickel foam. These desirable features of 3DH-NM/NF catalysts bring about the excellent de-NOx performance. Moreover, the 3DH-NM/NF catalysts also present good stability and H2O resistance. Based on these favorable properties, 3DH-NM/NF could be considered as a promising candidate for the monolith de-NOx catalysts.In this work, we successfully in situ decorated nickel foam with porous Ni-Mn oxide nanosheets (3DH-NM/NF) as 3D hierarchical monolith de-NOx catalysts via a simple hydrothermal reaction and calcination process. The catalysts were carefully examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H2 temperature-programmed reduction and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption measurements. The results indicated that the nanosheets are composed of a Ni6Mn1O8 spinel and the metal species are uniformly dispersed in bi-metal oxides. As a result, the strong synergistic effects between the Mn and Ni species have been observed. The active oxygen species, reducible species and acidity are enhanced by the in situ formation of the nanosheets on the surface of nickel foam. These desirable features of 3DH-NM/NF catalysts bring about the excellent de-NOx performance. Moreover, the 3DH-NM/NF catalysts also present good stability and H2O resistance. Based on these favorable properties, 3DH-NM/NF could be considered as a promising candidate for the monolith de-NOx catalysts. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details and catalytic performance of the NM/cordierite catalysts, SEM image and EDX analysis of the NF and 3DH-N/NF catalysts, N2 selectivity and catalytic performance under different gas hourly space velocities of the 3DH-NM/NF catalysts. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr00475b

  7. Synthesis of Pt/rGO catalysts with two different reducing agents and their methanol electrooxidation activity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vu, Thu Ha Thi, E-mail: ptntd2004@yahoo.fr; Tran, Thanh Thuy Thi, E-mail: tranthithanhthuygl@gmail.com; Le, Hong Ngan Thi

    2016-01-15

    Highlights: • Pt/rGO catalysts were successfully synthesized using either NaBH{sub 4} or ethylene glycol. • Synthesis using NaBH{sub 4} could improve electrocatalytic towards methanol oxidation of Pt/rGO catalyst. • 40%Pt/rGO synthesized using NaBH{sub 4} showed the best electrocatalytic performance. - Abstract: The synthesis processes of Platinum (Pt) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) catalysts from graphene oxide (GO) using two reducing agents including sodium borohydride and ethylene glycol is reported. Structure and morphology of Pt/rGO catalysts are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrocatalytic methanol oxidation properties of these catalysts are evaluated bymore » cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results show that catalyst synthesized using sodium borohydride has a higher metallic Pt content and an improved catalytic performance in comparison to catalyst synthesized using ethylene glycol. Moreover, effect of Pt loading amount on electrocatalytic methanol oxidation performance of catalysts synthesized using sodium borohydride is systematically investigated. The optimal Pt loading amount on graphene is determined to be 40%.« less

  8. Gram-level synthesis of core-shell structured catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, Mingchuan; Wei, Lingli; Wang, Fanghui; Han, Kefei; Zhu, Hong

    2014-12-01

    Over the past decade, Pt based core-shell structured alloys have been studied extensively as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) because of their distinctive electrochemical performance and low Pt loading. In this paper, a facile route based on microwave-assisted polyol method and chemical dealloying process is proposed to synthesize carbon supported core-shell structured nanoparticles (NPs) in gram-level for ORR electrocatalysis in PEMFCs. The obtained samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These physical characterization indicate that the final synthesized NPs are highly dispersed on the carbon support, and in a core-shell structure with CuPt alloy as the core and Pt as the shell. Electrochemical measurements, conducted by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) tests, show the core-shell structured catalyst exhibit a 3× increase in mass activity and a 2× increase in specific activity over the commercial Pt/C catalyst, respectively. These results demonstrate that this route can be a reliable way to synthesize low-Pt catalyst in large-scale for PEMFCs.

  9. Enhanced activity and stability of copper oxide/γ-alumina catalyst in catalytic wet-air oxidation: Critical roles of cerium incorporation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yongli; Zhou, Yanbo; Peng, Chao; Shi, Junjun; Wang, Qingyu; He, Lingfeng; Shi, Liang

    2018-04-01

    By successive impregnation method, the Ce-modified Cu-O/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared and characterized using nitrogen adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, and H2-Temperature programming reduction (H2-TPR). In catalytic wet-air oxidation (CWAO) process for the printing and dyeing wastewater (PDW), the effects of Ce addition on performance, mechanism and kinetics of the catalyst were investigated. The Ce addition increases the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume of the catalyst and makes the active components uniformly distributed on the catalyst surface. Formation of a stable CuAl2O4 solid solution by anchoring Cu onto the γ-Al2O3 crystal lattice leads to a significant decrease in metal leaching of the Ce-modified catalyst. The proportion of lattice oxygen in the catalyst substantially increases and the apparent activation energy of Cu-O/γ-Al2O3 catalyst decreases owing to Ce addition. Therefore, the catalytic activity and stability of the Ce-modified catalyst are considerably improved. The scavengers experiments identify the active species existed in the CWAO reaction system, with the order of reactivity: h+ > O2•- > H2O2 > HO•. This novel Cu-Ce-O/γ-Al2O3 catalyst has great potential in applications for treatment of concentrated organic wastewater due to its superior catalytic activity and improved stability.

  10. Mesoporous silica nanoparticle supported PdIr bimetal catalyst for selective hydrogenation, and the significant promotional effect of Ir

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Hui; Huang, Chao; Yang, Fan; Yang, Xu; Du, Li; Liao, Shijun

    2015-12-01

    A mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) supported bimetal catalyst, PdIr/MSN, was prepared by a facile impregnation and hydrogen reduction method. The strong promotional effect of Ir was observed and thoroughly investigated. At the optimal molar ratio of Ir to Pd (NIr/NPd = 0.1), the activity of PdIr0.1/MSN was up to eight times and 28 times higher than that of monometallic Pd/MSN and Ir/MSN, respectively. The catalysts were characterized comprehensively by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and hydrogen temperature programmed reduction, which revealed that the promotional effect of Ir may be due to the enhanced dispersion of active components on the MSN, and to the intensified Pd-Ir electronic interaction caused by the addition of Ir.

  11. Bifunctional catalyst of graphite-encapsulated iron compound nanoparticle for magnetic carbon nanotubes growth by chemical vapor deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saraswati, Teguh Endah; Prasiwi, Oktaviana Dewi Indah; Masykur, Abu; Anwar, Miftahul

    2017-01-01

    The carbon nanotube has widely taken great attractive in carbon nanomaterial research and application. One of its preparation methods is catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) using catalyst i.e. iron, nickel, etc. Generally, except the catalyst, carbon source gasses as the precursor are still required. Here, we report the use of the bifunctional material of Fe3O4/C which has an incorporated core/shell structures of carbon-encapsulated iron compound nanoparticles. The bifunctional catalyst was prepared by submerged arc discharge that simply performed using carbon and carbon/iron oxide electrodes in ethanol 50%. The prepared material was then used as a catalyst in thermal chemical vapor deposition at 800°C flown with ethanol vapor as the primer carbon source in a low-pressure condition. This catalyst might play a dual role as a catalyst and secondary carbon source for growing carbon nanotubes at the time. The synthesized products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The successful formation of carbon nanotubes was assigned by the shifted X-ray diffracted peak of carbon C(002), the iron oxides of Fe3O4 and γ-Fe2O3, and the other peaks which were highly considered to the other carbon allotropes with sp2 hybridization structures. The other assignment was studied by electron microscopy which successfully observed the presence of single-wall carbon nanotubes. In addition, the as-prepared carbon nanotubes have a magnetic property which was induced by the remaining of metal catalyst inside the CNT.

  12. 40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Uuu... - Determination of Metal Concentration on Catalyst Particles (Instrumental Analyzer Procedure)

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... x-rays are dispersed spatially by crystal diffraction on the basis of wavelength. The crystal and detector are made to synchronously rotate and the detector then receives only one wavelength at a time. The...

  13. 40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Uuu... - Determination of Metal Concentration on Catalyst Particles (Instrumental Analyzer Procedure)

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... x-rays are dispersed spatially by crystal diffraction on the basis of wavelength. The crystal and detector are made to synchronously rotate and the detector then receives only one wavelength at a time. The...

  14. Combinatorial discovery of new methanol-tolerant non-noble metal cathode electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Yu, Jong-Sung; Kim, Min-Sik; Kim, Jung Ho

    2010-12-14

    Combinatorial synthesis and screening were used to identify methanol-tolerant non-platinum cathode electrocatalysts for use in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Oxygen reduction consumes protons at the surface of DMFC cathode catalysts. In combinatorial screening, this pH change allows one to differentiate active catalysts using fluorescent acid-base indicators. Combinatorial libraries of carbon-supported catalyst compositions containing Ru, Mo, W, Sn, and Se were screened. Ternary and quaternary compositions containing Ru, Sn, Mo, Se were more active than the "standard" Alonso-Vante catalyst, Ru(3)Mo(0.08)Se(2), when tested in liquid-feed DMFCs. Physical characterization of the most active catalysts by powder X-ray diffraction, gas adsorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the predominant crystalline phase was hexagonal close-packed (hcp) ruthenium, and showed a surface mostly covered with oxide. The best new catalyst, Ru(7.0)Sn(1.0)Se(1.0), was significantly more active than Ru(3)Se(2)Mo(0.08), even though the latter contained smaller particles.

  15. Hydrogen production from biomass gasification using biochar as a catalyst/support.

    PubMed

    Yao, Dingding; Hu, Qiang; Wang, Daqian; Yang, Haiping; Wu, Chunfei; Wang, Xianhua; Chen, Hanping

    2016-09-01

    Biochar is a promising catalyst/support for biomass gasification. Hydrogen production from biomass steam gasification with biochar or Ni-based biochar has been investigated using a two stage fixed bed reactor. Commercial activated carbon was also studied as a comparison. Catalyst was prepared with an impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific surface and porosity analysis, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron micrograph. The effects of gasification temperature, steam to biomass ratio, Ni loading and bio-char properties on catalyst activity in terms of hydrogen production were explored. The Ni/AC catalyst showed the best performance at gasification temperature of 800°C, S/B=4, Ni loading of 15wt.%. Texture and composition characterization of the catalysts suggested the interaction between volatiles and biochar promoted the reforming of pyrolysis volatiles. Cotton-char supported Ni exhibited the highest activity of H2 production (64.02vol.%, 92.08mgg(-1) biomass) from biomass gasification, while rice-char showed the lowest H2 production. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Nanostructured Perovskite LaCo1-xMnxO3 as Bifunctional Catalysts for Rechargeable Metal-Air Batteries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ge, Xiaoming; Li, Bing; Wuu, Delvin; Sumboja, Afriyanti; An, Tao; Hor, T. S. Andy; Zong, Yun; Liu, Zhaolin

    2015-09-01

    Bifunctional catalyst that is active for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is one of the most important components of rechargeable metal-air batteries. Nanostructured perovskite bifunctional catalysts comprising La, Co and Mn(LaCo1-xMnxO3, LCMO) are synthesized by hydrothermal methods. The morphology, structure and electrochemical activity of the perovskite bifunctional catalysts are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) techniques. Nanorod, nanodisc and nanoparticle are typical morphologies of LCMO. The electrocatalytic activity of LCMO is significantly improved by the addition of conductive materials such as carbon nanotube. To demonstrate the practical utilization, LCMO in the composition of LaCo0.8Mn0.2O3(LCMO82) is used as air cathode catalysts for rechargeable zinc-air batteries. The battery prototype can sustain 470 h or 40 discharge-charge cycles equivalent.

  17. Porous bimetallic PdNi catalyst with high electrocatalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation.

    PubMed

    Feng, Yue; Bin, Duan; Yan, Bo; Du, Yukou; Majima, Tetsuro; Zhou, Weiqiang

    2017-05-01

    Porous bimetallic PdNi catalysts were fabricated by a novel method, namely, reduction of Pd and Ni oxides prepared via calcining the complex chelate of PdNi-dimethylglyoxime (PdNi-dmg). The morphology and composition of the as-prepared PdNi were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of PdNi catalysts towards ethanol electrooxidation were also studied by electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurement. In comparison with porous Pd and commercial Pd/C catalysts, porous structural PdNi catalysts showed higher electrocatalytic activity and durability for ethanol electrooxidation, which may be ascribed to Pd and Ni property, large electroactive surface area and high electron transfer property. The Ni exist in the catalyst in the form of the nickel hydroxides (Ni(OH) 2 and NiOOH) which have a high electron and proton conductivity enhances the catalytic activity of the catalysts. All results highlight the great potential application of the calcination-reduction method for synthesizing high active porous PdNi catalysts in direct ethanol fuel cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Potassium-Promoted Molybdenum Carbide as a Highly Active and Selective Catalyst for CO2 Conversion to CO.

    PubMed

    Porosoff, Marc D; Baldwin, Jeffrey W; Peng, Xi; Mpourmpakis, Giannis; Willauer, Heather D

    2017-06-09

    The high concentration of CO 2 bound in seawater represents a significant opportunity to extract and use this CO 2 as a C 1 feedstock for synthetic fuels. Using an existing process, CO 2 and H 2 can be concurrently extracted from seawater and then catalytically reacted to produce synthetic fuel. Hydrogenating CO 2 directly into liquid hydrocarbons is exceptionally difficult, but by first identifying a catalyst for selective CO production through the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction, CO can then be hydrogenated to fuel through Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Results of this study demonstrate that potassium-promoted molybdenum carbide supported on γ-Al 2 O 3 (K-Mo 2 C/γ-Al 2 O 3 ) is a low-cost, stable, and highly selective catalyst for RWGS over a wide range of conversions. These findings are supported by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. A comprehensive study on the photocatalytic activity of coupled copper oxide-cadmium sulfide nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Senobari, Samaneh; Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh, Alireza

    2018-05-01

    Coupled CdS-CuO nanoparticles (NPs) subjected in the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution. The calcination temperature and the crystallite phase of CuO had a significant role on the photocatalytic activity of the coupled system and CuO200/2h-CdS catalyst (containing CuO calcined at 200 °C for 2 h) showed the best photocatalytic activity. The coupled system showed increased activity with respect to the monocomponent semiconductors. The prepared catalysts characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzer, x-ray mapping, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The best degradation extent of MB was obtained at: CMB: 1 mg L-1, pH 5, 80 min irradiation time and 0.8 g L-1 of the CuO200/2h-CdS catalyst. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) confirmed about 83% of MB molecules can be mineralized at the optimum conditions.

  20. Metal-Ion Distribution and Oxygen Vacancies That Determine the Activity of Magnetically Recoverable Catalysts in Methanol Synthesis.

    PubMed

    Oracko, Troy; Jaquish, Rigel; Losovyj, Yaroslav B; Morgan, David Gene; Pink, Maren; Stein, Barry D; Doluda, Valentin Yu; Tkachenko, Olga P; Shifrina, Zinaida B; Grigoriev, Maxim E; Sidorov, Alexander I; Sulman, Esther M; Bronstein, Lyudmila M

    2017-10-04

    Here, we report on the development of novel Zn-, Zn-Cr-, and Zn-Cu-containing catalysts using magnetic silica (Fe 3 O 4 -SiO 2 ) as the support. Transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the iron oxide nanoparticles are located in mesoporous silica pores and the magnetite (spinel) structure remains virtually unchanged despite the incorporation of Zn and Cr. According to XPS data, the Zn and Cr species are intermixed within the magnetite structure. In the case of the Zn-Cu-containing catalysts, a separate Cu 2 O phase was also observed along with the spinel structure. The catalytic activity of these catalysts was tested in methanol synthesis from syngas (CO + H 2 ). The catalytic experiments showed an improved catalytic performance of Zn- and Zn-Cr-containing magnetic silicas compared to that of the ZnO-SiO 2 catalyst. The best catalytic activity was obtained for the Zn-Cr-containing magnetic catalyst prepared with 1 wt % Zn and Cr each. X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of oxygen vacancies near Fe and Zn in Zn-containing, and even more in Zn-Cr-containing, magnetic silica (including oxygen vacancies near Cr ions), revealing a correlation between the catalytic properties and oxygen vacancies. The easy magnetic recovery, robust synthetic procedure, and high catalytic activity make these catalysts promising for practical applications.

  1. 40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Uuu... - Determination of Metal Concentration on Catalyst Particles (Instrumental Analyzer Procedure)

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... by crystal diffraction on the basis of wavelength. The crystal and detector are made to synchronously rotate and the detector then receives only one wavelength at a time. The intensity of the x-rays emitted...

  2. A polyoxometalate-encapsulating cationic metal-organic framework as a heterogeneous catalyst for desulfurization.

    PubMed

    Hao, Xiu-Li; Ma, Yuan-Yuan; Zang, Hong-Ying; Wang, Yong-Hui; Li, Yang-Guang; Wang, En-Bo

    2015-02-23

    A new cationic triazole-based metal-organic framework encapsulating Keggin-type polyoxometalates, with the molecular formula [Co(BBPTZ)3][HPMo12O40]⋅24 H2O [compound 1; BBPTZ = 4,4'-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl] is hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of compound 1 contains a non-interpenetrated 3D CdSO4 (cds)-type framework with two types of channels that are interconnected with each other; straight channels that are occupied by the Keggin-type POM anions, and wavelike channels that contain lattice water molecules. The catalytic activity of compound 1 in the oxidative desulfurization reaction indicates that it is not only an effective and size-selective heterogeneous catalyst, but it also exhibits distinct structural stability in the catalytic reaction system. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  3. Zircon Supported Copper Catalysts for the Steam Reforming of Methanol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Widiastri, M.; Fendy, Marsih, I. N.

    2008-03-01

    Steam reforming of methanol (SRM) is known as one of the most favorable catalytic processes for producing hydrogen. Current research on zirconia, ZrO2 supported copper catalyst revealed that CuO/ZrO2 as an active catalyst for the SRM. Zircon, ZrSiO4 is available from the by-product of tin mining. In the work presented here, the catalytic properties of CuO/ZrSiO4 with various copper oxide compositions ranging from 2.70% (catalyst I), 4.12% (catalyst II), and 7.12%-mass (catalyst III), synthesized by an incipient wetness impregnation technique, were investigated to methanol conversion, selectivity towards CO formation, and effect of ZnO addition (7.83%CuO/8.01%ZnO/ZrSiO4 = catalyst V). The catalytic activity was obtained using a fixed bed reactor and the zircon supported catalyst activity was compared to those of CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst (catalyst IV) and commercial Kujang LTSC catalyst. An X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis was done to identify the abundant phases of the catalysts. The catalysts topography and particle diameter were measured with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and composition of the catalysts was measured by SEM-EDX, scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive using X-ray analysis. The results of this research provide information on the possibility of using zircon (ZrSiO4) as solid support for SRM catalysts.

  4. Operando Synchrotron X-ray Powder Diffraction and Modulated-Excitation Infrared Spectroscopy Elucidate the CO2 Promotion on a Commercial Methanol Synthesis Catalyst.

    PubMed

    Martin, Oliver; Mondelli, Cecilia; Cervellino, Antonio; Ferri, Davide; Curulla-Ferré, Daniel; Pérez-Ramírez, Javier

    2016-09-05

    Optimal amounts of CO2 are added to syngas to boost the methanol synthesis rate on Cu-ZnO-Al2 O3 in the industrial process. The reason for CO2 promotion is not sufficiently understood at the particle level due to the catalyst complexity and the high demands of characterization under true reaction conditions. Herein, we applied operando synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and modulated-excitation infrared spectroscopy on a commercial catalyst to gain insights into its morphology and surface chemistry. These studies unveiled that Cu and ZnO agglomerate and ZnO particles flatten under CO/H2 and/or CO2 /H2 . Under the optimal CO/CO2 /H2 mixture, sintering is prevented and ZnO crystals adopt an elongated shape due to the minimal presence of the H2 O byproduct, enhancing the water-gas shift activity and thus the methanol production. Our results provide a rationale to the CO2 promotion emphasizing the importance of advanced analytical methods to establish structure-performance relations in heterogeneous catalysis. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  5. Preparation of MoO2/g-C3N4 composites with a high surface area and its application in deep desulfurization from model oil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, Liang-pei; Zhao, Rong-xiang; Li, Xiu-ping; Gao, Xiao-han

    2018-03-01

    A series of catalysts of composition X-MoO2/g-C3N4 (X = 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5 wt.%) were successfully synthesized by calcination of a mixture of (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O and g-C3N4. Oxidative desulfurization experiments were conducted using X-MoO2/g-C3N4 as a catalyst, H2O2 as an oxidant, and ionic liquids (ILs) as extraction agents. Catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET). Characterization results suggested that MoO2 was present in the catalyst and its crystallinity improved with increased Mo-loading. The catalysts had a larger specific surface area due to the presence of MoO2 dispersed on g-C3N4. Experimental results showed that 3%-MoO2/g-C3N4 had the highest catalytic activity among all the catalysts tested. A desulfurization rate of 96.0% was achieved under optimal conditions. Through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, it was shown that dibenzothoiphene sulfone was the sole product of the oxidation desulfurization reaction. An apparent activation energy of 61.1 kJ/mol was estimated based on Arrhenius equation. The activity of 3%-MoO2/g-C3N4 slightly decreased after six runs. A possible mechanism for the reaction has been proposed.

  6. X-ray physico-chemical imaging during activation of cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beale, Andrew M.; Jacques, Simon D. M.; Di Michiel, Marco; Mosselmans, J. Frederick W.; Price, Stephen W. T.; Senecal, Pierre; Vamvakeros, Antonios; Paterson, James

    2017-11-01

    The imaging of catalysts and other functional materials under reaction conditions has advanced significantly in recent years. The combination of the computed tomography (CT) approach with methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) now enables local chemical and physical state information to be extracted from within the interiors of intact materials which are, by accident or design, inhomogeneous. In this work, we follow the phase evolution during the initial reduction step(s) to form Co metal, for Co-containing particles employed as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts; firstly, working at small length scales (approx. micrometre spatial resolution), a combination of sample size and density allows for transmission of comparatively low energy signals enabling the recording of `multimodal' tomography, i.e. simultaneous XRF-CT, XANES-CT and XRD-CT. Subsequently, we show high-energy XRD-CT can be employed to reveal extent of reduction and uniformity of crystallite size on millimetre-sized TiO2 trilobes. In both studies, the CoO phase is seen to persist or else evolve under particular operating conditions and we speculate as to why this is observed. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Providing sustainable catalytic solutions for a rapidly changing world'.

  7. Industrial wastewater advanced treatment via catalytic ozonation with an Fe-based catalyst.

    PubMed

    Li, Xufang; Chen, Weiyu; Ma, Luming; Wang, Hongwu; Fan, Jinhong

    2018-03-01

    An Fe-based catalyst was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the ozonation of industrial wastewater, and key operational parameters (pH and catalyst dosage) were studied. The results indicated that the Fe-based catalyst significantly improved the mineralization of organic pollutants in wastewater. TOC (total organic carbon) removal was high, at 78.7%, with a catalyst concentration of 200 g/L, but only 31.6% with ozonation alone. The Fe-based catalyst significantly promoted ozone decomposition by 70% in aqueous solution. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were confirmed to be existed directly via EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) experiments, and ·OH were verified to account for about 34.4% of TOC removal with NaHCO 3 as a radical scavenger. Through characterization by SEM-EDS (field emission scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectrometer), XRD (X-ray powder diffraction) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), it was deduced that FeOOH on the surface of the catalyst was the dominant contributor to the catalytic efficiency. The catalyst was certified as having good stability and excellent reusability based on 50 successive operations and could be used as a filler simultaneously. Thereby, it is a promising catalyst for practical industrial wastewater advanced treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Boron-doped diamond synthesized at high-pressure and high-temperature with metal catalyst

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shakhov, Fedor M.; Abyzov, Andrey M.; Kidalov, Sergey V.; Krasilin, Andrei A.; Lähderanta, Erkki; Lebedev, Vasiliy T.; Shamshur, Dmitriy V.; Takai, Kazuyuki

    2017-04-01

    The boron-doped diamond (BDD) powder consisting of 40-100 μm particles was synthesized at 5 GPa and 1500-1600 °C from a mixture of 50 wt% graphite and 50 wt% Ni-Mn catalyst with an addition of 1 wt% or 5 wt% boron powder. The size of crystal domains of doped and non-doped diamond was evaluated as a coherent scattering region by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), being ≥180 nm (XRD) and 100 nm (SANS). Magnetic impurities of NiMnx originating from the catalyst in the synthesis, which prevent superconductivity, were detected by magnetization measurements at 2-300 K. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the temperature dependence of the resistivity, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy reveal that the concentration of electrically active boron is as high as (2±1)×1020 cm-3 (0.1 at%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest boron content for BDD synthesized in high-pressure high-temperature process with metal catalysts.

  9. Catalytic dehydration of ethanol using transition metal oxide catalysts.

    PubMed

    Zaki, T

    2005-04-15

    The aim of this work is to study catalytic ethanol dehydration using different prepared catalysts, which include Fe(2)O(3), Mn(2)O(3), and calcined physical mixtures of both ferric and manganese oxides with alumina and/or silica gel. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts were investigated via X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), acidity measurement, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption at -196 degrees C. The catalytic activities of such catalysts were tested through conversion of ethanol at 200-500 degrees C using a catalytic flow system operated under atmospheric pressure. The results obtained indicated that the dehydration reaction on the catalyst relies on surface acidity, whereas the ethylene production selectivity depends on the catalyst chemical constituents.

  10. Highly Efficient Selective Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde to Cinnamyl Alcohol over Gold Supported on Zinc Oxide Materials

    DOE PAGES

    Chen, Hangning; Cullen, David A.; Larese, J. Z.

    2015-11-30

    We used Au/ZnO catalysts for liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol and compared with Au/Fe 2O 3 catalysts. To investigate the influence of the support on the hydrogenation activity and selectivity, three different Au/ZnO catalysts were synthesized, including Au/rod-tetrapod ZnO, Au/porous ZnO, and Au/ZnO-CP prepared using a coprecipitation method. Moreover, the influence of calcination temperature was also systematically investigated in this study. The characterization of Au/ZnO catalysts was performed using ICP, N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Among all the supported Au catalysts prepared in this study, Au/ZnO-CP exhibits bothmore » the highest hydrogenation activity and selectivity. Using a 1.5% Au/ZnO-CP catalyst, 100% selectivity could be achieved with 94.9% conversion. Finally, we find that the Au particle (size and shape), the ZnO support (size and surface texture) and the interaction between Au and ZnO are three important parameters for achieving a highly efficient Au/ZnO catalyst.« less

  11. Hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones catalyzed by hydrido iron complexes bearing imine ligands.

    PubMed

    Zuo, Zhenyu; Sun, Hongjian; Wang, Lin; Li, Xiaoyan

    2014-08-14

    Two new hydrido iron complexes (2 and 4) were synthesized by the reactions of (4-methoxyphenyl)phenylketimine ((4-MeOPh)PhC=NH) with Fe(PMe3)4 or FeMe2(PMe3)4. The molecular structures of complexes 2 and 4 were confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Using hydrido iron complexes (1-4) as catalysts, the hydrosilylations of aldehydes and ketones were investigated. The four complexes were effective catalysts for this reduction reaction. Complex 1 among them is the best catalyst.

  12. High Catalytic Efficiency of Nanostructured β-CoMoO₄ in the Reduction of the Ortho-, Meta- and Para-Nitrophenol Isomers.

    PubMed

    Al-Wadaani, Fahd; Omer, Ahmed; Abboudi, Mostafa; Oudghiri Hassani, Hicham; Rakass, Souad; Messali, Mouslim; Benaissa, Mohammed

    2018-02-09

    Nanostructured β-CoMoO₄ catalysts have been prepared via the thermal decomposition of an oxalate precursor. The catalyst was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The efficiency of these nanoparticles in the reduction of ortho - and meta -nitrophenol isomers (2-NP, 3-NP, and 4-NP) to their corresponding aminophenols was tested using UV-visible spectroscopy measurements. It was found that, with a β-CoMoO₄ catalyst, NaBH₄ reduces 3-NP instantaneously, whilst the reduction of 2-NP and 4-NP is slower at 8 min. This difference is thought to arise from the lower acidity of 3-NP, where the negative charge of the phenolate could not be delocalized onto the oxygen atoms of the meta-nitro group.

  13. A two step method to synthesize palladium-copper nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide and their extremely high electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Na, HeYa; Zhang, Lei; Qiu, HaiXia; Wu, Tao; Chen, MingXi; Yang, Nian; Li, LingZhi; Xing, FuBao; Gao, JianPing

    2015-08-01

    Palladium-copper nanoparticles (Pd-Cu NPs) supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with different Pd/Cu ratios (Pd-Cu/RGO) were prepared by a two step method. The Pd-Cu/RGO hybrids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the electrochemical activities and stabilities of the Pd-Cu/RGO catalysts for the electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline media. The Pd-Cu/RGO catalysts exhibited high catalytic activities and good stabilities. This is because the catalysts have a bimetallic structure consisting of a small Pd-Cu core surrounded by a thin Pd-rich shell which improves the catalytic activities of the Pd-Cu/RGO hybrids. Thus they should be useful in direct methanol and ethanol fuel cells.

  14. In situ X-ray diffraction study of reduction processes of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}- and Fe{sub 1-x}O-based ammonia-synthesis catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zheng Yifan, E-mail: zhengyifan@zjut.edu.c; Catalysis Institute, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014; Liu Huazhang

    2009-09-15

    The temperature-programmed reduction process of two types of industrial ammonia-synthesis catalysts, A110 and ZA-5, which are, respectively, based on Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and Fe{sub 1-x}O precursors, were studied by in situ X-ray power diffraction (XRD). It has been found that the ZA-5 has lower reduction temperature and faster reduction rate, and its active phase alpha-Fe possesses a higher value of lattice microstrain than A110. The simulation based on Rietveld refinement has also shown that the shape of alpha-Fe grain of ZA-5 has a mixed shape of cube and sphere with more exposing (111) and (211) planes, while that of A110more » looks like a concave cube with more exposing (110) planes. Based on the results obtained, a growth model of alpha-Fe during the reduction of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}- and Fe{sub 1-x}O-based ammonia-synthesis catalysts is proposed, and the origins for the activity difference has been also discussed. - Graphical Abstract: A proposed growth model of active phase alpha-Fe during reduction. Due to H{sub 2} diffusing easily into the pores, reduction starts on outside and inside surface simultaneously to form 'microcrystalline film', and the particles shrink during reduction which results in breaking of the aggregated oxide particle.« less

  15. Synthesis of Novel Ferrite Based Recyclable Catalyst Used to Clean Dye and Emerging Contaminates from Water

    EPA Science Inventory

    Herein, we describe synthesis of novel palladium, copper, cobalt and vanadium ferrites. The ferrites were synthesized by combustion method using polyvinyl alcohol. The particles phases were confirmed using X-ray diffraction and sizes were determined using particle size analyzer. ...

  16. Promising SiC support for Pd catalyst in selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Zhanglong; Liu, Yuefeng; Liu, Yan; Chu, Wei

    2018-06-01

    In this study, SiC supported Pd nanoparticles were found to be an efficient catalyst in acetylene selective hydrogenation reaction. The ethylene selectivity can be about 20% higher than that on Pd/TiO2 catalyst at the same acetylene conversion at 90%. Moreover, Pd/SiC catalyst showed a stable catalytic life at 65 °C with 80% ethylene selectivity. With the detailed characterization using temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption/desorption analysis, CO-chemisorption and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), it was found that SiC owns a lower surface area (22.9 m2/g) and a broad distribution of meso-/macro-porosity (from 5 to 65 nm), which enhanced the mass transfer during the chemical process at high reaction rate and decreased the residence time of ethylene on catalyst surface. Importantly, SiC support has the high thermal conductivity, which favored the rapid temperature homogenization through the catalyst bed and inhabited the over-hydrogenation of acetylene. The surface electronic density of Pd on Pd/SiC catalyst was higher than that on Pd/TiO2, which could promote desorption of ethylene from surface of the catalyst. TGA results confirmed a much less coke deposition on Pd/SiC catalyst.

  17. Graphene Derivative in Magnetically Recoverable Catalyst Determines Catalytic Properties in Transfer Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes to Anilines with 2-Propanol.

    PubMed

    Das, Vijay Kumar; Mazhar, Sumaira; Gregor, Lennon; Stein, Barry D; Morgan, David Gene; Maciulis, Nicholas A; Pink, Maren; Losovyj, Yaroslav; Bronstein, Lyudmila M

    2018-06-14

    Here, we report transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes to aminoarenes using 2-propanol as a hydrogen source and Ag-containing magnetically recoverable catalysts based on partially reduced graphene oxide (pRGO) sheets. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data demonstrated that, during the one-pot catalyst synthesis, formation of magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) is accompanied by the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to pRGO. The formation of Ag 0 NPs on top of magnetite nanoparticles does not change the pRGO structure. At the same time, the catalyst structure is further modified during the transfer hydrogenation, leading to a noticeable increase of sp 2 carbons. These carbons are responsible for the adsorption of substrate and intermediates, facilitating a hydrogen transfer from Ag NPs and creating synergy between the components of the catalyst. The nitroarenes with electron withdrawing and electron donating substituents allow for excellent yields of aniline derivatives with high regio and chemoselectivity, indicating that the reaction is not disfavored by these functionalities. The versatility of the catalyst synthetic protocol was demonstrated by a synthesis of an Ru-containing graphene derivative based catalyst, also allowing for efficient transfer hydrogenation. Easy magnetic separation and stable catalyst performance in the transfer hydrogenation make this catalyst promising for future applications.

  18. Preparation of N-doped ZnO-loaded halloysite nanotubes catalysts with high solar-light photocatalytic activity.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Zhi-Lin; Sun, Wei

    2015-01-01

    N-doped ZnO nanoparticles were successfully assembled into hollow halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) by using the impregnation method. The catalysts based on N-doped ZnO-loaded HNTs nanocomposites (N-doped ZnO/HNTs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (TEM-EDX), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), UV-vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. The XRD pattern showed ZnO nanoparticles with hexagonal structure loaded on HNTs. The TEM-EDX analysis indicated ZnO particles with the crystal size of ca.10 nm scattered in hollow structure of HNTs, and furthermore the concentration of N atom in nanocomposites was up to 2.31%. The SEM-EDX verified most of N-ZnO nanoparticles existing in hollow nanotubes of HNTs. Besides containing an obvious ultraviolet absorbance band, the UV-vis spectra of the N-doped ZnO/HNTs catalysts showed an available visible absorbance band by comparing to HNTs and non-doped ZnO/HNTs. The photocatalytic activity of the N-doped ZnO/HNTs catalysts was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution with the concentration of 20 mg/L under the simulated solar-light irradiation. The result showed that the N-doped ZnO/HNTs catalyst exhibited a desirable solar-light photocatalytic activity.

  19. Design of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Derived Nitrogen-Doped Nanoporous Carbons Containing Metal Species for Carbon Dioxide Fixation Reactions.

    PubMed

    Toyao, Takashi; Fujiwaki, Mika; Miyahara, Kenta; Kim, Tae-Ho; Horiuchi, Yu; Matsuoka, Masaya

    2015-11-01

    Various N-doped nanoporous carbons containing metal species were prepared by direct thermal conversion of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs; ZIF-7, -8, -9, and -67) at different temperatures (600, 800, and 1000 °C). These materials were utilized as bifunctional acid-base catalysts to promote the reaction of CO2 with epoxides to form cyclic carbonates under 0.6 MPa of CO2 at 80 °C. The catalyst generated by thermal conversion of ZIF-9 at 600 °C (C600-ZIF-9) was found to exhibit a higher catalytic activity than the other ZIFs, other conventional catalysts, and other metal-organic framework catalysts. The results of various characterization techniques including elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy show that C600-ZIF-9 contains partly oxidized Co nanoparticles and N species. Temperature-programmed desorption measurements by using CO2 and NH3 as probe molecules revealed that C600-ZIF-9 has both Lewis acid and Lewis base catalytic sites. Finally, the substrate scope was extended to seven other kinds of epoxides. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  20. Cobalt Oxide on N-Doped Carbon for 1-Butene Oligomerization to Produce Linear Octenes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhao, Dongting; Xu, Zhuoran; Chada, Joseph P.

    Cobalt oxide supported on N-doped carbon catalysts were investigated for 1-butene oligomerization. The materials were synthesized by treating activated carbon with nitric acid and subsequently with NH3 at 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C, followed by impregnation with cobalt. The 1-butene oligomerization selectivity increased with ammonia treatment temperature of the carbon support. The oligomerization selectivity of cobalt oxide on N-doped carbon synthesized at 800 °C (800A-CoOx/N-C) is 2.6 times higher than previously reported cobalt oxide on N-doped carbon synthesized with NH4OH (2A-CoOx/N-C). Over 70% of the butene dimers were linear C8 olefins for all catalysts. The oligomerization selectivity increased withmore » 1-butene conversion. The catalysts were characterized by elemental analysis, N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The nitrogen content of the catalysts increases with ammonia treatment temperature as confirmed by elemental analysis. The surface content of pyridinic nitrogen with a binding energy of 398.4 ± 0.1 eV increased with ammonia treatment temperature as evidenced by deconvolution of N 1s XPS spectra.« less

  1. Monolayer dispersion of CoO on Al2O3 probed by positronium atom

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Z. W.; Zhang, H. J.; Chen, Z. Q.

    2014-02-01

    CoO/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation method with CoO contents ranging from 0 wt% to 24 wt%. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements suggest formation of CoO after calcined in N2. Quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis indicates monolayer dispersion capacity of CoO in CoO/Al2O3 catalysts to be about 3 wt%. Positron annihilation lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening measurements were performed to study the dispersion state of CoO on Al2O3. The positron lifetime measurements reveal two long lifetime components τ3 and τ4, which correspond to ortho-positronium annihilation lifetime in microvoids and large pores, respectively. It was found that the positronium atom is very sensitive to the dispersion state of CoO on Al2O3. The presence of CoO significantly decreases both the lifetime and the intensity of τ4. Detailed analysis of the coincidence Doppler broadening measurements suggests that with the CoO content lower than the monolayer dispersion, spin conversion reaction of positronium is induced by CoO. When the cobalt content is higher than the monolayer dispersion capacity, inhibition of positronium formation becomes the dominate effect.

  2. Silver-palladium catalysts for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khan, Zainab; Dummer, Nicholas F.; Edwards, Jennifer K.

    2017-11-01

    A series of bimetallic silver-palladium catalysts supported on titania were prepared by wet impregnation and assessed for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, and its subsequent side reactions. The addition of silver to a palladium catalyst was found to significantly decrease hydrogen peroxide productivity and hydrogenation, but crucially increase the rate of decomposition. The decomposition product, which is predominantly hydroxyl radicals, can be used to decrease bacterial colonies. The interaction between silver and palladium was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The results of the TPR and XPS indicated the formation of a silver-palladium alloy. The optimal 1% Ag-4% Pd/TiO2 bimetallic catalyst was able to produce approximately 200 ppm of H2O2 in 30 min. The findings demonstrate that AgPd/TiO2 catalysts are active for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide and its subsequent decomposition to reactive oxygen species. The catalysts are promising for use in wastewater treatment as they combine the disinfectant properties of silver, hydrogen peroxide production and subsequent decomposition. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Providing sustainable catalytic solutions for a rapidly changing world'.

  3. Synthesis of waste cooking oil based biodiesel via ferric-manganese promoted molybdenum oxide / zirconia nanoparticle solid acid catalyst: influence of ferric and manganese dopants.

    PubMed

    Alhassan, Fatah H; Rashid, Umer; Taufiq-Yap, Yun Hin

    2015-01-01

    The utilization of ferric-manganese promoted molybdenum oxide/zirconia (Fe-Mn- MoO3/ZrO2) (FMMZ) solid acid catalyst for production of biodiesel was demonstrated. FMMZ is produced through impregnation reaction followed by calcination at 600°C for 3 h. The characterization of FMMZ had been done using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature programmed desorption of NH3 (TPD-NH3), transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and Brunner-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement. The effect of waste cooking oil methyl esters (WCOME's) yield on the reactions variables such as reaction temperature, catalyst loading, molar ratio of methanol/oil and reusability were also assessed. The catalyst was used to convert the waste cooking oil into corresponding methyl esters (95.6%±0.15) within 5 h at 200℃ reaction temperature, 600 rpm stirring speed, 1:25 molar ratio of oil to alcohol and 4% w/w catalyst loading. The reported catalyst was successfully recycled in six connective experiments without loss in activity. Moreover, the fuel properties of WCOME's were also reported using ASTM D 6751 methods.

  4. Enhanced performance of a novel anodic PdAu/VGCNF catalyst for electro-oxidation in a glycerol fuel cell.

    PubMed

    Yahya, N; Kamarudin, S K; Karim, N A; Masdar, M S; Loh, K S

    2017-11-25

    This study presents a novel anodic PdAu/VGCNF catalyst for electro-oxidation in a glycerol fuel cell. The reaction conditions are critical issues affecting the glycerol electro-oxidation performance. This study presents the effects of catalyst loading, temperature, and electrolyte concentration. The glycerol oxidation performance of the PdAu/VGCNF catalyst on the anode side is tested via cyclic voltammetry with a 3 mm 2 active area. The morphology and physical properties of the catalyst are examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Then, optimization is carried out using the response surface method with central composite experimental design. The current density is experimentally obtained as a response variable from a set of experimental laboratory tests. The catalyst loading, temperature, and NaOH concentration are taken as independent parameters, which were evaluated previously in the screening experiments. The highest current density of 158.34 mAcm -2 is obtained under the optimal conditions of 3.0 M NaOH concentration, 60 °C temperature and 12 wt.% catalyst loading. These results prove that PdAu-VGCNF is a potential anodic catalyst for glycerol fuel cells.

  5. Synthesis and characterization of supported polysugar-stabilized palladium nanoparticle catalysts for enhanced hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bacik, Deborah B.; Zhang, Man; Zhao, Dongye; Roberts, Christopher B.; Seehra, Mohinar S.; Singh, Vivek; Shah, Naresh

    2012-07-01

    Palladium (Pd) nanoparticle catalysts were successfully synthesized within an aqueous phase using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a capping ligand which offers a green alternative to conventional nanoparticle synthesis techniques. The CMC-stabilized Pd nanoparticles were subsequently dispersed within support materials using the incipient wetness impregnation technique for utilization in heterogeneous catalyst systems. The unsupported and supported (both calcined and uncalcined) Pd nanoparticle catalysts were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, x-ray diffraction, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement and their catalytic activity toward the hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) in aqueous media was examined using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst systems, respectively. The unsupported Pd nanoparticles showed considerable activity toward the degradation of TCE, as demonstrated by the reaction kinetics. Although the supported Pd nanoparticle catalysts had a lower catalytic activity than the unsupported particles that were homogeneously dispersed in the aqueous solutions, the supported catalysts retained sufficient activity toward the degradation of TCE. In addition, the use of the hydrophilic Al2O3 support material induced a mass transfer resistance to TCE that affected the initial hydrodechlorination rate. This paper demonstrates that supported Pd catalysts can be applied to the heterogeneous catalytic hydrodechlorination of TCE.

  6. The nature of catalyst particles and growth mechanisms of GaN nanowires grown by Ni-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.

    PubMed

    Weng, Xiaojun; Burke, Robert A; Redwing, Joan M

    2009-02-25

    The structure and chemistry of the catalyst particles that terminate GaN nanowires grown by Ni-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition were investigated using a combination of electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry. The crystal symmetry, lattice parameter, and chemical composition obtained reveal that the catalyst particles are Ni(3)Ga with an ordered L 1(2) structure. The results suggest that the catalyst is a solid particle during growth and therefore favor a vapor-solid-solid mechanism for the growth of GaN nanowires under these conditions.

  7. Influence of indium supply on Au-catalyzed InGaAs nanowire growth studied by in situ X-ray diffraction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sasaki, Takuo; Takahasi, Masamitu

    2017-06-01

    In this study, we analyzed the influence of indium supply on the growth dynamics of gold-catalyzed InGaAs nanowires by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. A high In/Ga supply ratio results in strong size inhomogeneity of Au particles and interrupts the nanowire growth at a certain point of time. Based on the experimental results, we discussed the state of Au catalysts with high indium content during the nanowire growth. We found that a growth temperature below the eutectic temperature is essential to avoid the growth interruption and maintain the nanowire growth. The high In/Ga ratio necessitates accurate size control of Au particles before growth for further improvement of the nanowire growth.

  8. Highly active carbon supported ternary PdSnPtx (x=0.1-0.7) catalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline and acid media.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiaoguang; Zhu, Fuchun; He, Yongwei; Wang, Mei; Zhang, Zhonghua; Ma, Zizai; Li, Ruixue

    2016-04-15

    A series of trimetallic PdSnPtx (x=0.1-0.7)/C catalysts with varied Pt content have been synthesized by co-reduction method using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. These catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The electrochemical results show that, after adding a minor amount of Pt dopant, the resultant PdSnPtx/C demonstrated more superior catalytic performance toward ethanol oxidation as compared with that of mono-/bi-metallic Pd/C or PdSn/C in alkaline solution and the PdSnPt0.2/C with optimal molar ratio reached the best. In acid solution, the PdSnPt0.2/C also depicted a superior catalytic activity relative to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The possible enhanced synergistic effect between Pd, Sn/Sn(O) and Pt in an alloyed state should be responsible for the as-revealed superior ethanol electro-oxidation performance based upon the beneficial electronic effect and bi-functional mechanism. It implies the trimetallic PdSnPt0.2/C with a low Pt content has a promising prospect as anodic electrocatalyst in fields of alkali- and acid-type direct ethanol fuel cells. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. A facile one-pot solvothermal method for synthesis of magnetically recoverable Pd-Fe3O4 hybrid nanocatalysts for the Mizoroki-Heck reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhen, Fangchen; Ran, Maofei; Chu, Wei; Jiang, Chengfa; Sun, Wenjing

    2018-03-01

    Pd-Fe3O4 hybrid nanostructures were prepared using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. The prepared materials were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma, N2 adsorption-desorption, and vibrating sample magnetometry. This self-assembled nanosystem acted as an efficient magnetically recyclable noble metal-based multi-functional nanocatalyst. It showed excellent catalytic activity and stability for the Heck reaction of iodobenzene and styrene under mild conditions. The methods used to prepare the Pd-Fe3O4 catalysts were simple and low-cost, which will be useful for the large-scale development and application of a magnetically recoverable Pd catalyst.

  10. Synthesis, spectral, thermal, X-ray single crystal of new RuCl₂(dppb)diamine complexes and their application in hydrogenation of Cinnamic aldehyde.

    PubMed

    Warad, Ismail; Al-Hussain, Hanan; Al-Far, Rawhi; Mahfouz, Refaat; Hammouti, Belkheir; Hadda, Taibi Ben

    2012-09-01

    The preparation of new three trans-[RuCl(2)(dppb)(N-N)] with mixed diamine (N-N) and 1,4-bis-(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb) ligands, starting from RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3) as precursor is presented. The complexes are characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, (1)H, (13)C and (31)P{(1)H}NMR, FAB-MS, TG/DTA and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complex (2L(1)) crystallizes in the monoclinic unit cells with the space group P2(1). The catalysts are evaluated for their Cinnamic aldehyde hydrogenation. The catalysts show excellent activity and selectivity for the unsaturated carbonyl compound under mild conditions. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Controlled synthesis of carbon-encapsulated copper nanostructures by using smectite clays as nanotemplates.

    PubMed

    Tsoufis, Theodoros; Colomer, Jean-François; Maccallini, Enrico; Jankovič, Lubos; Rudolf, Petra; Gournis, Dimitrios

    2012-07-23

    Rhomboidal and spherical metallic-copper nanostructures were encapsulated within well-formed graphitic shells by using a simple chemical method that involved the catalytic decomposition of acetylene over a copper catalyst that was supported on different smectite clays surfaces by ion-exchange. These metallic-copper nanostructures could be separated from the inorganic support and remained stable for months. The choice of the clay support influenced both the shape and the size of the synthesized Cu nanostructures. The synthesized materials and the supported catalysts from which they were produced were studied in detail by TEM and SEM, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, as well as by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Nickel-based xerogel catalysts: Synthesis via fast sol-gel method and application in catalytic hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feng, Jin; Wang, Qiang; Fan, Dongliang; Ma, Lirong; Jiang, Deli; Xie, Jimin; Zhu, Jianjun

    2016-09-01

    In order to investigate the roles of three-dimensional network structure and calcium on Ni catalysts, the Ni, Ni-Al2O3, Ni-Ca-Al2O3 xerogel catalysts were successfully synthesized via the fast sol-gel process and chemical reduction method. The crystal structure of three different catalysts was observed with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption were employed to investigate the role of network structure of xerogel catalysts and the size distribution of Ni nanoparticles. The catalyst composition was determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurement and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) experiments were carried out to investigate the reducibility of nickel species and the interaction between nickel species and alumina. The catalytic hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol was investigated over the prepared nickel-based xerogel catalysts. The conversion of p-nitrophenol was monitored by UV spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results show that the catalysts are highly selective for the conversion of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol and the order of catalytic activities of the catalysts is Ni < Ni-Al2O3 < Ni-Ca-Al2O3. The catalysts were recycled and were used to evaluate the reutilization.

  13. Synthesis and Raman scattering of GaN nanorings, nanoribbons and nanowires

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Z. J.; Chen, X. L.; Li, H. J.; Tu, Q. Y.; Yang, Z.; Xu, Y. P.; Hu, B. Q.

    Low-dimensional GaN materials, including nanorings, nanoribbons and smooth nanowires have been synthesized by reacting gallium and ammonia using Ag particles as a catalyst on the substrate of MgO single crystals. They were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). EDX, XRD indicated that the low-dimensional nanomaterials were wurtzite GaN. New features are found in Raman scatterings for these low-dimensional GaN materials, which are different from the previous observations of GaN materials.

  14. Influence of Alumina Binder Content on Catalytic Performance of Ni/HZSM-5 for Hydrodeoxygenation of Cyclohexanone

    PubMed Central

    Kong, Xiangjin; Liu, Junhai

    2014-01-01

    The influence of the amount of alumina binders on the catalytic performance of Ni/HZSM-5 for hydrodeoxygenation of cyclohexanone was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. N2 sorption, X-ray diffraction, H2-chemisorption and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia were used to characterize the catalysts. It can be observed that the Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst bound with 30 wt.% alumina binder exhibited the best catalytic performance. The high catalytic performance may be due to relatively good Ni metal dispersion, moderate mesoporosity, and proper acidity of the catalyst. PMID:25009974

  15. Influence of alumina binder content on catalytic performance of Ni/HZSM-5 for hydrodeoxygenation of cyclohexanone.

    PubMed

    Kong, Xiangjin; Liu, Junhai

    2014-01-01

    The influence of the amount of alumina binders on the catalytic performance of Ni/HZSM-5 for hydrodeoxygenation of cyclohexanone was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. N2 sorption, X-ray diffraction, H2-chemisorption and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia were used to characterize the catalysts. It can be observed that the Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst bound with 30 wt.% alumina binder exhibited the best catalytic performance. The high catalytic performance may be due to relatively good Ni metal dispersion, moderate mesoporosity, and proper acidity of the catalyst.

  16. In-situ X-ray diffraction activation study on an Fe/TiO2 pre-catalyst.

    PubMed

    Rayner, Matthew K; Billing, David G; Coville, Neil J

    2014-06-01

    This study focuses on the use of in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and quantitative phase analysis using the Rietveld method to monitor the structural properties of a titania-supported iron (10% Fe/TiO2) pre-catalyst during calcination (oxidation) and activation (reduction) in the temperature range 25-900°C. The TiO2 oxidation study revealed an increase in anatase particle size before the anatase to rutile phase transformation, lending credibility to the bridging mechanism proposed by Kim et al. [(2007), Mater. Sci. Forum, 534-536, 65-68]. Pre-catalyst oxidation experiments allowed for the determination of a suitable calcination temperature (450°C) of the pre-catalyst in terms of maximum hematite concentration and appropriate particle size. These experiments also confirmed that the anatase to rutile phase transformation occurred at higher temperatures after Fe addition and that anatase was the sole donor of Ti(4+) ions, which are known to migrate into hematite (Gennari et al., 1998), during the formation of pseudobrookite (Fe2TiO5) at temperatures above 690°C. Using the results from the oxidation experiments, two pre-catalyst samples were calcined at different temperatures; one to represent the preferred case and one to represent a case where the pre-catalyst had been excessively heated. Samples of the excessively heated catalysts were exposed to different reducing gas atmospheres (5, 10 and 100% H2/N2) and heated in the in situ PXRD reactor, so that diffraction data could be collected during the activation process. The results show that reduction with gases containing low concentrations of H2 (5 and 10%) led to the formation of ilmenite (FeTiO3) and we were able to show that both anatase and rutile are consumed in the reaction. Higher concentrations of H2 led to the formation of magnetite (Fe3O4) and metallic iron (Fe(0)). We also noted a decrease in the anatase to rutile transformation temperature under reducing atmospheres when compared with the pre-catalyst heat-treatment experiment. A reduced calcination temperature prior to reduction allowed more facile Fe reduction.

  17. Morphological effect of BiVO4 catalysts on degradation of aqueous paracetamol under visible light irradiation.

    PubMed

    Hu, Changying; Xu, Jie; Zhu, Yaqi; Chen, Acong; Bian, Zhaoyong; Wang, Hui

    2016-09-01

    Morphological effect of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) on visible light-driven catalytic degradation of aqueous paracetamol was carefully investigated using four monoclinic BiVO4 catalysts. The catalysts with different morphologies were controllably prepared by a hydrothermal method without any additions. The prepared catalysts were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Under the visible light irradiation, these catalysts with different morphology were investigated to degrade aqueous paracetamol contaminant. The degradation effects were evaluated based on the catalyst morphology, solution pH, initial paracetamol concentration, and catalyst dosage. Cube-like BiVO4 powders exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance. The optimal photocatalytic performance of the cube-like BiVO4 in degrading paracetamol was achieved.

  18. Crystalline mesoporous zirconia catalysts having stable tetragonal pore wall structure

    DOEpatents

    Sachtler, W.M.H.; Huang, Y.Y.

    1998-07-28

    Methods are disclosed for the preparation of new sulfated mesoporous zirconia materials/catalysts with crystalline pore walls of predominantly tetragonal crystal structure, characterized by nitrogen physical sorption measurement, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and catalytic tests using n-butane isomerization to iso-butane and alkylation of 1-naphthol with 4-tert-butylstyrene as probe reactions. Sulfate deposition is preferred for the transformation of a mesoporous precursor with amorphous pore walls into a material with crystalline pore walls maintaining the mesoporous characteristics. 17 figs.

  19. Crystalline mesoporous zirconia catalysts having stable tetragonal pore wall structure

    DOEpatents

    Sachtler, Wolfgang M. H.; Huang, Yin-Yan

    1998-01-01

    Methods for the preparation of new sulfated mesoporous zirconia materials/catalysts with crystalline pore walls of predominantly tetragonal crystal structure, characterized by nitrogen physisorption measurement, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and catalytic tests using n-butane isomerization to iso-butane and alkylation of 1-naphthol with 4-tert-butylstyrene as probe reactions. Sulfate deposition is preferred for the transformation of a mesoporous precursor with amorphous pore walls into a material with crystalline pore walls maintaining the mesoporous characteristics.

  20. A comparative study on the quality of bio-oil derived from green macroalga Enteromorpha clathrata over metal modified ZSM-5 catalysts.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shuang; Cao, Bin; Liu, Xinlin; Xu, Lujiang; Hu, Yamin; Afonaa-Mensah, Stephen; Abomohra, Abd El-Fatah; He, Zhixia; Wang, Qian; Xu, Shannan

    2018-05-01

    The green macroalga Enteromorpha clathrata was pyrolyzed with or without catalysts at the temperature of 550 °C for producing high-quality bio-oil. The ZSM-5 and 1,2,3 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalysts were introduced to investigate the yields and components distribution of bio-oil. Increase of bio-oil production was obtained with the use of ZSM-5 and 1,2,3 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalysts. The 1 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalyst exhibited more promising property for promoting the relative content of C 5 -C 7 compounds, and decreasing the relative content of acids in bio-oil. The results suggested that E. clathrata had potential as pyrolysis feedstocks for producing the high-quality bio-oil with large amounts of C 5 -C 7 compounds and low relative content of acids when the 1 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalyst was used. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of ZSM-5 and 1 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalysts were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Ni@Fe2O3 heterodimers: controlled synthesis and magnetically recyclable catalytic application for dehalogenation reactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakhjavan, Bahar; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Natalio, Filipe; Panthöfer, Martin; Gao, Haitao; Dietzsch, Michael; Andre, Rute; Gasi, Teuta; Ksenofontov, Vadim; Branscheid, Robert; Kolb, Ute; Tremel, Wolfgang

    2012-07-01

    Ni@Fe2O3 heterodimer nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of organometallic reactants. After functionalization, these Ni@Fe2O3 heterodimers became water soluble. The pristine heterodimeric NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. A special advantage of the heterodimers lies in the fact that nanodomains of different composition can be used as catalysts for the removal of environmentally hazardous halogenated pollutants.Ni@Fe2O3 heterodimer nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of organometallic reactants. After functionalization, these Ni@Fe2O3 heterodimers became water soluble. The pristine heterodimeric NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. A special advantage of the heterodimers lies in the fact that nanodomains of different composition can be used as catalysts for the removal of environmentally hazardous halogenated pollutants. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr12121b

  2. A methodology for investigating new nonprecious metal catalysts for PEM fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Susac, D; Sode, A; Zhu, L; Wong, P C; Teo, M; Bizzotto, D; Mitchell, K A R; Parsons, R R; Campbell, S A

    2006-06-08

    This paper reports an approach to investigate metal-chalcogen materials as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The methodology is illustrated with reference to Co-Se thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering onto a glassy-carbon substrate. Scanning Auger microscopy (SAM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used, in parallel with electrochemical activity and stability measurements, to assess how the electrochemical performance relates to chemical composition. It is shown that Co-Se thin films with varying Se are active for oxygen reduction, although the open circuit potential (OCP) is lower than for Pt. A kinetically controlled process is observed in the potential range 0.5-0.7 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) for the thin-film catalysts studied. An initial exposure of the thin-film samples to an acid environment served as a pretreatment, which modified surface composition prior to activity measurements with the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method. Based on the SAM characterization before and after electrochemical tests, all surfaces demonstrating activity are dominated by chalcogen. XRD shows that the thin films have nanocrystalline character that is based on a Co(1-x)Se phase. Parallel studies on Co-Se powder supported on XC72R carbon show comparable OCP, Tafel region, and structural phase as for the thin-film model catalysts. A comparison for ORR activity has also been made between this Co-Se powder and a commercial Pt catalyst.

  3. Preparation, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of MoCo/USY Catalyst on Hydrodeoxygenation Reaction of Anisole

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nugrahaningtyas, K. D.; Suharbiansah, R. S. R.; Rahmawati, F.

    2018-03-01

    This research aims to prepare, characterize, and study the catalytic activity of Molybdenum (Mo) and Cobalt (Co) metal with supporting material Ultra Stable Y-Zeolite (USY), to produce catalysts with activity in hydrotreatment reaction and in order to eliminate impurities compounds that containing unwanted groups heteroatoms. The bimetallic catalysts MoCo/USY were prepared by wet impregnation method with weight variation of Co metal 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and Mo metal 8% (w/w), respectively. Activation method of the catalyst included calcination, oxidation, reduction and the crystallinity was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the acidity of the catalyst was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gravimetry method, minerals present in the catalyst was analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and surface of the catalyst was analyzed using Surface Area Analyzer (SAA). Catalytic activity test (benzene yield product) of MoCo/USY on hydrodeoxigenation reaction of anisole aimed to determine the effect of Mo-Co/USY for catalytic activity in the reaction hydrodeoxigenation (HDO) anisole. Based on characterization and test of catalytic activity, it is known that catalytic of MoCo/USY 2% (catalyst B) shows best activities with acidity of 10.209 mmol/g, specific area of catalyst of 426.295 m2/g, pore average of 14.135 Å, total pore volume 0.318 cc/g, and total yield of HDO products 6.06%.

  4. In situ hydrogenation and decarboxylation of oleic acid into heptadecane over a Cu–Ni alloy catalyst using methanol as a hydrogen carrier

    DOE PAGES

    Zhang, Zihao; Yang, Qiwei; Chen, Hao; ...

    2017-10-13

    In this paper, supported Cu–Ni bimetallic catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for the in situ hydrogenation and decarboxylation of oleic acid using methanol as a hydrogen donor. The supported Cu–Ni alloy exhibited a significant improvement in both activity and selectivity towards the production of heptadecane in comparison with monometallic Cu and Ni based catalysts. The formation of the Cu–Ni alloy is demonstrated by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HADDF-STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS-mapping), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). A partially oxidized Cu in the Cu–Ni alloy is revealed by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformmore » spectroscopy (DRIFTS) following CO adsorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The temperature programmed desorption of ethylene and propane (ethylene/propane-TPD) suggested that the formation of the Cu–Ni alloy inhibited the cracking of C–C bonds compared to Ni, and remarkably increased the selectivity to heptadecane. The temperature programmed desorption of acetic acid (acetic acid-TPD) indicated that the bimetallic Cu–Ni alloy and Ni catalysts had a stronger adsorption of acetic acid than that of the Cu catalyst. Finally, the formation of the Cu–Ni alloy and a partially oxidized Cu facilitates the decarboxylation reaction and inhibits the cracking reaction of C–C bonds, leading to enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity.« less

  5. In situ hydrogenation and decarboxylation of oleic acid into heptadecane over a Cu–Ni alloy catalyst using methanol as a hydrogen carrier

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Zihao; Yang, Qiwei; Chen, Hao

    In this paper, supported Cu–Ni bimetallic catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for the in situ hydrogenation and decarboxylation of oleic acid using methanol as a hydrogen donor. The supported Cu–Ni alloy exhibited a significant improvement in both activity and selectivity towards the production of heptadecane in comparison with monometallic Cu and Ni based catalysts. The formation of the Cu–Ni alloy is demonstrated by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HADDF-STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS-mapping), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). A partially oxidized Cu in the Cu–Ni alloy is revealed by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformmore » spectroscopy (DRIFTS) following CO adsorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The temperature programmed desorption of ethylene and propane (ethylene/propane-TPD) suggested that the formation of the Cu–Ni alloy inhibited the cracking of C–C bonds compared to Ni, and remarkably increased the selectivity to heptadecane. The temperature programmed desorption of acetic acid (acetic acid-TPD) indicated that the bimetallic Cu–Ni alloy and Ni catalysts had a stronger adsorption of acetic acid than that of the Cu catalyst. Finally, the formation of the Cu–Ni alloy and a partially oxidized Cu facilitates the decarboxylation reaction and inhibits the cracking reaction of C–C bonds, leading to enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity.« less

  6. Design of PdAg Hollow Nanoflowers through Galvanic Replacement and Their Application for Ethanol Electrooxidation.

    PubMed

    Bin, Duan; Yang, Beibei; Zhang, Ke; Wang, Caiqin; Wang, Jin; Zhong, Jiatai; Feng, Yue; Guo, Jun; Du, Yukou

    2016-11-07

    In this study, galvanic replacement provides a simple route for the synthesis of PdAg hollow nanoflower structures by using the Ag-seeds as sacrificial templates in the presence of l-ascorbic acid (reductant) and CTAC (capping agent). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and EDS mapping were used to characterize the as-prepared PdAg hollow nanoflower catalysts, where they were alloyed nanoflower structures with hollow interiors. By maneuvering the Pd/Ag ratio, we found that the as-prepared Pd 1 Ag 3 hollow nanoflower catalysts had the optimized performance for catalytic activity toward ethanol oxidation reaction. Moreover, these as-prepared PdAg hollow nanoflower catalysts exhibited noticeably higher electrocatalytic activity as compared to pure Pd and commercial Pd/C catalysts due to the alloyed Ag-Pd composition as well as the hollow nanoflower structures. It is anticipated that this work provides a rational design of other architecturally controlled bimetallic nanocrystals for application in fuel cells. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  7. Beneficial effects of rhodium and tin oxide on carbon supported platinum catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soares, Layciane A.; Morais, Claudia; Napporn, Teko W.; Kokoh, K. Boniface; Olivi, Paulo

    2016-05-01

    This work investigates ethanol electrooxidation on Pt/C, PtxRhy/C, Pt-SnO2/C, and PtxRhy-SnO2/C catalysts synthesized by the Pechini and microwave-assisted polyol methods. The catalysts are characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The electrochemical properties of these electrode materials are examined by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry experiments in acid medium. The products obtained during ethanol electrolysis are identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The adsorbed intermediates are evaluated by an in situ reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy technique combined with cyclic voltammetry. Catalysts performance in a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) is also assessed. The electrical performance of the electrocatalysts in a single DEFC at 80 °C decreases in the following order Pt70Rh30SnO2 > Pt80Rh20SnO2 > Pt60Rh40SnO2 ∼ PtSnO2 > PtxRhy ∼ Pt, showing that the presence of SnO2 enhances the ability of Pt to catalyze ethanol electrooxidation.

  8. Seed-mediated synthesis of cross-linked Pt-NiO nanochains for methanol oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gu, Zhulan; Bin, Duan; Feng, Yue; Zhang, Ke; Wang, Jin; Yan, Bo; Li, Shumin; Xiong, Zhiping; Wang, Caiqin; Shiraishi, Yukihide; Du, Yukou

    2017-07-01

    A simple method was reported for employing NiO nanoparticles act as seeds and then different amounts of Pt2+ were reduced on the NiO nanoparticles, forming a cross-linked Pt-NiO nanocatalysts. These as-prepared catalysts were characterized using different physical-chemical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the morphology of the cross-linked Pt-NiO nanochain was successfully produced regardless of the molar ratio of Pt2+ to NiO precursors. The electrochemical characteristics of Pt-NiO nanochain catalysts were evaluated for the oxidation of methanol as a model reaction, which verify that the Pt-NiO catalysts show enhanced activity and high stability in comparison with the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The optimized ratio of Pt to NiO is 1:1, then tuned by simple adjusting the feed ratio of the precursors as well. The synthesized nanocatalysts will be found the great potential applications as electrocatalysts for fuel cells owe to their enhanced catalytic performance and long-term stability.

  9. Ru-assisted synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites with high activity for ethanol electrooxidation.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ke; Bin, Duan; Yang, Beibei; Wang, Caiqin; Ren, Fangfang; Du, Yukou

    2015-08-07

    Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of a highly branched noble metal, the controllable synthesis has attracted much attention. This article reports the synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites by a facile method using an oil bath in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, potassium bromide and ascorbic acid. The morphology, structure, and composition of the as-prepared catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the electrochemical measurement, the as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 bimetallic nanodendrites provide a large electrochemically active surface area and exhibit high peak current density in the forward scan toward ethanol electrooxidation, which is nearly four times higher than those of a pure Pd catalyst. The as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 catalysts also exhibit significantly enhanced cycling stability toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium, which are mainly ascribed to the synergetic effect between Pd and Ru. This indicates that the Pd7/Ru1 catalysts should have great potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells.

  10. Non-Metal Doped Titania Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Neonicotinoid Insecticides Under Visible Light Irradiation.

    PubMed

    Joseph, Amala Infant Joice; Thiripuranthagan, Sivakumar

    2018-05-01

    Recombination of e-/h+ pair, the major issue of any titania based photocatalytic material, is addressed here by doping non-metals such as C, N, B, F into the lattice of nano TiO2. The as-synthesised catalysts were characterized by using various instrumental techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Nanosize of titania was confirmed by both XRD and TEM studies. Visible light inactivity of TiO2 is overcome by C, N, B, F doped titania catalysts in the degradation of neonicotinoid type insecticides namely imidacloprid (IMI) and thiamethoxam (TMX). The degradation efficiencies of the catalysts under different irradiations namely UV, visible and solar were compared. Among the catalysts, CNBF/TiO2 degraded IMI completely at 150, 240 and 330 min whereas TMX has been degraded completely at 210, 270 and 420 min under UV, solar and visible irradiations respectively. The recyclability test of CNBF/TiO2 confirmed its stability towards photocatalytic reaction.

  11. Decolorization of Methylene Blue by Persulfate Activated with FeO Magnetic Particles.

    PubMed

    Hung, Chang-Mao; Chen, Chiu-Wen; Liu, Yi-Yuan; Dong, Cheng-Di

    2016-08-01

    In this study, the degradation of methylene blue (MB) was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using persulfate oxidation activated with iron oxide (FeO) magnetic particles. The results demonstrated that the decolorization rate of MB increased with increasing FeO concentration, exhibiting maximum efficiency at pH0 3.0. The kinetics of MB was studied in the binary FeO catalyst and persulfate oxidation system. The surface properties of FeO before and after reaction was analyzed using cyclic voltammogram (CV), three-dimensional excitation-emission fluorescence matrix (EEFM) spectroscopy, zeta potential, particle size distribution measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and environmental scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (ESEM-EDS). The CV data indicated that a reversible redox reaction holds the key to explaining the significant activity of the catalyst. EEFM was used to evaluate the catalyst yield of FeO by fluorescence intensity plots with excitation/emission at 220/300 nm and 260/300 nm. The XRD and ESEM-EDS results confirmed the presence of FeO in the catalyst.

  12. Synthesis H-Zeolite catalyst by impregnation KI/KIO3 and performance test catalyst for biodiesel production

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Widayat, W.; Rizky Wicaksono, Adit; Hakim Firdaus, Lukman; Okvitarini, Ndaru

    2016-02-01

    The objective of this research is to produce H-catalyst catalyst that was impregnated with KI/KIO3. The catalyst was analyzed about surface area, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and performance test of catalyst for biodiesel production. An H-Zeolite catalyst was synthesized from natural zeolite with chemical treatment processing, impregnation KI/KIO3 and physical treatment. The results shows that the surface area of the catalyst by 27.236 m2/g at a concentration of 5% KI. XRD analysis shows peak 2-θ at 23.627o indicating that KI was impregnated on H-zeolite catalyst. The catalyst was tested in production of biodiesel using palm oil with conventional methods for 3 hour at temperature of 70-80 oC. The result for conversion Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) reached maximum value on 87.91% under production process using catalyst 5% KIO3-H zeolite.

  13. Characterization of Deactivated Bio-oil Hydrotreating Catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Huamin; Wang, Yong

    Deactivation of bio-oil hydrotreating catalysts remains a significant challenge because of the poor quality of pyrolysis bio-oil input for hydrotreating and understanding their deactivation mode is critical to developing improved catalysts and processes. In this research, we developed an understanding of the deactivation of two-step bio-oil hydrotreating catalysts (sulfided Ru/C and sulfided CoMo/C) through detailed characterization of the catalysts using various complimentary analytical techniques. Severe fouling of both catalysts by carbonaceous species was the major form of deactivation, which is consistent with the significant loss of surface area and pore volume of both deactivated catalysts and the significant increase ofmore » the bulk density. Further analysis of the carbonaceous species by thermogravimetric analysis and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the carbonaceous species was formed by condensation reaction of active species such as sugars and sugar derivatives (aldehydes and ketones) in bio-oil feedstock during bio-oil hydrotreating under the conditions and catalysts used. Microscopy results did not show metal sintering of the Ru/C catalyst. However, X-ray diffraction indicated a probable transformation of the highly-active CoMoS phase in the sulfided CoMo/C catalyst to Co8S9 and MoS2 phase with low activity. Loss of the active site by transport of inorganic elements from the bio-oil and the reactor construction material onto the catalyst surface also might be a cause of deactivation as indicated by elemental analysis of spent catalysts.« less

  14. Selective hydrodeoxygenation of cyclic vicinal diols to cyclic alcohols over tungsten oxide-palladium catalysts.

    PubMed

    Amada, Yasushi; Ota, Nobuhiko; Tamura, Masazumi; Nakagawa, Yoshinao; Tomishige, Keiichi

    2014-08-01

    Hydrodeoxygenation of cyclic vicinal diols such as 1,4-anhydroerythritol was conducted over catalysts containing both a noble metal and a group 5-7 transition-metal oxide. The combination of Pd and WOx allowed the removal of one of the two OH groups selectively. 3-Hydroxytetrahydrofuran was obtained from 1,4-anhydroerythritol in 72 and 74% yield over WOx -Pd/C and WOx -Pd/ZrO2 , respectively. The WOx -Pd/ZrO2 catalyst was reusable without significant loss of activity if the catalyst was calcined as a method of regeneration. Characterization of WOx -Pd/C with temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy suggested that Pd metal particles approximately 9 nm in size were formed on amorphous tungsten oxide particles. A reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of kinetics, reaction results with tungsten oxides under an atmosphere of Ar, and density functional theory calculations. A tetravalent tungsten center (W(IV) ) was formed by reduction of WO3 with the Pd catalyst and H2 , and this center served as the reductant for partial hydrodeoxygenation. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  15. Non-carbon titanium cobalt nitride nanotubes supported platinum catalyst with high activity and durability for methanol oxidation reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Xiaoxiang; Li, Wuyi; Pan, Zhanchang; Xu, Yanbin; Liu, Gen; Hu, Guanghui; Wu, Shoukun; Li, Jinghong; Chen, Chun; Lin, Yingsheng

    2018-05-01

    Titanium cobalt nitride nanotubes (Ti0.95Co0.05N NTs) hybrid support, a novel robust non-carbon support material prepared by solvothermal and post-nitriding processes, is further decorated with Pt nanoparticles for the electrooxidation of methanol. The catalyst is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical measurements. The morphology, structure and composition of the synthesized Ti0.95Co0.05N NTs suggest that the nanotube wall is porous and consists of homogeneous cohesively attached nitrides nanocube particles. Notable, Ti0.95Co0.05N NTs supported Pt catalyst exhibits significantly improved catalytic activity and durability for methanol electrooxidation compared with the conventional JM Pt/C catalyst. The experimental data indicate that enhanced catalytic activity and stability of Pt/Ti0.95Co0.05N NTs towards methanol electrooxidation might be mainly attributed to the tubular nanostructures and synergistic effect introduced by the Co doping. Both of them are playing an important role in improving the activity and durability of the Ti0.95Co0.05N NTs catalyst.

  16. Precursor effect on the property and catalytic behavior of Fe-TS-1 in butadiene epoxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Mei; Zhao, Huahua; Yang, Jian; Zhao, Jun; Song, Huanling; Chou, Lingjun

    2017-11-01

    The effect of iron precursor on the property and catalytic behavior of iron modified titanium silicalite molecular sieve (Fe-TS-1) catalysts in butadiene selective epoxidation has been studied. Three Fe-TS-1 catalysts were prepared, using iron nitrate, iron chloride and iron sulfate as precursors, which played an important role in adjusting the textural properties and chemical states of TS-1. Of the prepared Fe-TS-1 catalysts, those modified by iron nitrate (FN-TS-1) exhibited a significant enhanced performance in butadiene selective epoxidation compared to those derived from iron sulfate (FS-TS-1) or iron chloride (FC-TS-1) precursors. To obtain a deep understanding of their structure-performance relationship, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Temperature programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD), Diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra (DR UV-Vis), Fourier transformed infrared spectra (FT-IR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted to characterize Fe-TS-1 catalysts. Experimental results indicated that textural structures and acid sites of modified catalysts as well as the type of Fe species influenced by the precursors were all responsible for the activity and product distribution.

  17. Anti-bacteria activity of carbon nanotubes grown on trimetallic catalyst

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibrahim, S. O.; Abdulkareem, A. S.; Isah, K. U.; Ahmadu, U.; Bankole, M. T.; Kariim, I.

    2018-06-01

    Trimetallic catalyst was prepared using wet impregnation method to produce carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through the method of catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). Characterization of the developed catalyst and CNTs were carried out using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), x-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM)/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)/selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The BET and TGA analysis indicated that the catalyst has a high surface area and is thermally stable. The FTIR of the developed catalyst shows notable functional group with presence of unbound water. The HRSEM of the catalyst revealed agglomerated, homogeneous and porous particles while the HRSEM/HRTEM of the produced CNTs gave the formation of long strand of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and homogeneous crystalline fringe like structure with irregular diameter. EDS revealed the dominance of carbon in the elemental composition. XRD/SAED patterns of the catalyst suggest high dispersion of the metallic particles in the catalyst mixture while that of the CNTs confirmed that the produced MWCNTs were highly graphitized and crystalline in nature with little structural defects. The anti-bacteria activity of the produced MWCNTs on Klebsiella pneumoneae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also carried out. It was observed that the produced MWCNTs have an inhibitory property on bacteria; Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoneae from zero day ( and ) through to twelfth day (Nil count) respectively. It has no effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa with too numerous to count at zero-sixth day, but a breakdown in its growth at ninth-twelfth day (). This study implied that MWCNTs with varying diameter and well-ordered nano-structure can be produced from catalyst via CCVD method, and it can be recommended that the MWCNTs can be used to treat infected media contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoneae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

  18. Size-dependent effects in supported highly dispersed Fe2O3 catalysts, doped with Pt and Pd

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cherkezova-Zheleva, Zara; Shopska, Maya; Mitov, Ivan; Kadinov, Georgi

    2010-06-01

    Series of Fe and Fe-Me (Me = Pt or Pd) catalyst supported on γ-Al2O3, TiO2 (anatase) or diatomite were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method. The metal loading was 8 wt.% Fe and 0.7 wt.% noble metal. The preparation and pretreatment conditions of all studied samples were kept to be the same. X-ray diffraction, Moessbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction are used for characterization of the supports and the samples at different steps during their treatment and catalytic tests. The catalytic activity of the samples was tested in the reaction of total benzene oxidation. The physicochemical and catalytic properties of the obtained materials are compared with respect of the different chemical composition, dispersion of used carriers and of the supported phases. Samples with the same composition prepared by mechanical mixing are studied as catalysts for comparison and for clearing up the presence of size-dependent effect, also.

  19. Atomic-Level Structural Dynamics of Polyoxoniobates during DMMP Decomposition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Qi; Chapleski, Robert C.; Plonka, Anna M.

    Ambient pressure in situ synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques have been correlated to illuminate atomic-level details of bond breaking and formation during the hydrolysis of a chemical warfare nerve agent simulant over a polyoxometalate catalyst. Specifically, a Cs 8[Nb 6O 19] polyoxoniobate catalyst has been shown to react readily with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). The atomic-level transformations of all reactant moieties, the [Nb 6O 19] 8- polyanion, its Cs + counterions, and the DMMP substrate, were tracked under ambient conditions by a combination of X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Results reveal that the reaction mechanism follows general basemore » (in contrast to specific base) hydrolysis. Together with computational results, the work demonstrates that the ultimate fate of DMMP hydrolysis at the Cs 8[Nb 6O 19] catalyst is strong binding of the (methyl) methylphosphonic acid ((M)MPA) product to the polyanions, which ultimately inhibits catalytic turnover.« less

  20. Green synthesis of the Pd nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide using barberry fruit extract and its application as a recyclable and heterogeneous catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes.

    PubMed

    Nasrollahzadeh, Mahmoud; Sajadi, S Mohammad; Rostami-Vartooni, Akbar; Alizadeh, Mohammad; Bagherzadeh, Mojtaba

    2016-03-15

    Through this manuscript the green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd NPs/RGO) under the mild conditions through reduction of the graphene oxide and Pd(2+) ions using barberry fruit extract as reducing and stabilizing agent is reported. The as-prepared Pd NPs/RGO was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The Pd NPs/RGO could be used as an efficient and heterogeneous catalyst for reduction of nitroarenes using sodium borohydride in an environmental friendly medium. Excellent yields of products were obtained with a wide range of substrates and the catalyst was recycled multiple times without any significant loss of its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Deactivation Mechanisms of Pt/Pd-based Diesel Oxidation Catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wiebenga, Michelle H.; Kim, Chang H.; Schmieg, Steven J.

    2012-04-30

    Currently precious metal-based diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) containing platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) are most commonly used for the oxidation of hydrocarbon and NO in diesel exhaust hydrocarbon oxidation. The present work has been carried out to investigate the deactivation mechanisms of the DOC from its real-world vehicle operation by coupling its catalytic activity measurements with surface characterization including x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A production Pt-Pd DOC was obtained after being aged on a vehicle driven for 135,000 miles in order to study its deactivation behavior. The performance of the vehicle-aged part was correlated withmore » that of the simulated hydrothermal lab aged sample assuming that Pt-Pd sintering plays a major role in irreversible catalyst deactivation. In addition to the hydrothermal sintering, the deterioration of hydrocarbon and NO oxidation performance was caused by surface poisoning. The role of the various aging factors in determining long-term performance in mobile applications will be discussed.« less

  2. Synthesis and characterization of mangenese(III) porphyrin supported on imidazole modified chloromethylated MIL-101(Cr): A heterogeneous and reusable catalyst for oxidation of hydrocarbons with sodium periodate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zadehahmadi, Farnaz; Tangestaninejad, Shahram; Moghadam, Majid; Mirkhani, Valiollah; Mohammadpoor-Baltork, Iraj; Khosropour, Ahmad R.; Kardanpour, Reihaneh

    2014-10-01

    In the present work, chloromethylated MIL-101(Cr) modified with imidazole, Im-MIL-101, was applied as a support for immobilizing of tetraphenylporphyrinatomangenese(III) chloride. The imidazole-bound MIL-101, Im-MIL-101, not only used as support for immobilization of manganese porphyrin but also applied as a heterogeneous axial base. The Mn(TPP)Cl@Im-MIL-101 catalyst was characterized by UV-vis, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), elemental analysis and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) methods. The catalytic activity of this new catalytic system was investigated in the alkene epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation using NaIO4 as an oxidant in CH3CN/H2O at room temperature. This heterogeneous catalyst is highly efficient, stable and reusable in the oxidation of hydrocarbons.

  3. Atomic-Level Structural Dynamics of Polyoxoniobates during DMMP Decomposition

    DOE PAGES

    Wang, Qi; Chapleski, Robert C.; Plonka, Anna M.; ...

    2017-04-10

    Ambient pressure in situ synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques have been correlated to illuminate atomic-level details of bond breaking and formation during the hydrolysis of a chemical warfare nerve agent simulant over a polyoxometalate catalyst. Specifically, a Cs 8[Nb 6O 19] polyoxoniobate catalyst has been shown to react readily with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). The atomic-level transformations of all reactant moieties, the [Nb 6O 19] 8- polyanion, its Cs + counterions, and the DMMP substrate, were tracked under ambient conditions by a combination of X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Results reveal that the reaction mechanism follows general basemore » (in contrast to specific base) hydrolysis. Together with computational results, the work demonstrates that the ultimate fate of DMMP hydrolysis at the Cs 8[Nb 6O 19] catalyst is strong binding of the (methyl) methylphosphonic acid ((M)MPA) product to the polyanions, which ultimately inhibits catalytic turnover.« less

  4. Solar photocatalysis for treatment of Acid Yellow-17 (AY-17) dye contaminated water using Ag@TiO2 core-shell structured nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Khanna, Ankita; Shetty K, Vidya

    2013-08-01

    Wastewater released from textile industries causes water pollution, and it needs to be treated before discharge to the environment by cost effective technologies. Solar photocatalysis is a promising technology for the treatment of dye wastewater. The Ag@TiO2 nanoparticles comprising of Ag core and TiO2 shell (Ag@TiO2) have unique photocatalytic property of inhibition of electron-hole recombination and visible light absorption, which makes it a promising photocatalyst for use in solar photocatalysis and with higher photocatalytic rate. Therefore, in the present work, the Ag@TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by one pot method with postcalcination step has been used for the degradation of Acid Yellow-17 (AY-17) dye under solar light irradiation. The Ag@TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized using thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The catalyst has been found to be very effective in solar photocatalysis of AY-17, as compared to other catalysts. The effects of pH, catalyst loading, initial dye concentration, and oxidants on photocatalysis were also studied. The optimized parameters for degradation of AY-17 using Ag@TiO2 were found to be pH 3, dye/catalyst ratio of 1:10 (g/g), and 2 g/L of (NH4)2S2O8 as oxidant. Efficient decolorization and mineralization of AY-17 was achieved. The kinetics of color, total organic carbon, and chemical oxygen demand removal followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. Ag@TiO2 catalyst can be reused thrice without much decline in efficiency. The catalyst exhibited its potential as economic photocatalyst for treatment of dye wastewater.

  5. Surfactant-assisted morphological studies of α-Al2O3 nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shah, Janki; Ranjan, Mukesh; Gupta, Sanjeev K.; Sonvane, Yogesh

    2018-05-01

    The present study deals with the synthesis and characterization of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanopowders, it is very useful material as dielectric, ceramic and catalyst. The high-quality nanopowders were obtained by adding surfactants urea and sodium acetate. Further, all characterizations are done for with (urea and sodium acetate) and without surfactant. X-ray diffraction was used to characterize phase formation and the crystallite size of powder while, FTIR gives information about the particle composition and surface intermediates. X-ray diffraction spectra revealed the synthesized nanoparticles phase transformation were γ-Al2O3 to α-Al2O3 phase. Furthermore, the addition of urea and sodium acetate significantly reduced the crystalline size of α-Al2O3 nanoparticles from 43.94 nm to 35.12 nm respectively.

  6. Preparation of Copper (II) Containing Phosphomolybdic Acid Salt as Catalyst for the Synthesis of Biodiesel by Esterification.

    PubMed

    Cai, Jie; Zhang, Qiu-Yun; Wei, Fang-Fang; Huang, Jin-Shu; Feng, Yun-Mei; Ma, Hai-Tao; Zhang, Yutao-

    2018-04-01

    Copper (II) containing phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) catalysts were synthesized by ion exchange method and characterization using various physico-chemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric (TG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterization results showed that the Keggin ions were retained in the catalysts and possessed well thermal stability. The catalytic esterification of lauric acid with methanol could be easily achieved about 78.7% conversion under optimum condition, the catalyst also contributed to the stability of the catalyst in which it can be reused for a certain time. This study demonstrated an alternative approach to biodiesel production with high efficiency by Cu (II) ion exchanged phosphomolybdic acid catalyst in the esterification catalytic.

  7. Synthesis and characterization of Sn/zeolite and catalytic activity test in the esterification reaction of sludge oil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alimuddin, Andi Hairil; Usman, Thamrin; Wahyuni, Nelly; Rudiyansyah, Prawatya, Yopa Eka; Astar, Ismail; Yustira, Yudi

    2017-03-01

    Synthesis of Sn-Zeolite has been made to use for esterification reaction of free fatty acids in sludge oil. Catalyst characterization was accomplished using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Flourecence (XRF), and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR). Catalyst Sn/zeolite was synthesized by impregnated Sn of SnCl2 into the zeolite. The amount of Sn impregnated base on the value of cation exchange capacity (CEC) of zeolites. Esterification reaction of fatty acids from sludge oil using Sn/Zeolite catalyst was did by variated the reaction time. XRD analysis results showed that the catalyst Sn/zeolite was dominated by modernit and quartz. XRF analysis results was increasing amount of Sn metal and the Si/Al ratio on Sn/zeolite catalyst along with addition of Sn metal. FTIR analysis results showed that the catalyst synthesized had Bronsted acid side (the spectrum 1639.4; 1656.7; 1654.8 cm-1) and the Lewis acid (spectrum 1400.2 and 1402.2 cm-1). The results showed that the optimum conditions of esterification reaction in 4 hours reaction time, 5% concentration of the catalyst, and molar ratio was about 1:10 with a conversion percentage of products reached 96.00%, which can be achieved with a ratio was about 4:1 between Sn and zeolite on Sn/zeolite catalyst.

  8. Biosourced polymetallic catalysts: an efficient means to synthesize underexploited platform molecules from carbohydrates.

    PubMed

    Escande, Vincent; Olszewski, Tomasz K; Petit, Eddy; Grison, Claude

    2014-07-01

    Polymetallic hyperaccumulating plants growing on wastes from former mining activity were used as the starting material in the preparation of novel plant-based Lewis acid catalysts. The preparation of biosourced Lewis acid catalysts is a new way to make use of mining wastes. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. These analyses revealed a complex composition of metal species, present mainly as polymetallic chlorides. The catalysts proved to be efficient and recyclable in a solid-state version of the Garcia Gonzalez reaction, which has been underexploited until now in efforts to use carbohydrates from biomass. This methodology was extended to various carbohydrates to obtain the corresponding polyhydroxyalkyl furans in 38-98% yield. These plant-based catalysts may be a better alternative to classical Lewis acid catalysts that were previously used for the Garcia Gonzalez reaction, such as ZnCl2 , FeCl3 , and CeCl3 , which are often unrecyclable, require aqueous treatments, or rely on metals, the current known reserves of which will be consumed in the coming decades. Moreover, the plant-based catalysts allowed novel control of the Garcia Gonzalez reaction, as two different products were obtained depending on the reaction conditions. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  9. Size and morphology controlled NiSe nanoparticles as efficient catalyst for the reduction reactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Subbarao, Udumula; Marakatti, Vijaykumar S.; Amshumali, Mungalimane K.; Loukya, B.; Singh, Dheeraj Kumar; Datta, Ranjan; Peter, Sebastian C.

    2016-12-01

    Facile and efficient ball milling and polyol methods were employed for the synthesis of nickel selenide (NiSe) nanoparticle. The particle size of the NiSe nanoparticle has been controlled mechanically by varying the ball size in the milling process. The role of the surfactants in the formation of various morphologies was studied. The compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The efficiency of the NiSe nanoparticle as a catalyst was tested for the reduction of para-nitroaniline (PNA) to para-phenyldiamine (PPD) and para-nitrophenol (PNP) to para-aminophenol (PAP) using NaBH4 as the reducing agent. Particle size, morphology and the presence of surfactant played a crucial role in the reduction process.

  10. Ferric hydroxide supported gold subnano clusters or quantum dots: enhanced catalytic performance in chemoselective hydrogenation.

    PubMed

    Liu, Lequan; Qiao, Botao; Ma, Yubo; Zhang, Juan; Deng, Youquan

    2008-05-21

    An attempt to prepare ferric hydroxide supported Au subnano clusters via modified co-precipitation without any calcination was made. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been employed to study the structure and chemical states of these catalysts. No Au species could be observed in the HRTEM image nor from the XRD pattern, suggesting that the sizes of the Au species in and on the ferric hydroxide support were less than or around 1 nm. Chemoselective hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes was selected as a probe reaction to examine the catalytic properties of this catalyst. Under the same reaction conditions, such as 100 degrees C and 1 MPa H2 in the hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds, a 96-99% conversion (except for 4-nitrobenzonitrile) with 99% selectivity was obtained over the ferric hydroxide supported Au catalyst, and the TOF values were 2-6 times higher than that of the corresponding ferric oxide supported catalyst with 3-5 nm size Au particles. For further evaluation of this Au catalyst in the hydrogenation of citral and cinnamaldehyde, selectivity towards unsaturated alcohols was 2-20 times higher than that of the corresponding ferric oxide Au catalyst.

  11. Electrocatalysis of carbon black- or poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-functionalized activated carbon nanotubes-supported Pd-Tb towards methanol oxidation in alkaline media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Li; Wang, Yi; Li, An; Yang, Yunshang; Tang, Qinghu; Cao, Hongbin; Qi, Tao; Li, Changming

    2014-07-01

    The Pd-Tb/C catalysts with different Pd/Tb ratios were synthesized by a simple simultaneous reduction reaction with sodium borohydride in aqueous solution. The structure and morphology of those catalysts had been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrocatalytic performance of those catalysts for methanol oxidation in alkaline media was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and CO stripping experiments. It is found that the 20%Pd-1%Tb/C catalyst has a higher catalytic activity than the 20%Pd/C catalyst, but the effect of Tb cannot be explained by a bi-functional mechanism. According to the X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, it is suggested that the higher content of metallic Pd caused by the addition of Tb contributes to the better catalytic activity of 20%Pd-1%Tb/C. Based on the good electrocatalytic performance of 20%Pd-1%Tb/C, the 20%Pd-1%Tb catalyst supported on poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-functionalized activated carbon nanotubes was prepared, and it exhibits a better catalytic activity. The improvement mainly results from the further increase of metallic Pd due to the presence of PDDA.

  12. Platinum nanocatalysts prepared with different surfactants for C1-C3 alcohol oxidations and their surface morphologies by AFM

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ertan, Salih; Şen, Fatih; Şen, Selda; Gökağaç, Gülsün

    2012-06-01

    In this study, platinum nanoparticle catalysts have been prepared using PtCl4 as a starting material and 1-octanethiol, 1-decanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol, and 1-hexadecanethiol as surfactants for methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol oxidation reactions. The structure, particle sizes, and surface morphologies of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and TEM results indicate that all prepared catalysts have a face-centered cubic structure and are homogeneously dispersed on the carbon support with a narrow size distribution (2.0-1.3 nm). X-ray photoelectron spectra of the catalysts were examined and it is found that platinum has two different oxidation states, Pt (0) and Pt(IV), oxygen and sulfur compounds are H2Oads and OHads, bound and unbound thiols. The electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of these catalysts were investigated with respect to C1-C3 alcohol oxidations by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The highest electrocatalytic activity was obtained from catalyst I which was prepared with 1-octanethiol. This may be attributed to a decrease in the ratio of bound to unbound thiol species increase in Pt (0)/Pt(IV), H2Oads/OHads ratios, electrochemical surface area, CO tolerance and percent platinum utility.

  13. Synthesis and characterization of mangenese(III) porphyrin supported on imidazole modified chloromethylated MIL-101(Cr): A heterogeneous and reusable catalyst for oxidation of hydrocarbons with sodium periodate

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zadehahmadi, Farnaz; Tangestaninejad, Shahram, E-mail: stanges@sci.ui.ac.ir; Moghadam, Majid, E-mail: moghadamm@sci.ui.ac.ir

    2014-10-15

    In the present work, chloromethylated MIL-101(Cr) modified with imidazole, Im-MIL-101, was applied as a support for immobilizing of tetraphenylporphyrinatomangenese(III) chloride. The imidazole-bound MIL-101, Im-MIL-101, not only used as support for immobilization of manganese porphyrin but also applied as a heterogeneous axial base. The Mn(TPP)Cl@Im-MIL-101 catalyst was characterized by UV–vis, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N{sub 2} adsorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), elemental analysis and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) methods. The catalytic activity of this new catalytic system was investigated in the alkene epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation using NaIO{sub 4} as an oxidant in CH{sub 3}CN/H{submore » 2}O at room temperature. This heterogeneous catalyst is highly efficient, stable and reusable in the oxidation of hydrocarbons. - Highlights: • MIL-101 was modified by covalent post synthetic modification. • Mn(TPP)Cl was anchored to imidazole modified MIL-101 by covalent attachment. • A heterogeneous catalyst was prepared. • The catalyst was used for epoxidation of alkenes and hydroxylation of alkanes. • The catalyst was reusable.« less

  14. a Novel Catalyst for Reductive Dechlorination of Chlorobenzene in Subcritical Water:. Bifunctional Fe/ZrO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Guang-Tao; Wei, Chao-Hai; He, Feng-Mei; Wu, Chao-Fei

    Bifunctional Fe/ZrO2 was prepared by mechanical mixing method, and its bifunctional effect on reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzene in subcritical water was studied. Dechlorination efficiency increased with increasing iron content in catalyst and catalyst amount. Dechlorination efficiency slowed when the iron content in catalyst reached 30%; bifunctional catalyst of Fe/ZrO2 was more efficient in dechlorination of chlorobenzene than Fe alone. Catalyst of Fe (30%)/ZrO2 was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2 temperature programmed desorption (H2-TPD), and N2 adsorption. The possible mechanism of dechlorination in subcritical water by this bifunctional catalyst was proposed. H+ produced in the water dissociation formed the highly reactive spillover hydrogen on the surface of catalyst, and then reacted with chlorobenzene adsorbed on the catalyst surface by ZrO2 to form benzene and chloride ions.

  15. Phase study of titanium dioxide nanoparticle prepared via sol-gel process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oladeji Araoyinbo, Alaba; Bakri Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al; Salleh, Mohd Arif Anuar Mohd; Aziz, Nurul Nadia Abdul; Iskandar Azmi, Azwan

    2018-03-01

    In this study, titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been prepared via sol-gel process using titanium tetraisopropoxide as a precursor with hydrochloric acid as a catalyst, and ethanol with deionized water as solvents. The value of pH used is set to 3, 7 and 8. The sols obtained were dried at 100 °C for 1 hr and calcined at 350, 550, and 750 °C for 3 hrs to observe the phase transformation of titanium dioxide nanoparticle. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope. The morphology analysis is obtained from field emission scanning electron microscope. The phase transformation was investigated by x-ray diffraction. It was found that the pH of the solution affect the agglomeration of titanium dioxide particle. The x-ray diffraction pattern of titanium dioxide shows the anatase phase most abundant at temperature of 350 °C. At temperature of 550 °C the anatase and rutile phase were present. At temperature of 750 °C the rutile phase was the most abundant for pH 3, 7 and 8. It was confirmed that at higher temperature the rutile phase which is the stable phase are mostly present.

  16. AZO nanorods thin films by sputtering method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rosli, A. B.; Shariffudin, S. S.; Awang, Z.; Herman, S. H.

    2018-05-01

    Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanorods thin film were deposited on Au catalyst using RF sputtering at 300 °C. The 15 nm thickness Au catalyst were deposited on glass substrates by sputtering method followed by annealing for 15 min at 500 °C to form Au nanostructures on the glass substrate. The AZO thin films were then deposited on Au catalyst at different RF power ranging from 50 - 200 W. The morphology of AZO was characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy while X-ray Diffraction was used to examine crystallinity of AZO thin films. From this work, the AZO nanorods was found grow at 200 W RF power.

  17. Effects of cobalt precursor on pyrolyzed carbon-supported cobalt-polypyrrole as electrocatalyst toward oxygen reduction reaction

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    A series of non-precious metal electrocatalysts, namely pyrolyzed carbon-supported cobalt-polypyrrole, Co-PPy-TsOH/C, are synthesized with various cobalt precursors, including cobalt acetate, cobalt nitrate, cobalt oxalate, and cobalt chloride. The catalytic performance towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is comparatively investigated with electrochemical techniques of cyclic voltammogram, rotating disk electrode and rotating ring-disk electrode. The results are analyzed and discussed employing physiochemical techniques of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma, elemental analysis, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure. It shows that the cobalt precursor plays an essential role on the synthesis process as well as microstructure and performance of the Co-PPy-TsOH/C catalysts towards ORR. Among the studied Co-PPy-TsOH/C catalysts, that prepared with cobalt acetate exhibits the best ORR performance. The crystallite/particle size of cobalt and its distribution as well as the graphitization degree of carbon in the catalyst greatly affects the catalytic performance of Co-PPy-TsOH/C towards ORR. Metallic cobalt is the main component in the active site in Co-PPy-TsOH/C for catalyzing ORR, but some other elements such as nitrogen are probably involved, too. PMID:24229351

  18. TiO2 Nanorods Decorated with Pd Nanoparticles for Enhanced Liquefied Petroleum Gas Sensing Performance.

    PubMed

    Dhawale, Dattatray S; Gujar, Tanaji P; Lokhande, Chandrakant D

    2017-08-15

    Development of highly sensitive and selective semiconductor-based metal oxide sensor devices to detect toxic, explosive, flammable, and pollutant gases is still a challenging research topic. In the present work, we systematically enhanced the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensing performance of chemical bath deposited TiO 2 nanorods by decorating Pd nanoparticle catalyst. Surface morphology with elemental mapping, crystal structure, composition and oxidation states, and surface area measurements of pristine TiO 2 and Pd:TiO 2 nanorods was examined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption characterization techniques. LPG sensing performance of pristine TiO 2 and Pd:TiO 2 nanorods was investigated in different LPG concentration and operating temperature ranges. The LPG response of 21% for pristine TiO 2 nanorods is enhanced to 49% after Pd catalyst decoration with reasonably fast response and recovery times. Further, the sensor exhibited long-term stability, which could be due to the strong metal support (Pd:TiO 2 ) interaction and catalytic properties offered by the Pd nanoparticle catalyst. The work described herein demonstrates a general and scalable approach that provides a promising route for rational design of variety of sensor devices for LPG detection.

  19. Synthesis and characterization of immobilized Ni-Co bimetallic using Tapanuli clay for catalyst application

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nuryanti,; Juwono, Ariadne L., E-mail: ariadne@sci.ui.ac.id; Krisnandi, Yuni K.

    2016-04-19

    Heterogeneous catalysts hold various advantages, namely, easy to separate from their products, reusable and regarded as environmental friendly materials. The synthesis of immobilized Ni monometallic, Co monometallic and Ni-Co bimetallic by Tapanuli clay were carried out using intercalation method. Firstly, the synthesis of Na-Bentonite was conducted to provide sufficient area to immobilize bimetal in the clay interlayer. Secondly, Ni, Co and Ni-Co were immobilized in the Tapanuli clay interlayer. Several techniques, such as X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infra Red and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis were applied to characterize and compare the properties of the synthesized materials. The results showed thatmore » the insertion of Ni, Co and Ni-Co in the clay interlayer occurred through a cation exchange reaction. The Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis for Ni-Co bimetallic showed that the immobilized Ni and Co in the clay is in the ratio of 1:1. Catalytic test with Gas Chromatography showed that Ni-Co bimetallic generates a higher yield percentage compared to Ni and Co monometallic.« less

  20. Facile synthesis of PdAgTe nanowires with superior electrocatalytic activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hong, Wei; Wang, Jin; Wang, Erkang

    2014-12-01

    In this work, ultrathin Te nanowires (NWs) with high-aspect-ratio are prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. By using Te NWs as the sacrificial template, we demonstrate a facile and efficient method for the synthesis of PdAgTe NWs with high-quality through the partly galvanic replacement between Te NWs and the corresponding noble metal salts precursors in an aqueous solution. The compositions of PdAgTe NWs can be tuned by simply altering the concentration of the precursors. After cyclic voltammetry treatment, multi-component PdAgTe NW with a highly active and stable surface can be obtained. The structure and composition of the as-prepared nanomaterials are analyzed by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical catalytic measurement results prove that the as synthesized PdAgTe NWs present superior catalytic activity toward ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline solution than the commercial Pd/C catalyst, which making them can be used as effective catalysts for the direct ethanol fuel cells.

  1. Probing the evolution of palladium species in Pd@MOF catalysts during the Heck coupling reaction: An operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy study.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Ning; Pascanu, Vlad; Huang, Zhehao; Valiente, Alejandro; Heidenreich, Niclas; Leubner, Sebastian; Inge, A Ken; Gaar, Jakob; Stock, Norbert; Persson, Ingmar; Martin-Matute, Belen; Zou, Xiaodong

    2018-06-11

    The mechanism of the Heck C-C coupling reaction catalyzed by Pd@MOFs has been investigated using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) kinetic studies. A custom-made reaction cell was used allowing operando PXRD and XAS data collection using high-energy synchrotron radiation. By analyzing the XAS data in combination with ex situ studies, the evolution of the palladium species is followed from the as-synthesized to its deactivated form. An adaptive reaction mechanism is pro-posed. Mononuclear Pd(II) complexes are found to be the dominant active species at the beginning of the reaction, which then gradually transform into Pd nanoclusters with 13-20 Pd atoms on average in later catalytic turnovers. Consumption of available reagent and substrate leads to coordination of Cl - ions to their surfaces, which causes the poisoning of the active sites. By understanding the deactivation process, it was possible to tune the reaction conditions and prolong the lifetime of the catalyst.

  2. Phillips CO-oxidation catalyts for long-lived CO2 lasers: Activity and initial characterization studies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kolts, J. H.; Elliott, D. J.; Pennella, F.

    1990-01-01

    Four different catalysts have been developed specifically for use in sealed carbon dioxide lasers. The catalysts have been designed to be low dusting, stable to shock and vibration, have high activity at low temperatures and have long active lifetimes. Measured global CO oxidation rates range from 1.4 to 2.2 cc CO converted per minute per gram of catalyst at ambient temperature. The catalysts also retain substantial activity at temperatures as low as -35 C. The Phillips laser catalysts are prepared in a variety of different shapes to meet the different pressure drop and gas flow profiles present in the many different styles of lasers. Each catalyst has been tested in sealed TEA lasers and has been shown to substantially increase the sealed life of the laser. Activity measurements made on the precious metal catalysts which were prepared with and without activity promoters showed that the promoter materials increase catalyst CO oxidation activity at least an order of magnitude at ambient temperature. Initial studies using H2 and CO chemisorption, X ray diffraction (XRD) and X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have shown that the activity promoters do not significantly affect the precious metal crystallite size or the electronic structure around the precious metal. In addition, the formation or lack of formation of solid solutions between the precious metal and promoters has also been shown not to affect the activity of the promoted catalyst.

  3. Synthesis of gold nanochains via photoactivation technique and their catalytic applications.

    PubMed

    Sinha, Arun Kumar; Basu, Mrinmoyee; Sarkar, Sougata; Pradhan, Mukul; Pal, Tarasankar

    2013-05-15

    The article reports a simple photoactivation technique for the synthesis of chain like assembly of spherical Au nanocrystals using a nontoxic biochemical, β-cyclodextrin under ~365 nm UV-light irradiation. Under UV irradiation, β-cyclodextrin acts as a reducing as well as capping agent and eventually becomes a stabilizing linker for Au nanoparticles. The UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic techniques are employed to systematically characterize the Au nanochains. Additionally, it is shown that the Au nanocrystals act as an effective catalyst for the reduction in nitrobenzene to aniline and methylene blue to leuco methylene blue in presence of suitable reducing agent. The catalytic reduction reactions and kinetic parameters are evaluated from UV-visible spectroscopy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Fe-catalyzed thermal conversion of sodium lignosulfonate to graphene

    Treesearch

    Sung Phil Mun; Zhiyong Cai; Jilei Zhang

    2013-01-01

    Sodium lignosulfonate (LS) from sulfite pulping processing was used as a carbon source to synthesize graphene. LS was mixed with Fe nanoparticles (FeNPs) as a catalyst and thermally treated at 1000 °C for 1 h. The Raman spectrum and X-ray diffraction pattern suggested that graphene sheets were formed in LS thermally treated with FeNPs (Fe-HTLS). Scanning...

  5. Wood liquefaction and its application to Novolac resin

    Treesearch

    Hui Pan; Chung-Yun Hse; Todd F. Shupe

    2009-01-01

    Wood liquefaction was conducted using phenol as a reagent solvent with a weak acid catalyst in two different reactors: (Alma et al., 1995a.) an atmospheric glass reactor and (Alma et al., 1995b.) a sealed Parr® reactor. Residues were characterized by wet chemical analyses, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The FT-IR...

  6. Magnetic separation of carbon-encapsulated Fe nanoparticles from thermally-treated wood char

    Treesearch

    Sung Phil Mun; Zhiyong Cai; Jilei Zhang

    2013-01-01

    Wood char,a by-product from the fast-pyrolysis process of southern yellow pine wood for bio-oil production, was carbonized with Fenano particles (FeNPs) as a catalyst to prepare carbon-encapsulated Fe nanoparticles. A magnetic separation method was tested to isolate carbon-encapsulated Fe nano particles from the carbonized char. X-ray diffraction pattern clearly shows...

  7. Anchoring of Cu(II) onto surface of porous metal-organic framework through post-synthesis modification for the synthesis of benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kardanpour, Reihaneh; Tangestaninejad, Shahram; Mirkhani, Valiollah; Moghadam, Majid; Mohammadpoor-Baltork, Iraj; Zadehahmadi, Farnaz

    2016-03-01

    Efficient synthesis of various benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles under mild conditions catalyzed by Cu(II) anchored onto UiO-66-NH2 metal organic framework is reported. In this manner, first, the aminated UiO-66 was modified with thiophene-2-carbaldehyde and then the prepared Schiff base was reacted with CuCl2. The prepared catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The UiO-66-NH2-TC-Cu was applied as a highly efficient catalyst for synthesis of benzimidazole and benzothiazole derivatives by the reaction of aldehydes with 1,2-diaminobenzene or 2-aminothiophenol. The Cu(II)-containing MOF was reused several times without any appreciable loss of its efficiency.

  8. Growth and Surface Modification of LaFeO3 Thin Films Induced By Reductive Annealing

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Flynn, Brendan T.; Zhang, Hongliang; Shutthanandan, V.

    2015-03-01

    The electronic and ionic conductivity of perovskite oxides has enabled their use in diverse applications such as automotive exhaust catalysts, solid oxide fuel cell cathodes, and visible light photocatalysts. The redox chemistry at the surface of perovskite oxides is largely dependent on the oxidation state of the metal cations as well as the oxide surface stoichiometry. In this study, LaFeO3 (LFO) thin films grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was characterized using both bulk and surface sensitive techniques. A combination of in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS)more » demonstrated that the film is highly oriented and stoichiometric. The film was annealed in an ultra-high vacuum chamber to simulate reducing conditions and studied by angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Iron was found to exist as Fe(0), Fe(II), and Fe(III) depending on the annealing conditions and the depth within the film. A decrease in the concentration of surface oxygen species was correlated with iron reduction. These results should help guide and enhance the design of perovskite materials for catalysts.« less

  9. Uranium oxide catalysts: environmental applications for treatment of chlorinated organic waste from nuclear industry.

    PubMed

    Lazareva, Svetlana; Ismagilov, Zinfer; Kuznetsov, Vadim; Shikina, Nadezhda; Kerzhentsev, Mikhail

    2018-02-05

    Huge amounts of nuclear waste, including depleted uranium, significantly contribute to the adverse environmental situation throughout the world. An approach to the effective use of uranium oxides in catalysts for the deep oxidation of chlorine-containing hydrocarbons is suggested. Investigation of the catalytic activity of the synthesized supported uranium oxide catalysts doped with Cr, Mn and Co transition metals in the chlorobenzene oxidation showed that these catalysts are comparable with conventional commercial ones. Physicochemical properties of the catalysts were studied by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen (H 2 -TPR), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The higher activity of Mn- and Co-containing uranium oxide catalysts in the H 2 -TPR and oxidation of chlorobenzene in comparison with non-uranium catalysts may be related to the formation of a new disperse phase represented by uranates. The study of chlorobenzene adsorption revealed that the surface oxygen is involved in the catalytic process.

  10. Biodiesel production from palm oil using calcined waste animal bone as catalyst.

    PubMed

    Obadiah, Asir; Swaroopa, Gnanadurai Ajji; Kumar, Samuel Vasanth; Jeganathan, Kenthorai Raman; Ramasubbu, Alagunambi

    2012-07-01

    Waste animal bones was employed as a cost effective catalyst for the transesterification of palm oil. The catalyst was calcined at different temperatures to transform the calcium phosphate in the bones to hydroxyapatite and 800 °C was found to give the best yield of biodiesel. The catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). Under the optimal reaction conditions of 20 wt.% of catalyst, 1:18 oil to methanol molar ratio, 200 rpm of stirring of reactants and at a temperature of 65 °C, the methyl ester conversion was 96.78% and it was achieved in 4h. The catalyst performed equally well as the laboratory-grade CaO. Animal bone is therefore a useful raw material for the production of a cheap catalyst for transesterification. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Boehmite-An Efficient and Recyclable Acid-Base Bifunctional Catalyst for Aldol Condensation Reaction.

    PubMed

    Reshma, P C Rajan; Vikneshvaran, Sekar; Velmathi, Sivan

    2018-06-01

    In this work boehmite was used as an acid-base bifunctional catalyst for aldol condensation reactions of aromatic aldehydes and ketones. The catalyst was prepared by simple sol-gel method using Al(NO3)3·9H2O and NH4OH as precursors. The catalyst has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy (DRS), BET surface area analyses. Boehmite is successfully applied as catalyst for the condensation reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetone as a model substrate giving α, β-unsaturated ketones without any side product. The scope of the reaction is extended for various substituted aldehydes. A probable mechanism has been suggested to explain the cooperative behavior of the acidic and basic sites. The catalyst is environmentally friendly and easily recovered from the reaction mixture. Also the catalyst is reusable up to 3 catalytic cycles.

  12. High-efficiency and conveniently recyclable photo-catalysts for dye degradation based on urchin-like CuO microparticle/polymer hybrid composites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Xiong; Cheng, Yuming; Li, Xuefeng; Dong, Jinfeng

    2018-05-01

    In this work, we developed a new type of photo-catalysts composed of the urchin-like cupric oxide (CuO) microparticle and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hybrid composites by the convenient organic-inorganic hybrid strategy, which show high-efficiency and conveniently recyclable for dye degradation including methylene blue (MB), Congo red (CR), and malachite green (MG) by visible light irradiation. The micro-structural characteristics of urchin-like CuO microparticles are crucial and dominant over the photo-degrading efficiency of hybrid catalyst because of their highly exposed {0 0 2} facet and larger specific surface area. Simultaneously, the intrinsic porous framework of PVDF membrane not only remains the excellent photo-catalytic activity of urchin-like CuO microparticles but also facilitates the enrichment of dyes on the membrane, and thereby synergistically contributing to the photo-catalytic efficiency. The microstructures of both urchin-like CuO microparticles and hybrid catalysts are systematically characterized by various techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, which evidently support the mentioned mechanism.

  13. Effect of pretreatment on pd/Al2O3 catalyst for catalytic oxidation of o-xylene at low temperature.

    PubMed

    Huang, Shaoyong; Zhang, Changbin; He, Hong

    2013-06-01

    The effect of pretreatment on Pd/Al2O3 catalysts for the catalytic oxidation of o-xylene at low temperature was studied by changing the pretreatment and testing conditions. The fresh and pretreated Pd/Al2O3 catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the pretreatment dramatically changed the Pd/PdO ratio and then significantly affected the Pd/Al2O3 activity; while the pretreatment had not much influence on Pd particle size. The Pd/Al2O3 pre-reduced at 300 degrees C/400 degrees C, which has fully reduced Pd species, showed the highest activity; while the fresh Pd/Al2O3, which has fully oxidized Pd species, presented the worst performance, indicating the Pd chemical state plays an important role in the catalytic activity for the o-xylene oxidation. It is concluded that metallic Pd is the active species on the Pd/Al2O3 catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of o-xylene at low temperature.

  14. Sodium-promoted Pd/TiO2 for catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde at ambient temperature.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Changbin; Li, Yaobin; Wang, Yafei; He, Hong

    2014-05-20

    Catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde (HCHO) to CO2 at ambient conditions is of great interest for indoor HCHO purification. Here, we report that sodium-doped Pd/TiO2 is a highly effective catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of HCHO at room temperature. It was observed that Na doping has a dramatic promotion effect on the Pd/TiO2 catalyst and that nearly 100% HCHO conversion could be achieved over the 2Na-Pd/TiO2 catalyst at a GHSV of 95000 h(-1) and HCHO inlet concentration of 140 ppm at 25 °C. The mechanism of the Na-promotion effect was investigated by using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), CO chemisorption, Temperature-programmed reduction by H2 (H2-TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed desorption of O2 (O2-TPD) methods. The results showed that Na species addition can induce and further stabilize a negatively charged and well-dispersed Pd species, which then facilitates the activation of H2O and chemisorbed oxygen, therefore resulting in the high performance of the 2Na-Pd/TiO2 catalyst for the ambient HCHO destruction.

  15. A recyclable Au(I) catalyst for selective homocoupling of arylboronic acids: significant enhancement of nano-surface binding for stability and catalytic activity.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xin; Zhao, Haitao; Wang, Jianhui

    2010-08-01

    Au nanoparticles stabilized by polystyrene-co-polymethacrylic acid microspheres (PS-co-PMAA) were prepared and characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The Au nanoparticles supported on the microspheres showed highly selective catalytic activity for homo-coupling reactions of arylboronic acids in a system of aryl-halides and arylboronic acids. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of the catalyst shows large amounts of Au(I) complexes band to the surface of the Au nanoparticles, which contributes to the selective homocoupling of the arylboronic acids. More importantly, this supported Au complex is a highly recyclable catalyst. The supported Au catalyst can be recycled and reused at least 6 times for a phenylboronic acid reactant, whereas the parent complex shows very low catalytic activity for this compound. The high catalytic activity of this material is attributed to: (1) the high surface to volume ratio which leads to more active sites being exposed to reactants; (2) the strong surface binding of the Au nanoparticle to the Au(I) complexes, which enhances both the stability and the catalytic activity of these complexes.

  16. CuO based catalysts on modified acidic silica supports tested in the de-NOx reduction.

    PubMed

    Bennici, Simona; Gervasini, Antonella; Lazzarin, Marta; Ragaini, Vittorio

    2005-03-01

    A series of dispersed CuO catalysts supported on modified silica supports with Al2O3 (SA), TiO2 (ST), and ZrO2 (SZ) were prepared optimising the adsorption method of copper deposition assisted by ultrasound treatment, already reported in a previous paper (S. Bennici, A. Gervasini, V. Ragaini, Ultrason. Sonochem. 10 (2003) 61). The obtained catalysts were characterized in their bulk (atomic absorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed reduction) and surface (N2 adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy) properties. The morphology of the finished materials was not deeply modified compared with that of the relevant supports. The employed complemented techniques evidenced a well dispersed CuO phase with a copper-support interaction on the most acidic supports (SA and SZ). The catalyst performances were studied in the reaction of selective catalytic reduction of NOx with ethene in oxidizing atmosphere in a flow apparatus under variable times (0.360-0.072 s) and temperatures (200-450 degrees C). The catalysts prepared on the most acidic supports (SA and SZ) were the most active and selective towards N2 formation. They showed a particular interesting activity in the reaction of NO2 reduction besides that of NO reduction.

  17. Spin conversion of positronium in NiO/Al2O3 catalysts observed by coincidence Doppler broadening technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, H. J.; Chen, Z. Q.; Wang, S. J.; Kawasuso, A.; Morishita, N.

    2010-07-01

    High-purity NiO/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by mixing NiO and γ-Al2O3 nanopowders. X-ray diffraction patterns were measured to characterize the grain size and crystalline phase of the nanopowders. Positron-annihilation spectroscopy was used to study the microstructure and surface properties of the pores inside the NiO/Al2O3 catalysts. The positron lifetime spectrum comprises two short and two long lifetime components. The two long lifetimes τ3 and τ4 correspond to ortho-positronium (o-Ps) annihilated in microvoids and large pores, respectively. With increasing NiO content in the NiO/Al2O3 catalysts, both τ4 and its intensity I4 show continuous decrease. Meanwhile, the para-positronium (p-Ps) intensity, obtained from coincidence Doppler broadening spectra, increases gradually with NiO content. The different variation in o-Ps and p-Ps intensity suggests the ortho-para conversion of positronium in NiO/Al2O3 catalysts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that Ni mainly exists in the form of NiO. The electron-spin-resonance measurements reveal that the ortho-para conversion of Ps is induced by the unpaired electrons of the paramagnetic centers of NiO.

  18. Boron-doped graphene as promising support for platinum catalyst with superior activity towards the methanol electrooxidation reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Yongrong; Du, Chunyu; An, Meichen; Du, Lei; Tan, Qiang; Liu, Chuntao; Gao, Yunzhi; Yin, Geping

    2015-12-01

    We report the synthesis of boron-doped graphene by thermally annealing the mixture of graphene oxide and boric acid, and its usage as the support of Pt catalyst towards the methanol oxidation reaction. The composition, structure and morphology of boron-doped graphene and its supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/BG) are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is revealed that boron atoms are doped into graphene network in the form of BC2O and BCO2 bonds, which lead to the increase in defect sites and facilitate the subsequent deposition of Pt nanoparticles. Therefore, the Pt/BG catalyst presents smaller particle size and narrower size distribution than the graphene supported Pt (Pt/G) catalyst. When evaluated as the electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction, the Pt/BG catalyst exhibits excellent electrochemical activity and stability demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry tests. The enhanced activity is mainly ascribed to the electronic interaction between boron-doped graphene and Pt nanoparticles, which lowers the d-band center of Pt and thus weakens the absorption of the poisoning intermediate CO. Our work provides an alternative approach of improving the reaction kinetics for the oxidation of small organic molecules.

  19. Hydrogen production via reforming of biogas over nanostructured Ni/Y catalyst: Effect of ultrasound irradiation and Ni-content on catalyst properties and performance

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sharifi, Mahdi; Reactor and Catalysis Research Center; Haghighi, Mohammad, E-mail: haghighi@sut.ac.ir

    2014-12-15

    Highlights: • Synthesis of nanostructured Ni/Y catalyst by sonochemical and impregnation methods. • Enhancement of size distribution and active phase dispersion by employing sonochemical method. • Evaluation of biogas reforming over Ni/Y catalyst with different Ni-loadings. • Preparation of highly active and stable catalyst with low Ni content for biogas reforming. • Getting H{sub 2}/CO very close to equilibrium ratio by employing sonochemical method. - Abstract: The effect of ultrasound irradiation and various Ni-loadings on dispersion of active phase over zeolite Y were evaluated in biogas reforming for hydrogen production. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray,more » Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Fourier transform infrared analysis and TEM analysis were employed to observe the characteristics of nanostructured catalysts. The characterizations implied that utilization of ultrasound irradiation enhanced catalyst physicochemical properties including high dispersion of Ni on support, smallest particles size and high catalyst surface area. The reforming reactions were carried out at GHSV = 24 l/g.h, P = 1 atm, CH{sub 4}/CO{sub 2} = 1 and temperature range of 550–850 °C. Activity test displayed that ultrasound irradiated Ni(5 wt.%)/Y had the best performance and the activity remained stable during 600 min. Furthermore, the proposed reaction mechanism showed that there are three major reaction channels in biogas reforming.« less

  20. Platinum-tin catalysts supported on silica highly selective for n-hexane dehydrogenation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Llorca, J.; Homs, N.; Sales, J.

    Silica-supported Pt-Sn catalysts were prepared by two-step impregnation from [PtCl{sub 2}(PPh{sub 3}){sub 2}] and SnCl{sub 2} solutions of appropriate concentrations to yield Pt/Sn atomic ratios ranging from 0.2 to 5.0. In these systems, the presence of true Pt-Sn alloys was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and electron nanodiffraction. Pt and PtSn alloy phases were found on catalysts with Pt/Sn > 1, PtSn alloy alone on the catalyst with Pt/Sn = 1 and PtSn and PtSn{sub 2} alloys, together with Sn in the catalysts with Pt/Sn < 1. All these catalysts were tested in themore » skeletal reactions of n-hexane at 753 K and atmospheric pressure. The selectivity of Pt changed significantly when alloyed with tin. For Sn-rich compositions a segregation of tin toward the catalyst surface was shown by photoelectron spectroscopy, and high hydrogenolysis selectivity and fast deactivation were observed. In contrast, Pt-rich catalysts, in which a well defined PtSn alloy was observed, were much more stable and exhibited high selectivity to dehydrogenation reaction while maintaining low conversions to benzene and hydrogenolysis products. This selectivity pattern can be interpreted in terms of a change in adsorption properties due to differences in the number of adjacent Pt atoms required for the various reaction pathways. 24 refs., 11 figs., 3 tabs.« less

  1. Room temperature synthesis of ReS2 through aqueous perrhenate sulfidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Borowiec, Joanna; Gillin, William P.; Willis, Maureen A. C.; Boi, Filippo S.; He, Y.; Wen, J. Q.; Wang, S. L.; Schulz, Leander

    2018-02-01

    In this study, a direct sulfidation reaction of ammonium perrhenate (NH4ReO4) leading to a synthesis of rhenium disulfide (ReS2) is demonstrated. These findings reveal the first example of a simplistic bottom-up approach to the chemical synthesis of crystalline ReS2. The reaction presented here takes place at room temperature, in an ambient and solvent-free environment and without the necessity of a catalyst. The atomic composition and structure of the as-synthesized product were characterized using several analysis techniques including energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated the formation of a lower symmetry (1Tʹ) ReS2 with a low degree of layer stacking.

  2. Room temperature synthesis of ReS2 through aqueous perrhenate sulfidation.

    PubMed

    Borowiec, Joanna; Gillin, William P; Willis, Maureen A C; Boi, Filippo S; He, Y; Wen, J Q; Wang, S L; Schulz, Leander

    2018-01-11

    In this study, a direct sulfidation reaction of ammonium perrhenate (NH 4 ReO 4 ) leading to a synthesis of rhenium disulfide (ReS 2 ) is demonstrated. These findings reveal the first example of a simplistic bottom-up approach to the chemical synthesis of crystalline ReS 2 . The reaction presented here takes place at room temperature, in an ambient and solvent-free environment and without the necessity of a catalyst. The atomic composition and structure of the as-synthesized product were characterized using several analysis techniques including energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated the formation of a lower symmetry (1T') ReS 2 with a low degree of layer stacking.

  3. Aqueous-Phase Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol over Re Promoted Ru Catalysts Encapuslated in Porous Silica Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Li, Kuo-Tseng; Yen, Ruey-Hsiang

    2018-01-01

    Activity improvement of Ru-based catalysts is needed for efficient production of valuable chemicals from glycerol hydrogenolysis. In this work, a series of Re promoted Ru catalysts encapuslated in porous silica nanoparticles (denoted as Re-Ru@SiO2) were prepared by coating silica onto the surface of chemically reduced Ru-polyvinylpyrrolidone colloids, and were used to catalyze the conversion of glycerol to diols and alcohols in water. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) were used to characterize these nanoparticles. Effects of Ru/Si atomic ratio, Re addition, glycerol and catalyst concentrations, reaction time, temperature, and hydrogen pressure were investigated. Re addition retarded the reduction of ruthenium oxide, but increased the catalyst reactivity for glycerol hydrogenolysis. Due to its greater Ru content, Re-Ru@ SiO2 showed much better activity (reacted at much lower temperature) and more yields of 1,2-propanediol and overall liquid-phase products than Re-Ru/SiO2 (prepared by conventional impregnation method) reported before. The rate of glycerol disappearance exhibited first-order dependence on glycerol concentration and hydrogen pressure, with an activation energy of 107.8 kJ/mol. The rate constant increased linearly with increasing Ru/Si atomic ratio and catalyst amount. The yield of overall liquid-phase products correlated well with glycerol conversion. PMID:29522432

  4. Crumpled rGO-supported Pt-Ir bifunctional catalyst prepared by spray pyrolysis for unitized regenerative fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, In Gyeom; Nah, In Wook; Oh, In-Hwan; Park, Sehkyu

    2017-10-01

    Three-dimensional (3D) crumpled reduced graphene oxide supported Pt-Ir alloys that served as bifunctional oxygen catalysts for use in untized regenerative fuel cells were synthesized by a facile spray pyrolysis method. Pt-Ir catalysts supported on rGO (Pt-Ir/rGOs) were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to observe change in composition by heat treatment, alloying, and morphological transition of the catalysts. Their catalytic activities and stabilities for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions were electrochemically investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), potential cycling and hold tests on the rotating disk electrode (RDE). Pt-Ir/rGO with no post heat-treatment (Pt-Ir/rGO_NP) showed a lower activity for ORR and OER although metal nanoparticles decorated on the support are relatively small. However, Pt-Ir/rGO showed remarkably enhanced activity following heat treatment, depending on temperature. Pt-Ir/rGO heat-treated at 600 °C after spray pyrolysis (Pt-Ir/rGO_P600) exhibited a higher activity and stability than a commercially available Pt/C catalyst kept under the ORR condition, and it also revealed a comparable OER activity and durability versus the commercial unsupported Ir catalyst.

  5. Preparation, characterization, and application of ZnO@SiO2 core-shell structured catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of phenol.

    PubMed

    Galedari, Naghmeh Abuali; Rahmani, Mohammad; Tasbihi, Minoo

    2017-05-01

    In the current study, ZnO@SiO 2 core-shell structured catalyst was synthesized for photocatalytic degradation of phenol from aqueous samples. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area, zeta potential, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The effect of catalyst loading, initial phenol concentration, pH, UV light intensity and weight ratio of ZnO/(SiO 2  + ZnO) were studied towards photocatalytic degradation of phenol. Moreover, photocatalytic activities of bare ZnO and ZnO@SiO 2 were compared. The results advocated that ZnO@SiO 2 catalyst showed high photocatalytic performance for degradation of phenol (96 % after 120 min) at an initial pH of 5.9, catalyst loading of 0.5 g/L and initial phenol concentration of 25 mg/L. Increase in the weight ratio of ZnO/(SiO 2  + ZnO) from 0.2 to 0.33 significantly enhanced the photodegradation of phenol from 84 to 94 %. It was also found that photocatalytic activity of ZnO@SiO 2 was higher than bare ZnO nanoparticles. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

  6. Sulfur resistance of Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalysts for low-temperature NH3–SCR

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Wenjing; Cui, Shitong; Street, Jason; Luo, Yan

    2018-01-01

    Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalyst prepared using a simple impregnation method demonstrated a better low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NH3–SCR) activity in comparison with the sol-gel method. The Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalyst loading with 20% Ce had the best low-temperature activity and achieved a NO conversion rate higher than 90% at 140–260°C with a 99.7% NO conversion rate at 180°C. The Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalyst only had a 6% NO conversion rate decrease after 100 ppm of SO2 was added to the stream. When SO2 was removed from the stream, the catalyst was able to recover completely. The crystal structure, morphology, textural properties and valence state of the metals involving the novel catalysts were investigated using X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption and desorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. The decrease of NH3–SCR performance in the presence of 100 ppm SO2 was due to the decrease of the surface area, change of the pore structure, the decrease of Ce4+ and Mn4+ concentration and the formation of the sulfur phase chemicals which blocked the active sites and changed the valence status of the elements. PMID:29657791

  7. Synthesis of flower-like molybdenum sulfide/graphene hybrid as an efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst for anion exchange membrane fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arunchander, A.; Peera, S. Gouse; Sahu, A. K.

    2017-06-01

    Nanostructured transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) have significant interest towards electrochemical devices such as fuel cells, metal-ion batteries, due to their unique physical and electrochemical properties. Herein, we report a facile hydrothermal synthesis of flower-like nanostructured molybdenum sulphide and its incorporation on to graphene as a potential oxygen reduction reaction catalyst in alkaline medium. The phase purity and morphological evolution of MoS2 is systematically studied through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic techniques. The electronic states of metal and non-metallic species are deeply studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effect of annealing temperatures and TMC concentrations are also investigated by electrochemical techniques such as cyclic and linear sweep voltammograms. The optimised electrocatalyst (MoS2/G-500) delivers significant ORR activity with onset and half-wave potentials of 0.91 and 0.80 V (vs. RHE), respectively. Superior durability compared to state-of-art Pt/C catalyst is ascertained by repeating potential cycles for about 5000 times and also by chronoamperometric technique. Finally, the hybrid catalyst is evaluated in AEMFC as cathode catalyst which delivers peak power density of about 29 mW cm-2 under ambient temperature and pressure. The present findings emphasis that MoS2/G catalyst is promising as cost-effective and alternative to noble metal-based catalysts for fuel cell applications.

  8. Sulfur resistance of Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalysts for low-temperature NH3-SCR

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Quan; Yang, Wenjing; Cui, Shitong; Street, Jason; Luo, Yan

    2018-03-01

    Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalyst prepared using a simple impregnation method demonstrated a better low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NH3-SCR) activity in comparison with the sol-gel method. The Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalyst loading with 20% Ce had the best low-temperature activity and achieved a NO conversion rate higher than 90% at 140-260°C with a 99.7% NO conversion rate at 180°C. The Ce-Mn/TiO2 catalyst only had a 6% NO conversion rate decrease after 100 ppm of SO2 was added to the stream. When SO2 was removed from the stream, the catalyst was able to recover completely. The crystal structure, morphology, textural properties and valence state of the metals involving the novel catalysts were investigated using X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption and desorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. The decrease of NH3-SCR performance in the presence of 100 ppm SO2 was due to the decrease of the surface area, change of the pore structure, the decrease of Ce4+ and Mn4+ concentration and the formation of the sulfur phase chemicals which blocked the active sites and changed the valence status of the elements.

  9. Hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene on Ni-B Nanometal Catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Yu-Chang; Huang, Chung-Yin; Chen, Yu-Wen

    2006-04-01

    A series of Ni-B catalysts were prepared by mixing nickel acetate in 50% ethanol/water or methanol/water solution. The solution of sodium borohydride (1 M) in excess amount to nickel was then added dropwise into the mixture to ensure full reduction of nickel cations. The mol ratio of boron to nickel in mother solution was 3 to 1. The effects of preparation conditions such as temperature, stirring speed, and sheltering gas on the particle size, surface compositions, electronic states of surface atoms and catalytic activities of the Ni-B catalysts were studied. Ranel nickel catalyst was included for comparison. These catalysts were characterized by N2 sorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalysts were tested for liquid phase hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene. All of the catalysts prepared in this study had nanosized particles. The preparation condition has significant influence on the particle size and surface compositions of the catalyst. The Ni-B catalyst was passivated by boron; therefore it was more stable than Raney nickel and did not catch fire after exposure to air. The catalysts prepared under N2 flow could suppress the oxidation of Ni by the dissolved oxygen in water and had metallic state of nickel. The catalyst prepared with vigorous stirring at 25°C under N2 stream yielded the smallest particles and resulted in the highest activity. It was much more active than the Raney nickel catalyst. The reaction condition also has pronounced effect on the hydrogenation activity. Using methanol as the reaction solvent increased p-chloronitrobenzene conversion to a large extent, compared to that using ethanol as the reaction medium. The selectivity of main product ( p-chloroaniline) was greater than 99% on all of the Ni-B catalysts.

  10. In Situ Probes of Capture and Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants by Zr-Based Metal Organic Frameworks

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Plonka, Anna M.; Wang, Qi; Gordon, Wesley O.

    Recently, Zr-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) were shown to be among the fastest catalysts of nerve-agent hydrolysis in solution. Here, we report a detailed study of the adsorption and decomposition of a nerve-agent simulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), on UiO-66, UiO-67, MOF-808, and NU-1000 using synchrotron-based X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray absorption, and infrared spectroscopy, which reveals key aspects of the reaction mechanism. The diffraction measurements indicate that all four MOFs adsorb DMMP (introduced at atmospheric pressures through a flow of helium or air) within the pore space. In addition, the combination of X-ray absorption and infrared spectra suggests direct coordination ofmore » DMMP to the Zr6 cores of all MOFs, which ultimately leads to decomposition to phosphonate products. Our experimental probes into the mechanism of adsorption and decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants on Zr-based MOFs open new opportunities in rational design of new and superior decontamination materials.« less

  11. In Situ Probes of Capture and Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants by Zr-Based Metal Organic Frameworks

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Plonka, Anna M.; Wang, Qi; Gordon, Wesley O.

    Zr-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been recently shown to be among the fastest catalysts of nerve-agent hydrolysis in solution. We report a detailed study of the adsorption and decomposition of a nerve-agent simulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), on UiO-66, UiO-67, MOF-808, and NU-1000 using synchrotron-based X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray absorption, and infrared spectroscopy, which reveals key aspects of the reaction mechanism. The diffraction measurements indicate that all four MOFs adsorb DMMP (introduced at atmospheric pressures through a flow of helium or air) within the pore space. In addition, the combination of X-ray absorption and infrared spectra suggests direct coordination ofmore » DMMP to the Zr6 cores of all MOFs, which ultimately leads to decomposition to phosphonate products. These experimental probes into the mechanism of adsorption and decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants on Zr-based MOFs open new opportunities in rational design of new and superior decontamination materials.« less

  12. In Situ Probes of Capture and Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants by Zr-Based Metal Organic Frameworks

    DOE PAGES

    Plonka, Anna M.; Wang, Qi; Gordon, Wesley O.; ...

    2016-12-30

    Recently, Zr-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) were shown to be among the fastest catalysts of nerve-agent hydrolysis in solution. Here, we report a detailed study of the adsorption and decomposition of a nerve-agent simulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), on UiO-66, UiO-67, MOF-808, and NU-1000 using synchrotron-based X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray absorption, and infrared spectroscopy, which reveals key aspects of the reaction mechanism. The diffraction measurements indicate that all four MOFs adsorb DMMP (introduced at atmospheric pressures through a flow of helium or air) within the pore space. In addition, the combination of X-ray absorption and infrared spectra suggests direct coordination ofmore » DMMP to the Zr6 cores of all MOFs, which ultimately leads to decomposition to phosphonate products. Our experimental probes into the mechanism of adsorption and decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants on Zr-based MOFs open new opportunities in rational design of new and superior decontamination materials.« less

  13. Superior performance of Ni–W–Ce mixed-metal oxide catalysts for ethanol steam reforming: Synergistic effects of W- and Ni-dopants

    DOE PAGES

    Liu, Zongyuan; Xu, Wenqian; Yao, Siyu; ...

    2014-11-26

    In this study, the ethanol steam reforming (ESR) reaction was examined over a series of Ni-W-Ce oxide catalysts. The structures of the catalysts were characterized using in-situ techniques including X-ray diffraction, Pair Distribution Function, X-ray absorption fine structure and transmission electron microscopy; while possible surface intermediates for the ESR reaction were investigated by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy. In these materials, all the W and part of the Ni were incorporated into the CeO₂ lattice, with the remaining Ni forming highly dispersed nano NiO (< 2 nm) outside the Ni-W-Ce oxide structure. The nano NiO was reduced to Nimore » under ESR conditions. The Ni-W-Ce systeme exhibited a much larger lattice strain than those seen for Ni-Ce and W-Ce. Synergistic effects between Ni and W inside ceria produced a substantial amount of defects and O vacancies that led to high catalytic activity, selectivity and stability (i.e. resistance to coke formation) during ethanol steam reforming.« less

  14. Synthesis of a Ni2P/Ni12P5 bi-phase nanocomposite for the efficient catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol based on the unique n-n heterojunction effects.

    PubMed

    Tian, Feng-Yu; Hou, Dongfang; Zhang, Wei-Min; Qiao, Xiu-Qing; Li, Dong-Sheng

    2017-10-24

    A novel heterostructure catalyst of Ni 2 P/Ni 12 P 5 has been fabricated through a simple solvothermal method by modifying the molar ratio of the initial raw materials. The products are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), nitrogen adsorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that the two phases, Ni 2 P and Ni 12 P 5 , are interlaced with one another in the as-formed nanocomposite, resulting in more interfaces. The bi-phase catalyst exhibits a markedly enhanced catalytic activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, as compared to that of single Ni 2 P or Ni 12 P 5 . The enhanced catalytic activity can be attributed to the unique n-n series effects, which result in the increased ease of electron transfer over the Ni 2 P/Ni 12 P 5 bi-phase catalyst.

  15. The Active Sites of a Rod-Shaped Hollandite DeNOx Catalyst.

    PubMed

    Hu, Pingping; Schuster, Manfred Erwin; Huang, Zhiwei; Xu, Fei; Jin, Shifeng; Chen, Yaxin; Hua, Weiming; Su, Dang Sheng; Tang, Xingfu

    2015-06-26

    The identification of catalytically active sites (CASs) in heterogeneous catalysis is of vital importance to design and develop improved catalysts, but remains a great challenge. The CASs have been identified in the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides by ammonia (SCR) over a hollandite manganese oxide (HMO) catalyst with a rod-shaped morphology and one-dimensional tunnels. Electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction determine the surface and crystal structures of the one-dimensional HMO rods closed by {100} side facets and {001} top facets. A combination of X-ray absorption spectra, molecular probes with potassium and nitric oxide, and catalytic tests reveals that the CASs are located on the {100} side facets of the HMO rods rather than on the top facets or in the tunnels, and hence semi-tunnel structural motifs on the {100} facets are evidenced to be the CASs of the SCR reaction. This work paves the way to further investigate the intrinsic mechanisms of SCR reactions. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  16. Performance and stability of Pd nanostructures in an alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carrera-Cerritos, R.; Fuentes-Ramírez, R.; Cuevas-Muñiz, F. M.; Ledesma-García, J.; Arriaga, L. G.

    2014-12-01

    Pd nanopolyhedral, nanobar and nanorod particles were synthesised using the polyol process and evaluated as anodes in a direct ethanol fuel cell. The materials were physico-chemically characterised by high-resolution transmission electronic microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of the operation parameters (i.e., temperature and fuel ethanol concentration) on the maximum power density (MPD) and open circuit voltage (OCV) was investigated. In addition, a stability test was performed by applying three current density steps for fifty cycles. The OCV values increased as the temperature increased for all of the catalysts at low ethanol concentration. Although the MPD increased with temperature for all of the catalyst independent of the ethanol concentration, the effect of the temperature on the MPD for each Pd structure results in different slopes due to the different crystal faces. Finally, a loss of electro-catalytic activity after fifty cycles was observed in all of the catalysts evaluated, which may be in response to morphological changes in the nanostructures.

  17. New Insights into Reaction Mechanisms of Ethanol Steam Reforming on Co-ZrO2

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sun, Junming; Karim, Ayman M.; Mei, Donghai

    2015-01-01

    The reaction pathway of ethanol steam reforming on Co-ZrO2 has been identified and the active sites associated with each step are proposed. Ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde and then to acetone, followed by acetone steam reforming. More than 90% carbon was found to follow this reaction pathway. N2-Sorption, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR), in situ X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electron Microscopy, as well as theoretical Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations have been employed to identify the structure and functionality of the catalysts, which was further used to correlate their performance in ESR. It was found that metallicmore » cobalt is mainly responsible for the acetone steam reforming reactions; while, CoO and basic sites on the support play a key role in converting ethanol to acetone via dehydrogenation and condensation/ketonization reaction pathways. The current work provides fundamental understanding of the ethanol steam reforming reaction mechanisms on Co-ZrO2 catalysts and sheds light on the rational design of selective and durable ethanol steam reforming catalysts.« less

  18. Preparation, characterization and catalytic application of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles in the synthesis of benzimidazoles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Borade, Ravikumar M.; Shinde, Pavan R.; Kale, Swati B.; Pawar, Rajendra P.

    2018-05-01

    A highly efficient magnetically recoverable cobalt ferrite nano-catalyst was prepared by sol-gel autocombustion method using glycine as green fuel. The prepared material has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning. An investigation of its catalytic activity showed it to be a heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst for the synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles. The aqueous ethanol used as green solvent for the reaction. The nm size range of these particles facilitates the catalysis process, as an increased surface area available for the reaction. The easy separation of the catalyst by an external magnet and their recovery and reuse in next cycle reaction are additional benefits.

  19. Biodiesel production via the transesterification of soybean oil using waste starfish (Asterina pectinifera).

    PubMed

    Jo, Yong Beom; Park, Sung Hoon; Jeon, Jong-Ki; Ko, Chang Hyun; Ryu, Changkook; Park, Young-Kwon

    2013-07-01

    Calcined waste starfish was used as a base catalyst for the production of biodiesel from soybean oil for the first time. A batch reactor was used for the transesterification reaction. The thermal characteristics and crystal structures of the waste starfish were investigated by thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The biodiesel yield was determined by measuring the content of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The calcination temperature appeared to be a very important parameter affecting the catalytic activity. The starfish-derived catalyst calcined at 750 °C or higher exhibited high activity for the transesterification reaction. The FAME content increased with increasing catalyst dose and methanol-over-oil ratio.

  20. Adsorption and oxidation of SO₂in a fixed-bed reactor using activated carbon produced from oxytetracycline bacterial residue and impregnated with copper.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Baohua; Yu, Lei; Song, Hanning; Li, Yaqi; Zhang, Peng; Guo, Bin; Duan, Erhong

    2015-02-01

    The SO₂removal ability (including adsorption and oxidation ability) of activated carbon produced from oxytetracycline bacterial residue and impregnated with copper was investigated. The activated carbon produced from oxytetracycline bacterial residue and modified with copper was characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The effects of the catalysts, SO₂concentration, weight hourly space velocity, and temperature on the SO₂adsorption and oxidation activity were evaluated. Activated carbon produced from oxytetracycline bacterial residue and used as catalyst supports for copper oxide catalysts provided high catalytic activity for the adsorbing and oxidizing of SO₂from flue gases.

  1. In situ supported MnOx-CeOx on carbon nanotubes for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Dengsong; Zhang, Lei; Shi, Liyi; Fang, Cheng; Li, Hongrui; Gao, Ruihua; Huang, Lei; Zhang, Jianping

    2013-01-01

    The MnOx and CeOx were in situ supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) assisted reflux route for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) have been used to elucidate the structure and surface properties of the obtained catalysts. It was found that the in situ prepared catalyst exhibited the highest activity and the most extensive operating-temperature window, compared to the catalysts prepared by impregnation or mechanically mixed methods. The XRD and TEM results indicated that the manganese oxide and cerium oxide species had a good dispersion on the CNT surface. The XPS results demonstrated that the higher atomic concentration of Mn existed on the surface of CNTs and the more chemisorbed oxygen species exist. The H2-TPR results suggested that there was a strong interaction between the manganese oxide and cerium oxide on the surface of CNTs. The NH3-TPD results demonstrated that the catalysts presented a larger acid amount and stronger acid strength. In addition, the obtained catalysts exhibited much higher SO2-tolerance and improved the water-resistance as compared to that prepared by impregnation or mechanically mixed methods.The MnOx and CeOx were in situ supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) assisted reflux route for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) have been used to elucidate the structure and surface properties of the obtained catalysts. It was found that the in situ prepared catalyst exhibited the highest activity and the most extensive operating-temperature window, compared to the catalysts prepared by impregnation or mechanically mixed methods. The XRD and TEM results indicated that the manganese oxide and cerium oxide species had a good dispersion on the CNT surface. The XPS results demonstrated that the higher atomic concentration of Mn existed on the surface of CNTs and the more chemisorbed oxygen species exist. The H2-TPR results suggested that there was a strong interaction between the manganese oxide and cerium oxide on the surface of CNTs. The NH3-TPD results demonstrated that the catalysts presented a larger acid amount and stronger acid strength. In addition, the obtained catalysts exhibited much higher SO2-tolerance and improved the water-resistance as compared to that prepared by impregnation or mechanically mixed methods. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: SEM images and EDS analysis, TEM images, and XPS spectrum of samples. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr33006g

  2. Graphene supported heterogeneous catalysts for Li-O2 batteries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alaf, M.; Tocoglu, U.; Kartal, M.; Akbulut, H.

    2016-09-01

    In this study production and characterization of free-standing and flexible (i) graphene, (ii) α-MnO2/graphene, (iii) Pt/graphene (iv) α-MnO2/Pt/graphene composite cathodes for Li-air batteries were reported. Graphene supported heterogeneous catalysts were produced by a facile method. In order to prevent aggregation of graphene sheets and increase not only interlayer distance but also surface area, a trace amount multi-wall carbon nano tube (MWCNT) was introduced to the composite structure. The obtained composite catalysts were characterized by SEM, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption analyze and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical characterization tests including galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement of catalyst were carried out by using an ECC-Air test cell. These highly active graphene supported heterogeneous composite catalysts provide competitive properties relative to other catalyst materials for Li-air batteries.

  3. Hydroisomerization of n-dodecane over Pt/Al-MCM-48 catalysts.

    PubMed

    Yun, Soyoung; Park, Young-Kwon; Jeong, Soon-Yong; Han, Jeongsik; Jeon, Jong-Ki

    2014-04-01

    The objective of this study is to evaluate the catalytic potential of Pt/Al-MCM-48 catalysts in hydroisomerization of n-dodecane. The effects of the Si/Al ratio and platinum loading on the acid characteristics of Al-MCM-48 and the catalytic performance in n-dodecane hydroisomerization were analyzed. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, infrared spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption, and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. The number of weak strength acid sites on Al-MCM-48 increased with 0.5 wt% platinum loading. The weak strength acid sites of Pt/Al-MCM-48 catalysts were ascribed to Lewis acid sites, which can be confirmed by NH3-TPD and FTIR spectra of pyridine adsorption. Iso-dodecane can be produced with high selectivity in n-dodecane hydrosisomerization over Pt/Al-MCM-48 catalysts. This is attributed to the mild acidic properties of Pt/Al-MCM-48 catalysts.

  4. Selective hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane catalyzed by trace Pd decorated Ag/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by galvanic replacement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Jingya; Han, Yuxiang; Fu, Heyun; Wan, Haiqin; Xu, Zhaoyi; Zheng, Shourong

    2018-01-01

    Ag catalysts decorated by trace Pd supported on γ-Al2O3 with different structure and chemical properties were prepared using a combined impregnation and galvanic replacement method. For comparison, monometallic Ag/γ-Al2O3 and Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared using the impregnation method. Gas-phase catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane to ethylene was investigated on those catalysts. The structures and chemical compositions of bimetallic Pd-Ag particles in the catalysts were controlled by adjusting Pd replacement amount. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy of CO adsorption. The results demonstrated that contiguous Pd sites dominated in the monometallic Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst, while Pd atoms were separately decorated on the surface of Ag particles in the bimetallic Pd-Ag/γ-Al2O3 catalysts when Pd replacement amount was below 0.30 wt.%. At Pd replacement amount of 0.30 wt.%, Pd ensembles with contiguous Pd sites developed in the bimetallic catalyst. Thus, monometallic Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst displayed negligible ethylene selectivity toward the catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane, while bimetallic Pd-Ag/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with a Pd replacement amount of 0.13 wt.% exhibited 94.6% of ethylene selectivity. Furthermore, selectivity to incompletely dechlorinated byproduct chloroethylene decreased with Pd replacement amount, due to the enhanced decoration effect of Pd on large Ag ensembles. Findings in this work provide a promising bimetallic catalyst prepared by galvanic replacement for the selective catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane.

  5. Encapsulated heterogeneous base catalysts onto SBA-15 nanoporous material as highly active catalysts in the transesterification of sunflower oil to biodiesel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Albayati, Talib M.; Doyle, Aidan M.

    2015-02-01

    Alkali metals and their hydroxides, Na, NaOH, Li, and LiOH, were encapsulated onto SBA-15 nanoporous material as highly active catalysts for the production of biodiesel fuel from sunflower oil. The incipient wetness impregnation method was adopted for the prepared catalysts. The characterization properties of the catalysts and unmodified SBA-15 were determined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, EDAX, nitrogen adsorption-desorption porosimetry (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Transesterification was conducted in a batch reactor at atmospheric pressure and 65 °C. The catalysts were highly active with yields of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in the range 96-99 %. Na/SBA-15 catalyst was reused for seven consecutive cycles under the same reaction conditions; the yield to FAME on the final cycle was 96 %. This study shows that the alkali metals and their hydroxides supported on SBA-15-based catalyst are excellent catalysts for the biodiesel reaction.

  6. Photocatalytic degradation of diethyl phthalate using TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Singla, Pooja, E-mail: pooja.singla@thapar.edu; Pandey, O. P., E-mail: pooja.singla@thapar.edu; Singh, K., E-mail: pooja.singla@thapar.edu

    2014-04-24

    TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles predominantly in rutile phase are synthesized by ultrasonication assisted sol-gel method. TiO{sub 2} powder is characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and UV-vis diffuse reflectance. TiO{sub 2} is used as catalyst in photocatalytic degradation of Diethyl Phthalate. TiO{sub 2} exhibits good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of diethyl phthalate.

  7. TS-1 supported highly dispersed sub-5 nm gold nanoparticles toward direct propylene epoxidation using H2 and O2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Naixu; Chen, Yong; Shen, Quanhao; Yang, Bin; Liu, Ming; Wei, Lingfei; Tian, Wei; Zhou, Jiancheng

    2018-05-01

    We report a simple and efficient method for the preparation of highly dispersed Au nanoparticles (< 5 nm) on TS-1 substrate. The synthesis relies on the use of NaBH4 as a reductant for rapid Au atom generation, as well as PVA as a capping agent confining the particle size and dispersion. The samples were characterized by N2 physisorption, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, power X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, CO pulse chemisorption and thermogravimetric analysis. The size of Au particles can be controlled in the range of 3-5 nm. The supported catalyst shows both good activity and selectivity for propylene oxide (PO) generation from direct propylene epoxidation. An optimal performance with PO formation rate of 102.94 gPO h-1 kg-1cat and selectivity of 84.83% is achieved over 2.0 wt% Au/TS-1 catalyst, which is prepared by controlling PVA/Au3+ mass ratio of 1.5/1 and NaBH4/Au3+ mole ratio of 5/1. After 50 h test at 200 °C, no significant decrement of both catalytic activity and PO selectivity can be observed, indicating the excellent thermally stability of the catalyst. Furthermore, a possible reaction mechanism is described on basis of the previous researches and our experimental results.

  8. Ultrafast synthesis of flower-like ordered Pd3Pb nanocrystals with superior electrocatalytic activities towards oxidation of formic acid and ethanol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jana, Rajkumar; Subbarao, Udumula; Peter, Sebastian C.

    2016-01-01

    Ordered intermetallic nanocrystals with high surface area are highly promising as efficient catalysts for fuel cell applications because of their unique electrocatalytic properties. The present work discusses about the controlled synthesis of ordered intermetallic Pd3Pb nanocrystals in different morphologies at relatively low temperature for the first time by polyol and hydrothermal methods both in presence and absence of surfactant. Here for the first time we report surfactant free synthesis of ordered flower-like intermetallic Pd3Pb nanocrystals in 10 s. The structural characteristics of the nanocrystals are confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The as synthesized ordered Pd3Pb nanocrystals exhibit far superior electrocatalytic activity and durability towards formic acid and ethanol oxidation over commercially available Pd black (Pd/C). The morphological variation of nanocrystals plays a crucial role in the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid and ethanol. Among the catalysts, the flower-like Pd3Pb shows enhanced activity and stability in electrocatalytic formic acid and ethanol oxidation. The current density and mass activity of flower-like Pd3Pb catalyst are higher by 2.5 and 2.4 times than that of Pd/C for the formic acid oxidation and 1.5 times each for ethanol oxidation.

  9. A new preparation of a bifunctional crystalline heterogeneous copper electrocatalyst by electrodeposition using a Robson-type macrocyclic dinuclear copper complex for efficient hydrogen and oxygen evolution from water.

    PubMed

    Majumder, Samit; Abdel Haleem, Ashraf; Nagaraju, Perumandla; Naruta, Yoshinori

    2017-07-18

    The development of low-cost, stable bifunctional electrocatalysts, which operate in the same electrolyte with a low overpotential for water splitting, including the oxygen evolution reaction and the hydrogen evolution reaction, remains an attractive prospect and a great challenge. In this study, a water soluble Robson-type macrocyclic dicopper(ii) complex has been used for the first time as a catalyst precursor for the generation of a copper-based bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst film, which can be used for both HER and OER at a near neutral pH. In sodium borate buffer at pH 9.20, this complex decomposed to give a Cu(OH) 2 /Cu 2 O-based thin film on FTO that catalyzes both hydrogen production and water oxidation. The morphology, nature and composition of the thin film were fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopies. The catalyst film showed high stability during the course of electrolysis in either the cathodic or the anodic direction for more than 4 h. Faradaic efficiencies of ∼92% for HER and ∼96% for OER were achieved. The switch between the two half-reactions of catalytic water splitting was fully reversible in nature.

  10. Oligomerization of 2-chloroallyl alcohol by 2-pyridinecarboxylate complex of chromium(III) - new highly active and selective catalyst.

    PubMed

    Drzeżdżon, Joanna; Sikorski, Artur; Chmurzyński, Lech; Jacewicz, Dagmara

    2018-06-05

    The new 2-pyridinecarboxylate (2-pic) complex of chromium(III) has been designed and synthesized as a new highly active and selective oligomerization catalyst. The crystal structure of the new compound has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The composition and purity of [Cr(2-pic) 2 (OH 2 ) 2 ]NO 3 have been confirmed by several spectroscopic methods and the elemental analysis. Furthermore, the new complex has been investigated towards its catalytic activity for the oligomerization of 2-chloro-2-propen-1-ol under the atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. It has turned out that the novel catalyst exhibits a very high catalytic activity. Consequently, [Cr(2-pic) 2 (OH 2 ) 2 ]NO 3 belongs to a new generation of non-metallocene catalysts.

  11. Selective conversion of {Mo132} Keplerate ion into 4-electron reduced crown-capped Keggin derivative [Te5Mo15O57](8-). A key intermediate to single-phase M1 multielement MoVTeO light-alkanes oxidation catalyst.

    PubMed

    Canioni, Romain; Marchal-Roch, Catherine; Leclerc-Laronze, Nathalie; Haouas, Mohamed; Taulèlle, Francis; Marrot, Jérôme; Paul, Sebastien; Lamonier, Carole; Paul, Jean-François; Loridant, Stéphane; Millet, Jean-Marc M; Cadot, Emmanuel

    2011-06-14

    {Mo(132)} Keplerate anion reacts with tellurites to give a soluble precursor to produce in hydrothermal conditions single-phase M1 MoVTeO light-alkanes oxidation catalyst. Characterization of this Te-containing intermediate by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (125)Te NMR, UV-visible and redox titration reveals a molybdotellurite anion as a crown-capped Keggin derivative. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

  12. The synthesis of Cu/Fe/Fe3O4 catalyst through the aqueous solution ball milling method assisted by high-frequency electromagnetic field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yingzhe, Zhang; Yuxing, He; Qingdong, Qin; Fuchun, Wang; Wankun, Wang; Yongmei, Luo

    2018-06-01

    In this paper, nano-magnetic Cu/Fe/Fe3O4 catalyst was prepared by a new aqueous solution ball milling method assisted by high-frequency electromagnetic field at room temperature. The products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Microwave induced catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) was carried out in the presence of Cu/Fe/Fe3O4. The concentration of methylene blue was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The solid catalyst showed high catalytic activity of degrade MB and considerable saturation magnetization, lower remanence and coercivity. It indicate that the catalyst can be effectively separated for reuse by simply applying an external magnetic field and it can greatly promote their potential industrial application to eliminate organic pollutants from waste-water. Finally, we found that it is the non-thermal effect of microwave that activated the catalytic activity of Cu/Fe/Fe3O4 to degrade MB.

  13. Ternary Pt9RhFex Nanoscale Alloys as Highly Efficient Catalysts with Enhanced Activity and Excellent CO-Poisoning Tolerance for Ethanol Oxidation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Peng; Yin, Shibin; Wen, Ying; Tian, Zhiqun; Wang, Ningzhang; Key, Julian; Wang, Shuangbao; Shen, Pei Kang

    2017-03-22

    To address the problems of high cost and poor stability of anode catalysts in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), ternary nanoparticles Pt 9 RhFe x (x = 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) supported on carbon powders (XC-72R) have been synthesized via a facile method involving reduction by sodium borohydride followed by thermal annealing in N 2 at ambient pressure. The catalysts are physically characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their catalytic performance for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) is evaluated by cyclic and linear scan voltammetry, CO-stripping voltammograms, and chronopotentiometry. All the Pt 9 RhFe x /C catalysts of different atomic ratios produce high EOR catalytic activity. The catalyst of atomic ratio composition 9:1:3 (Pt/Rh/Fe) has the highest activity and excellent CO-poisoning tolerance. Moreover, the enhanced EOR catalytic activity on Pt 9 RhFe 3 /C when compared to Pt 9 Rh/C, Pt 3 Fe/C, and Pt/C clearly demonstrates the presence of Fe improves catalytic performance. Notably, the onset potential for CO oxidation on Pt 9 RhFe 3 /C (0.271 V) is ∼55, 75, and 191 mV more negative than on Pt 9 Rh/C (0.326 V), Pt 3 Fe/C (0.346 V), and Pt/C (0.462 V), respectively, which implies the presence of Fe atoms dramatically improves CO-poisoning tolerance. Meanwhile, compared to the commercial PtRu/C catalyst, the peak potential on Pt 9 RhFe 3 /C for CO oxidation was just slightly changed after several thousand cycles, which shows high stability against the potential cycling. The possible mechanism by which Fe and Rh atoms facilitate the observed enhanced performance is also considered herein, and we conclude Pt 9 RhFe 3 /C offers a promising anode catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells.

  14. Graphene-Supported Platinum Catalyst-Based Membrane Electrode Assembly for PEM Fuel Cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Devrim, Yilser; Albostan, Ayhan

    2016-08-01

    The aim of this study is the preparation and characterization of a graphene-supported platinum (Pt) catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications. The graphene-supported Pt catalysts were prepared by chemical reduction of graphene and chloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) in ethylene glycol. X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy have been used to analyze structure and surface morphology of the graphene-supported catalyst. The TGA results showed that the Pt loading of the graphene-supported catalyst was 31%. The proof of the Pt particles on the support surfaces was also verified by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis. The commercial carbon-supported catalyst and prepared Pt/graphene catalysts were used as both anode and cathode electrodes for PEMFC at ambient pressure and 70°C. The maximum power density was obtained for the Pt/graphene-based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with H2/O2 reactant gases as 0.925 W cm2. The maximum current density of the Pt/graphene-based MEA can reach 1.267 and 0.43 A/cm2 at 0.6 V with H2/O2 and H2/air, respectively. The MEA prepared by the Pt/graphene catalyst shows good stability in long-term PEMFC durability tests. The PEMFC cell voltage was maintained at 0.6 V without apparent voltage drop when operated at 0.43 A/cm2 constant current density and 70°C for 400 h. As a result, PEMFC performance was found to be superlative for the graphene-supported Pt catalyst compared with the Pt/C commercial catalyst. The results indicate the graphene-supported Pt catalyst could be utilized as the electrocatalyst for PEMFC applications.

  15. Role of chemical interaction between MgH2 and TiO2 additive on the hydrogen storage behavior of MgH2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pukazhselvan, D.; Nasani, Narendar; Sandhya, K. S.; Singh, Budhendra; Bdikin, Igor; Koga, Nobuaki; Fagg, Duncan Paul

    2017-10-01

    The present study explores how the additive titania chemically reacts with magnesium hydride and influences the dehydrogenation of MgH2. Quantitative X - ray diffraction study of ball milled MgH2 + xTiO2 (x = 0.25, 0.33, 0.5 and 1) suggests that Ti substituted MgO is the main reaction product in all the product powders. Convincing evidence is obtained to conclude that Ti dissolution in MgO makes a dramatic behavioral change to MgO; passive MgO turns as an active in-built catalyst. The analysis correlating the dehydrogenation kinetics, composition of in-situ catalyst and sample durability suggests that effectiveness of Ti substituted MgO (MgxTiyOx+y) as a catalyst for MgH2 depends on the concentration of Ti in MgxTiyOx+y rock salt. These observations are immensely helpful for understanding the hydrogen desorption mechanism of metal oxide additives loaded MgH2 system.

  16. Preparation and characterization of CuO catalyst for the thermolysis treatment of distillery wastewater.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Deepak; Prajapati, Abhinesh Kumar; Choudhary, Rumi; Kaushal, Rajesh Kumar; Pal, Dharm; Sawarkar, Ashish N

    2017-08-16

    CuO catalyst was prepared from copper sulfate by alkali precipitation method followed by drying and calcination. Characterization of CuO catalyst using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda surface area analysis envisaged the effectiveness of CuO as a catalyst for the treatment of biodigester effluent (BDE) emanated from distilleries. The catalytic thermolysis is an efficient advance treatment method for distillery biodigester effluent (BDE). CT treatment of BDE was carried out in a 0.5 dm 3 thermolytic batch reactor using CuO as a catalyst at different pH (1-9), temperatures (80-110°C), and catalyst loadings (1-4 kg/m 3 ). With CuO catalyst, a temperature of 110°C, catalyst loading of 4 kg/m 3 , and pH of 2 was found to be optimal, providing a maximum reduction in chemical oxygen demand of 65%. The settling characteristics at different temperatures of CT-treated sludge were also presented.

  17. Preparation and characterization of Bi-doped TiO{sub 2} and its solar photocatalytic activity for the degradation of isoproturon herbicide

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reddy, Police Anil Kumar; Srinivas, Basavaraju; Kala, Pruthu

    Highlights: {yields} Visible active Bi-TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst preparation and thorough charaterization. {yields} Bi-TiO{sub 2} shows high activity for isoproturon degradation under solar light irradiation. {yields} The spectral response of TiO{sub 2} shifts from UV to visible light region by Bi doping. {yields} Bi{sup 3+{delta}+} species are playing a vital role in minimizing e{sup -}/h{sup +} recombination. -- Abstract: Bi-doped TiO{sub 2} catalyst was prepared by sol-gel method and was characterized by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction spectra (XRD), X-ray photo electronic spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis diffused reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive analysis ofmore » X-rays (EDAX) and BET surface area. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts were evaluated for the degradation of isoproturon herbicide under solar light irradiation. The UV-Visible DRS of Bi-doped TiO{sub 2} showed red shift in optical absorption. The presence of Bi{sup 3+{delta}+} species are playing a vital role in minimizing the electron hole recombination resulting higher activity compared to bare TiO{sub 2}.« less

  18. Sonochemical synthesis and structural characterization of a new nanostructured Co(II) supramolecular coordination polymer with Lewis base sites as a new catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation.

    PubMed

    Joharian, Monika; Abedi, Sedigheh; Morsali, Ali

    2017-11-01

    A new Co(II) mixed-ligand coordination supramolecular polymer with composition [Co 2 (ppda)(4-bpdh) 2 (NO 3 ) 2 ] n (1) (where, ppda=p-phenylenediacrylic acid, 4-bpdh=2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene) was synthesized using solvothermal, mechanochemical and sonochemical methods. Compound 1 and the new nanostructure have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray, infrared spectroscopy (IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal stability of compound 1 was also studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface area of these compounds was determined by BET. The single-crystal X-ray data shows a new interesting two-dimensional coordination polymer (CP). In addition, the effect of various sonication concentrations of initial reagents, power of ultrasound irradiation and also the time on the size and morphology of nano-structured coordination polymer 1 were evaluated. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the nanostructure of the CP1 can be used as a catalyst in Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Mössbauer study of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 catalytic materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koleva, K.; Velinov, N.; Tsoncheva, T.; Mitov, I.

    2014-04-01

    Copper zinc ferrites (Cu1-xZnxFe2O4) with different composition (x = 1; 0.2; 0.5; 0.8) were prepared by conventional thermal method. Formation of well crystallized ferrite phase with cubic structure and crystallites size of about 19.08-24.39 nm was observed by Powder X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The ferrite materials were tested as catalysts in methanol decomposition to CO and H2. A strong dependence of the catalytic behaviour of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 ferrites of their composition and the phase transformations which occurred under the reaction medium was established.

  20. Comparative study on cubic and tetragonal CexZr1-xO2 supported MoO3-catalysts for sulfur-resistant methanation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Zhaopeng; Xu, Yan; Cheng, Jiaming; Wang, Weihan; Wang, Baowei; Li, Zhenhua; Ma, Xinbin

    2018-03-01

    In this paper, two kinds of CexZr1-xO2 solid solution carriers with different Ce/Zr ratio were prepared by one-step co-precipitation method: the cubic Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 and the tetragonal Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 support. The MoO3/Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 and MoO3/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method for comparative study on sulfur-resistant methanation reaction. The N2 adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature-programmed reduction by hydrogen (H2-TPR) were undertaken to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the samples. The results indicated that the prepared MoO3/CexZr1-xO2 catalysts have a mesoporous structure with high surface area and uniform pore size distribution, achieving good MoO3 dispersion on CexZr1-xO2 supports. As for the catalytic performance of sulfur-resistant methanation, the cubic MoO3/Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 exhibited better than the tetragonal MoO3/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 catalyst at reaction temperature 400 °C and 450 °C. CO conversion on the cubic MoO3/Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 catalyst was 50.1% at 400 °C and 75.5% at 450 °C, which is respectively 7% and 20% higher than that on the tetragonal MoO3/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2 catalyst. These were mainly attributed to higher content of active MoS2 on the surface of catalyst, the enhanced oxygen mobility, increased Mo-species dispersion as well as the excellent reducibility resulted from the increased amount of the reducible Ce3+ on the cubic MoO3/Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 catalyst.

  1. Facile Fabrication of Composition-Tuned Ru-Ni Bimetallics in Ordered Mesoporous Carbon for Levulinic Acid Hydrogenation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yang, Ying; Gao, Guang; Zhang, Xin

    Bimetallic catalysts are of great importance due to their unique catalytic properties. However, their conventional synthesis requires tedious multistep procedures and prolonged synthetic time, and the resulting bimetallics usually disperse unevenly and show poor stability. It is challenging to develop a facile and step-economic synthetic methodology for highly efficient bimetallic catalysts. In this study, we report an elegant metal complex-involved multicomponent assembly route to highly efficient Ru–Ni bimetallics in ordered mesoporous carbons (OMC). The fabrication of composition-tuned Ru–Ni bimetallics in OMC (Ru xNi 1–x–OMC, x = 0.5–0.9) was facilely realized via in situ construction of CTAB-directed cubic Ia3d chitosan-ruthenium–nickel–silica mesophasemore » before pyrolysis and silica removal. The resulting Ru xNi 1–x–OMC materials are in-depth characterized with X-ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectrum, and X-ray absorption fine structure. This facile fabrication method renders homogeneously dispersed Ru–Ni bimetallics embedded in the mesoporous carbonaceous framework and creates a highly active and stable Ru 0.9Ni 0.1–OMC catalyst for the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to prepare γ-valerolactone (GVL), a biomass-derived platform molecule with wide application in the preparation of renewable chemicals and liquid transportation fuels. A high TOF (>2000 h –1) was obtained, and the Ru 0.9Ni 0.1–OMC catalyst could be used at least 15 times without obvious loss of its catalytic performance.« less

  2. Highly Active Iridium/Iridium Tin/Tin Oxide Heterogeneous Nanoparticles as Alternative Electrocatalysts for the Ethanol Oxidation Reaction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Du W.; Su D.; Wang Q.

    2011-08-03

    Ethanol is a promising fuel for low-temperature direct fuel cell reactions due to its low toxicity, ease of storage and transportation, high-energy density, and availability from biomass. However, the implementation of ethanol fuel cell technology has been hindered by the lack of low-cost, highly active anode catalysts. In this paper, we have studied Iridium (Ir)-based binary catalysts as low-cost alternative electrocatalysts replacing platinum (Pt)-based catalysts for the direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) reaction. We report the synthesis of carbon supported Ir{sub 71}Sn{sub 29} catalysts with an average diameter of 2.7 {+-} 0.6 nm through a 'surfactant-free' wet chemistry approach. Themore » complementary characterization techniques, including aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy equipped with electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, are used to identify the 'real' heterogeneous structure of Ir{sub 71}Sn{sub 29}/C particles as Ir/Ir-Sn/SnO{sub 2}, which consists of an Ir-rich core and an Ir-Sn alloy shell with SnO{sub 2} present on the surface. The Ir{sub 71}Sn{sub 29}/C heterogeneous catalyst exhibited high electrochemical activity toward the ethanol oxidation reaction compared to the commercial Pt/C (ETEK), PtRu/C (Johnson Matthey) as well as PtSn/C catalysts. Electrochemical measurements and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the superior electro-activity is directly related to the high degree of Ir-Sn alloy formation as well as the existence of nonalloyed SnO{sub 2} on surface. Our cross-disciplinary work, from novel 'surfactant-free' synthesis of Ir-Sn catalysts, theoretical simulations, and catalytic measurements to the characterizations of 'real' heterogeneous nanostructures, will not only highlight the intriguing structure-property correlations in nanosized catalysts but also have a transformative impact on the commercialization of DEFC technology by replacing Pt with low-cost, highly active Ir-based catalysts.« less

  3. Diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses using MEMS-based X-ray optics

    DOEpatents

    Lopez, Daniel; Shenoy, Gopal; Wang, Jin; Walko, Donald A.; Jung, Il-Woong; Mukhopadhyay, Deepkishore

    2016-08-09

    A method and apparatus are provided for implementing Bragg-diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses using MicroElectroMechanical systems (MEMS) based diffractive optics. An oscillating crystalline MEMS device generates a controllable time-window for diffraction of the incident X-ray radiation. The Bragg-diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses includes isolating a particular pulse, spatially separating individual pulses, and spreading a single pulse from an X-ray pulse-train.

  4. Synthesis and hydrogenation application of Pt-Pd bimetallic nanocatalysts stabilized by macrocycle-modified dendrimer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jin, Zhijun; Xiao, Haiyan; Zhou, Wei; Zhang, Dongqiao; Peng, Xiaohong

    2017-12-01

    Different generations of poly(propylene imine) (Gn-PPI) terminated with N-containing 15-membered triolefinic macrocycle (GnM) (n = 2, 3, 4, 5) were prepared. The bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts GnM-(Ptx/Pd10-x) (x = 0, 3, 5, 7, 10) were prepared by the synchronous ligand-exchange reaction between GnM and the complexes of Pt(PPh3)4 and Pd(PPh3)4. The structure and catalytic properties of GnM-(Ptx/Pd10-x) were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The novel bimetallic Pd-Pt nanoparticle catalysts stabilized by dendrimers (DSNs) present higher catalytic activities for the hydrogenation of dimeric acid (DA) than that of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). It can be concluded that bimetallic Pd-Pt DSNs possess alloying and synergistic electronic effects on account of the hydrogenation degree (HD) of DA and NBR. Furthermore, the HD of DA and NBR shows a remarkable decrease with the incremental generations (n) of GnM-(Pt3/Pd7) (n = 2, 3, 4, 5).

  5. Comparative Study on Synergetic Degradation of a Reactive Dye Using Different Types of Fly Ash in Combined Adsorption and Photocatalysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giri Babu, P. V. S.; Swaminathan, G.

    2016-09-01

    A comprehensive study was carried out on four different fly ashes used as a catalyst for the degradation of Acid Red 1 using ultraviolet rays. These fly ashes are collected from different thermal power stations located at various places in India and having different chemical compositions. Three fly ashes are from lignite-based thermal power plants, and one is from the coal-based power plant. One fly ash is classified as Class F, two fly ashes are classified as Class C and remaining one is not conforming to ASTM C618 classification. X-Ray Fluorescence analysis was used to identify the chemical composition of fly ashes and SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3 and TiO2 were found to be the major elements present in different proportions. Various analysis were carried out on all the fly ashes like Scanning Electron Microscopy to identify the microphysical properties, Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy to quantify the elements present in the catalyst and X-Ray Diffraction to identify the catalyst phase analysis. The radical generated during the reaction was identified by Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The parameters such as initial pH of the dye solution, catalyst dosage and initial dye concentration which influence the dye degradation efficiency were studied and optimised. In 60 min duration, the dye degradation efficiency at optimum parametric values of pH 2.5, initial dye concentration of 10 mg/L and catalyst dosage of 1.0 g/L using various fly ashes, i.e., Salam Power Plant, Barmer Lignite Power Plant, Kutch Lignite Power Plant and Neyveli Lignite Thermal Power plant (NLTP) were found to be 40, 60, 67 and 95 % respectively. The contribution of adsorption alone was 18 % at the above mentioned optimum parametric values. Among the above four fly ash NLTP fly ashes proved to be most efficient.

  6. Catalytic oxidation of 1,2-DCBz over V2O5/TiO2-CNTs: effect of CNT diameter and surface functional groups.

    PubMed

    Du, Cuicui; Wang, Qiulin; Peng, Yaqi; Lu, Shengyong; Ji, Longjie; Ni, Mingjiang

    2017-02-01

    A series of V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 -carbon nanotube (CNT) catalysts were prepared and tested to decompose gaseous 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCBz). Several physicochemical methods, including nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and H 2 temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) were employed to characterise their physicochemical properties. To better understand the effect of CNT properties on the reactivity of V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 -CNT catalysts, the 1,2-DCBz residue remaining in the off-gas and on the catalyst surface were both collected and analysed. The results indicate that the outer diameter and the surface functional groups (hydroxide radical and carboxyl) of CNTs significantly influence upon the catalytic activity of CNT-containing V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 catalysts: the CNT outer diameter mainly affects the aggregation of CNTs and the π-π interaction between the benzene ring and CNTs, while the introduction of -OH and -COOH groups by acid treatment can further enlarge specific surface area (SSA) and contribute to a higher average oxidation state of vanadium (V aos ) and supplemental surface chemisorbed oxygen (O ads ). In addition, the enhanced mobility of lattice oxygen (O latt) also improves the oxidation ability of the catalysts.

  7. Biosupported Bimetallic Pd Au Nanocatalysts for Dechlorination of Environmental Contaminants

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    De Corte, S.; Fitts, J.; Hennebel, T.

    2011-08-30

    Biologically produced monometallic palladium nanoparticles (bio-Pd) have been shown to catalyze the dehalogenation of environmental contaminants, but fail to efficiently catalyze the degradation of other important recalcitrant halogenated compounds. This study represents the first report of biologically produced bimetallic Pd/Au nanoparticle catalysts. The obtained catalysts were tested for the dechlorination of diclofenac and trichloroethylene. When aqueous bivalent Pd(II) and trivalent Au(III) ions were both added to concentrations of 50 mg L{sup -1} and reduced simultaneously by Shewanella oneidensis in the presence of H{sub 2}, the resulting cell-associated bimetallic nanoparticles (bio-Pd/Au) were able to dehalogenate 78% of the initially added diclofenacmore » after 24 h; in comparison, no dehalogenation was observed using monometallic bio-Pd or bio-Au. Other catalyst-synthesis strategies did not show improved dehalogenation of TCE and diclofenac compared with bio-Pd. Synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction, (scanning) transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that the simultaneous reduction of Pd and Au supported on cells of S. oneidensis resulted in the formation of a unique bimetallic crystalline structure. This study demonstrates that the catalytic activity and functionality of possibly environmentally more benign biosupported Pd-catalysts can be improved by coprecipitation with Au.« less

  8. Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of benzoic acid over Fe/AC catalysts: Effect of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped activated carbon.

    PubMed

    Qin, Hangdao; Xiao, Rong; Chen, Jing

    2018-06-01

    The parent activated carbon (ACP) was modified with urea and thiourea to obtain N-doped activated carbon (ACN) and N, S co-doped activated carbon (ACNS), respectively. Iron supported on activated carbon (Fe/ACP, Fe/ACN and Fe/ACNS) were prepared and worked as catalyst for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of benzoic acid (BA). The catalysts were characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and their performance was evaluated in terms of benzoic acid and TOC removal. The results indicated the doped N and S improved the adsorption capacity as well as catalytic activity of activated carbon. Besides, the catalytic activity toward benzoic acid degradation was found to be enhanced by Fe/ACNS compared to that of Fe/ACP and Fe/ACN. The enhanced catalytic performance was attributed to the presence of the nitrogen and sulfur atoms may serve to improve the relative amount of Fe 2+ on iron oxide surface and also help prevent leaching of Fe. It was also observed that the stability or reutilization of Fe/ACNS catalyst was fairly good. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Preparation and catalytic performance of copper-containing magnetic catalysts for degradation of azo dye (direct violet).

    PubMed

    Duan, Qiannan; Lee, Jianchao; Chen, Han; Zheng, Yunyun

    2017-12-01

    A novel magnetically separable magnetic activated carbon supporting-copper (MCAC) catalyst for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) was prepared by chemical impregnation. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The catalytic performance of the catalysts was evaluated by direct violet (D-BL) degradation in CWPO experiments. The influence of preparative and operational parameters (dipping conditions, calcination temperature, catalyst loading H 2 O 2 dosage, pH, reaction temperature, additive salt ions and initial D-BL concentration) on degradation performance of CWPO process was investigated. The resulting MCAC catalyst showed higher reusability in direct violet oxidation than the magnetic activated carbon (MAC). Besides, dynamic tests also showed the maximal degradation rate reached 90.16% and its general decoloring ability of MCAC was 34 mg g -1 for aqueous D-BL.

  10. Productions of sunflower oil biodiesel and used cooking oil through heterogeneous catalysts compared to conventional homogeneous catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gutiérrez-Zapata, C. A.; Blanco Martínez, D.; Collazos, C. A.; Castellanos Acuña, H. E.; Cuervo, J. A.; Fernandez, C. P.

    2017-01-01

    This document compares homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts used by production of biodiesel of sunflower oil and cooking oil used in frying. For this, NaOH was used as a catalyst homogeneous, and K2CO3 and Na2CO3 supported in gamma-alumina (K2CO3/γ Al2O3 y Na2CO3 /γ-Al2O3) were synthesized as heterogeneous catalysts, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The transesterification tests were carried out for the sunflower oil and used cooking oil, in a reflux system, to different molar relations methanol/oil, depending on the type of oil and characterization of the same. The reflux system is performed at a temperature of 55-60°C for one hour. Finally, biofuel was characterized and the yield of the reaction was calculated.

  11. Study on the poisoning effect-of non-vanadium catalysts by potassium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zeng, Huanmu; Liu, Ying; Yu, Xiaowei; Lin, Yasi

    2018-02-01

    The poisoning effect of catalyst by alkali metals is one of the problems in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH3. Serious deactivation by alkali poisoning have been proved to take place in the commercial vanadium catalyst. Recently, non-vanadium catalysts such as copper oxides, manganese oxides, chromium oxides and cerium oxides have attracted special attentions in SCR application. However, their tolerance in the presence of alkali metals is still doubtful. In this paper, copper oxides, manganese oxides, chromium oxides and cerium oxides supported on TiO2 nanoparticle was prepared by impregnating method. Potassium nitrate was chosen as the precursor of poisoner. Catalytic activities of these catalysts were evaluated before and after the addition of potassium. Some characterization methods including X-ray diffraction and temperature programmed desorption was utilized to reveal the main reason of alkali deactivation.

  12. Highly recyclable and ultra-rapid catalytic reduction of organic pollutants on Ag-Cu@ZnO bimetal nanocomposite synthesized via green technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gangarapu, Manjari; Sarangapany, Saran; Suja, Devipriya P.; Arava, Vijaya Bhaskara Rao

    2018-04-01

    In this study, synthesis of Ag-Cu alloy bimetal nanoparticles anchored on high surface and porous ZnO using a facile, greener and low-cost aqeous bark extract of Aglaia roxburghiana for highly active, ultra-rapid and stable catalyst is performed. The nanocomposite was scrupulously characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrophotometer, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, selected area (electron) diffraction, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the green synthesized Ag-Cu bimetal nanocomposite was evaluated in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh B) dyes. The different types of dye exhibited very high and effective catalytic activity within few seconds. The theoretical investigations reveal that the unique synergistic effect of Ag-Cu nanoparticles and immobilization over ZnO assists in the reduction of 4-NP, MB and Rh B. Loading and leaching of metal nanoparticles were obtained using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Moreover, the stable and efficient recyclability of nanocomposite by centrifugation after completion of the reaction was demonstrated. The results lead to the design different possible bimetal on ZnO with boosting and an effective catalyst for the environmental applications.

  13. Self-assembled growth and structural analysis of inclined GaN nanorods on nanoimprinted m-sapphire using catalyst-free metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lee, Kyuseung; Chae, Sooryong; Jang, Jongjin

    2016-04-15

    In this study, self-assembled inclined (1-10-3)-oriented GaN nanorods (NRs) were grown on nanoimprinted (10-10) m-sapphire substrates using catalyst-free metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. According to X-ray phi-scans, the inclined GaN NRs were tilted at an angle of ∼57.5° to the [10-10]{sub sapp} direction. Specifically, the GaN NRs grew in a single inclined direction to the [11-20]{sub sapp}. Uni-directionally inclined NRs were formed through the one-sided (10-11)-faceted growth of the interfacial a-GaN plane layer. It was confirmed that a thin layer of a-GaN was formed on r-facet nanogrooves of the m-sapphire substrate by nitridation. The interfacial a-GaN nucleation affected both the inclinedmore » angle and the growth direction of the inclined GaN NRs. Using X-ray diffraction and selective area electron diffraction, the epitaxial relationship between the inclined (1-10-3) GaN NRs and interfacial a-GaN layer on m-sapphire substrates was systematically investigated. Moreover, the inclined GaN NRs were observed to be mostly free of stacking fault-related defects using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.« less

  14. Photocatalytic Degradation of Isopropanol Over PbSnO3Nanostructures Under Visible Light Irradiation

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Nanostructured PbSnO3photocatalysts with particulate and tubular morphologies have been synthesized from a simple hydrothermal process. As-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller surface area, transmission electron microscopy, and diffraction spectroscopy. The photoactivities of the PbSnO3nanostructures for isopropanol (IPA) degradation under visible light irradiation were investigated systematically, and the results revealed that these nanostructures show much higher photocatalytic properties than bulk PbSnO3material. The possible growth mechanism of tubular PbSnO3catalyst was also investigated briefly. PMID:20596379

  15. Conversion of glycerol to polyglycerol over waste duck-bones as a catalyst in solvent free etherification process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ayoub, Muhammad; Sufian, Suriati; Mekuria Hailegiorgis, Sintayehu; Ullah, Sami; Uemura, Yoshimitsu

    2017-08-01

    The alkaline catalyst derived from the duck-bones was used for conversion of glycerol to polyglycerol via solvent free etherification process. The physicochemical properties of prepared materials were duck-bones were systematically investigated as a catalyst by latest techniques of Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface properties. TGA showed different trends of duck-bones decomposition from room temperature to 1000C. XRD pattern showed a clear and sharp peaks of a crystalline phase of CaO. The activity of the catalysts was in line with the basic amount of the strong base sites, surface area, and crystalline phase in the catalysts. The prepared catalyst derived from duck-bones provided high activity (99 %) for glycerol conversion and around 68 % yield for polyglycerol production. These ample wastes of duck-bones have good potential to be used as polyglycerol production catalysts due to have high quantity of Ca compare to other types of bones like cow, chicken and fish bones.

  16. Catalytic dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over Nb2O5 catalyst in organic solvent.

    PubMed

    Wang, Fenfen; Wu, Hai-Zhen; Liu, Chun-Ling; Yang, Rong-Zhen; Dong, Wen-Sheng

    2013-03-07

    The catalytic dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in DMSO was performed over Nb2O5 derived from calcination of niobic acid at various temperatures (300-700 °C). The catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N2 physical adsorption, temperature-programed desorption of NH3, n-butylamine titration using Hammett indicators, infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that both catalytic activity and surface acid sites decrease with increasing calcination temperatures. The Nb2O5 derived from calcination of niobic acid at 400 °C reveals the maximum yield of HMF among all the catalysts, although the amount of acid sites on the catalyst is lower than that on the sample calcined at 300 °C. The results suggest that the presence of larger amounts of strong acid sites on the surface of the Nb2O5 calcined at 300 °C may promote side reactions. The Nb2O5 prepared at 400 °C shows 100% fructose conversion with 86.2% HMF yield in DMSO at 120 °C after 2 h. The activity of the catalyst decreases gradually during recycle because of coke deposition; however, it can be fully recovered by calcination at 400 °C for 2 h, suggesting that this catalyst is of significance for practical applications. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Lithographically fabricated silicon microreactor for in situ characterization of heterogeneous catalysts—Enabling correlative characterization techniques

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baier, S.; Rochet, A.; Hofmann, G.; Kraut, M.; Grunwaldt, J.-D.

    2015-06-01

    We report on a new modular setup on a silicon-based microreactor designed for correlative spectroscopic, scattering, and analytic on-line gas investigations for in situ studies of heterogeneous catalysts. The silicon microreactor allows a combination of synchrotron radiation based techniques (e.g., X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy) as well as infrared thermography and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic performance can be determined simultaneously by on-line product analysis using mass spectrometry. We present the design of the reactor, the experimental setup, and as a first example for an in situ study, the catalytic partial oxidation of methane showing the applicability of this reactor for in situ studies.

  18. Lithographically fabricated silicon microreactor for in situ characterization of heterogeneous catalysts—Enabling correlative characterization techniques.

    PubMed

    Baier, S; Rochet, A; Hofmann, G; Kraut, M; Grunwaldt, J-D

    2015-06-01

    We report on a new modular setup on a silicon-based microreactor designed for correlative spectroscopic, scattering, and analytic on-line gas investigations for in situ studies of heterogeneous catalysts. The silicon microreactor allows a combination of synchrotron radiation based techniques (e.g., X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy) as well as infrared thermography and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic performance can be determined simultaneously by on-line product analysis using mass spectrometry. We present the design of the reactor, the experimental setup, and as a first example for an in situ study, the catalytic partial oxidation of methane showing the applicability of this reactor for in situ studies.

  19. Facile preparation of highly-dispersed cobalt-silicon mixed oxide nanosphere and its catalytic application in cyclohexane selective oxidation

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Highly dispersed cobalt-silicon mixed oxide [Co-SiO2] nanosphere was successfully prepared with a modified reverse-phase microemulsion method. This material was characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray absorption spectroscopy near-edge structure, and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. High valence state cobalt could be easily obtained without calcination, which is fascinating for the catalytic application for its strong oxidation ability. In the selective oxidation of cyclohexane, Co-SiO2 acted as an efficient catalyst, and good activity could be obtained under mild conditions. PMID:22067075

  20. Reactor for tracking catalyst nanoparticles in liquid at high temperature under a high-pressure gas phase with X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Luan; Tao, Franklin Feng

    2018-02-01

    Structure of catalyst nanoparticles dispersed in liquid phase at high temperature under gas phase of reactant(s) at higher pressure (≥5 bars) is important for fundamental understanding of catalytic reactions performed on these catalyst nanoparticles. Most structural characterizations of a catalyst performing catalysis in liquid at high temperature under gas phase at high pressure were performed in an ex situ condition in terms of characterizations before or after catalysis since, from technical point of view, access to the catalyst nanoparticles during catalysis in liquid phase at high temperature under high pressure reactant gas is challenging. Here we designed a reactor which allows us to perform structural characterization using X-ray absorption spectroscopy including X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy to study catalyst nanoparticles under harsh catalysis conditions in terms of liquid up to 350 °C under gas phase with a pressure up to 50 bars. This reactor remains nanoparticles of a catalyst homogeneously dispersed in liquid during catalysis and X-ray absorption spectroscopy characterization.

  1. Study of KOH/Al2O3 as heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production via in situ transesterification from microalgae.

    PubMed

    Ma, Guixia; Hu, Wenrong; Pei, Haiyan; Jiang, Liqun; Ji, Yan; Mu, Ruimin

    2015-01-01

    Heterogeneous KOH/Al2O3 catalysts, synthesized by the wet impregnation method with different KOH loadings (20-40 wt%) and calcination temperatures from 400°C to 800°C, were used to produce biodiesel from Chlorella vulgaris biomass by in situ transesterification. The highest yield of biodiesel of 89.53±1.58% was achieved at calcination temperature of 700°C for 2 h and 35 wt% loading of KOH, and at the optimal reaction condition of 10 wt% of catalyst content, 8 mL/g of methanol to biomass ratio and at 60°C for 5 h. The characteristics of the catalysts were analysed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller.

  2. Effect of Ce/Zr molar ratio on the performance of Cu–Ce{sub x}–Zr{sub 1−x}/TiO{sub 2} catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NO{sub x} with NH{sub 3} in diesel exhaust

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sun, Xiaoliang; Gong, Cairong, E-mail: gcr@tju.edu.cn; Lv, Gang

    2014-12-15

    Graphical abstract: The Cu–Ce{sub 0.25}–Zr{sub 0.75}/TiO{sub 2} catalyst exhibited excellent SCR activity at 165–450 °C within the range of exhaust temperatures of diesel engines. - Highlights: • Cu–Ce{sub x}–Zr{sub 1−x}/TiO{sub 2} catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method. • The property for NH{sub 3}-selective catalytic reduction of NO{sub x} were investigated. • The Ce/Zr molar ratio had effects on the performance of Cu–Ce–Zr/TiO{sub 2} catalysts. • The Cu–Ce{sub 0.25}–Zr{sub 0.75}/TiO{sub 2} sample exhibited 100% NO{sub x} conversion between 165 °C and 450 °C. • The factors that govern the activity enhancement were extensively investigated. - Abstract: Copper–cerium–zirconium catalysts loadedmore » on TiO{sub 2} prepared by a wet impregnation method were investigated for NH{sub 3}-selective catalytic reduction of NO{sub x}, aiming to study the effects of the Ce/Zr molar ratio on the performance of Cu–Ce–Zr/TiO{sub 2} catalysts. The Cu–Ce{sub 0.25}–Zr{sub 0.75}/TiO{sub 2} sample exhibited nearly 100% NO{sub x} conversion over a wide temperature range (165–450 °C), which is strikingly superior to that of Cu/TiO{sub 2} (210–389 °C) within the range of exhaust temperatures of diesel engines. The factors that govern the activity enhancement were extensively investigated by using a series of characterization techniques, namely X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction by hydrogen (H{sub 2}-TPR). The results showed that the addition of zirconium and/or cerium refined the copper dispersion, prevented copper crystallization and partially incorporated the copper ions into the zirconia (ceira) lattice, which led to enhance the redox abilities of Cu–Ce–Zr/TiO{sub 2} catalysts.« less

  3. Fabrication of graphene-fullerene hybrid by self-assembly and its application as support material for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xuan; Zhang, Jia-Wei; Xiang, Ping-Hua; Qiao, Jinli

    2018-05-01

    Graphene-fullerene hybrids were facilely fabricated by self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) and multi-substituted fulleropyrrolidines (PyrC60). The hybrids (GO-PyrC60) were applied as support materials to deposit Pd nanoparticle catalyst by a simple hydrothermal co-reduction approach. The as-prepared electrocatalysts (Pd/RGO-PyrC60) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The RGO-PyrC60 hybrid supported Pd catalyst with the optimal ratio of RGO to PyrC60, exhibited much enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) compared to the RGO alone supported Pd as well as commercial Pd/C. The introduction of fulleropyrrolidine as spacer between graphene layers could increase the electrocatalytic activity and improve the long-term stability. This strategy may contribute to developing graphene-fullerene hydrids as effective support materials for advanced electrocatalysts.

  4. Integrated In Situ Characterization of a Molten Salt Catalyst Surface: Evidence of Sodium Peroxide and Hydroxyl Radical Formation

    DOE PAGES

    Takanabe, Kazuhiro; Khan, Abdulaziz M.; Tang, Yu; ...

    2017-07-24

    Sodium-based catalysts (such as Na 2 WO 4) were proposed to selectively catalyze OH radical formation from H 2O and O 2 at high temperatures. This reaction may proceed on molten salt state surfaces owing to the lower melting point of the used Na salts compared to the reaction temperature. This study provides direct evidence of the molten salt state of Na 2WO 4, which can form OH radicals, using in situ techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrometry, and ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). As a result, Na 2O 2 species,more » which were hypothesized to be responsible for the formation of OH radicals, have been identified on the outer surfaces at temperatures of ≥800°C, and these species are useful for various gasphase hydrocarbon reactions, including the selective transformation of methane to ethane.« less

  5. Eu-doped ZnO nanoparticles: Sonochemical synthesis, characterization, and sonocatalytic application.

    PubMed

    Khataee, Alireza; Karimi, Atefeh; Zarei, Mahmoud; Joo, Sang Woo

    2015-03-30

    Undoped and europium (III)-doped ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a sonochemical method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The crystalline sizes of undoped and 3% Eu-doped ZnO were found to be 16.04 and 8.22nm, respectively. The particle size of Eu-doped ZnO nanoparticles was much smaller than that of pure ZnO. The synthesized nanocatalysts were used for the sonocatalytic degradation of Acid Red 17. Among the Eu-doped ZnO catalysts, 3% Eu-doped ZnO nanoparticles showed the highest sonocatalytic activity. The effects of various parameters such as catalyst loading, initial dye concentration, pH, ultrasonic power, the effect of oxidizing agents, and the presence of anions were investigated. The produced intermediates of the sonocatalytic process were monitored by GC-Mass (GC-MS) spectrometry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. One-Pot Synthesis of Hierarchical Flower-Like Pd-Cu Alloy Support on Graphene Towards Ethanol Oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Jingyi; Feng, Anni; Bai, Jie; Tan, Zhibing; Shao, Wenyao; Yang, Yang; Hong, Wenjing; Xiao, Zongyuan

    2017-09-01

    The synergetic effect of alloy and morphology of nanocatalysts play critical roles towards ethanol electrooxidation. In this work, we developed a novel electrocatalyst fabricated by one-pot synthesis of hierarchical flower-like palladium (Pd)-copper (Cu) alloy nanocatalysts supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd-Cu(F)/RGO) for direct ethanol fuel cells. The structures of the catalysts were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The as-synthesized Pd-Cu(F)/RGO nanocatalyst was found to exhibit higher electrocatalytic performances towards ethanol electrooxidation reaction in alkaline medium in contrast with RGO-supported Pd nanocatalyst and commercial Pd black catalyst in alkaline electrolyte, which could be attributed to the formation of alloy and the morphology of nanoparticles. The high performance of nanocatalyst reveals the great potential of the structure design of the supporting materials for the future fabrication of nanocatalysts.

  7. One-Pot Synthesis of Hierarchical Flower-Like Pd-Cu Alloy Support on Graphene Towards Ethanol Oxidation.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jingyi; Feng, Anni; Bai, Jie; Tan, Zhibing; Shao, Wenyao; Yang, Yang; Hong, Wenjing; Xiao, Zongyuan

    2017-09-02

    The synergetic effect of alloy and morphology of nanocatalysts play critical roles towards ethanol electrooxidation. In this work, we developed a novel electrocatalyst fabricated by one-pot synthesis of hierarchical flower-like palladium (Pd)-copper (Cu) alloy nanocatalysts supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd-Cu (F) /RGO) for direct ethanol fuel cells. The structures of the catalysts were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The as-synthesized Pd-Cu (F) /RGO nanocatalyst was found to exhibit higher electrocatalytic performances towards ethanol electrooxidation reaction in alkaline medium in contrast with RGO-supported Pd nanocatalyst and commercial Pd black catalyst in alkaline electrolyte, which could be attributed to the formation of alloy and the morphology of nanoparticles. The high performance of nanocatalyst reveals the great potential of the structure design of the supporting materials for the future fabrication of nanocatalysts.

  8. Graphene-cobaltite-Pd hybrid materials for use as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Chandra Shekhar; Awasthi, Rahul; Singh, Ravindra Nath; Sinha, Akhoury Sudhir Kumar

    2013-12-14

    Hybrid materials comprising of Pd, MCo2O4 (where M = Mn, Co or Ni) and graphene have been prepared for use as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells. Structural and electrochemical characterizations were carried out using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, chronoamperometry and cyclic, CO stripping, and linear sweep voltammetries. The study revealed that all the three hybrid materials are active for both methanol oxidation (MOR) and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions in 1 M KOH. However, the Pd-MnCo2O4/GNS hybrid electrode exhibited the greatest MOR and ORR activities. This active hybrid electrode has also outstanding stability under both MOR and ORR conditions, while Pt- and other Pd-based catalysts undergo degradation under similar experimental conditions. The Pd-MnCo2O4/GNS hybrid catalyst exhibited superior ORR activity and stability compared to even Pt in alkaline solutions.

  9. Preservation of glutamic acid-iron chelate into montmorillonite to efficiently degrade Reactive Blue 19 in a Fenton system under sunlight irradiation at neutral pH

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Zhujian; Wu, Pingxiao; Gong, Beini; Yang, Shanshan; Li, Hailing; Zhu, Ziao; Cui, Lihua

    2016-05-01

    To further enhance the visible light responsive property and the chemical stability of Fe/clay mineral catalysts, glutamic acid-iron chelate intercalated montmorillonite (G-Fe-Mt) was developed. The physiochemical properties of G-Fe-Mt were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), etc. The results showed that glutamic acid-iron chelates were successfully intercalated into the gallery of montmorillonite and the intercalated glutamic acid-iron chelate molecules were well preserved. The product G-Fe-Mt displayed excellent catalytic performance in heterogeneous photo-Fenton reaction under sunlight irradiation at acidic and neutral pH values. The chelation and the visible light responsiveness of glutamic acid produce a synergistic effect leading to greatly enhanced sunlight-Fenton reaction catalyzed by the heterogeneous G-Fe-Mt under neutral pH. G-Fe-Mt is a promising catalyst for advanced oxidation processes.

  10. Probing the Lewis acidity and catalytic activity of the metal-organic framework [Cu3(btc)2] (BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate).

    PubMed

    Alaerts, Luc; Séguin, Etienne; Poelman, Hilde; Thibault-Starzyk, Frédéric; Jacobs, Pierre A; De Vos, Dirk E

    2006-09-25

    An optimized procedure was designed for the preparation of the microporous metal-organic framework (MOF) [Cu3(btc)2] (BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate). The crystalline material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, SEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2 sorption, thermogravimetry, and IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. CO adsorbs on a small number of Cu2O impurities, and particularly on the free CuII coordination sites in the framework. [Cu3(btc)2] is a highly selective Lewis acid catalyst for the isomerization of terpene derivatives, such as the rearrangement of alpha-pinene oxide to campholenic aldehyde and the cyclization of citronellal to isopulegol. By using the ethylene ketal of 2-bromopropiophenone as a test substrate, it was demonstrated that the active sites in [Cu3(btc)2] are hard Lewis acids. Catalyst stability, re-usability, and heterogeneity are critically assessed.

  11. Novel synthesis of cobalt/poly vinyl alcohol/gamma alumina nanocomposite for catalytic application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hatamie, Shadie; Ahadian, Mohammad Mahdi; Rashidi, Alimoradeh; Karimi, Ali; Akhavan, Omid

    2017-05-01

    In this manuscript, synthesis of cobalt/poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)/gamma alumina nanocomposite via a simple room temperature, as well as its catalyst performance were explored. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were conducted. The surface area of the polymeric composite was obtained to be 280 m2/g. The cobalt loading on the nanocomposite was measured using inductivity couple plasma. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the size of cobalt crystalline encapsulate inside the polymer was confined to 5 nm. Magnetic property analysis, using vibrating sample magnetometer, confirmed ferromagnetic nature of the composite. Thermo-gravimetric analyses were employed to explain the degradation process for the polymeric base nanocomposite. Temperature-programmed reduction was used to evaluate the structural form of cobalt oxide in nanocomposite. The catalysis activity was determined by Fischer-Tropsch synthesize, which showed a high catalyst selectivity to C2-C4 hydrocarbons.

  12. A green method to prepare Pd-Ag nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide and their electrochemical catalysis of methanol and ethanol oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Lingzhi; Chen, Mingxi; Huang, Guanbo; Yang, Nian; Zhang, Li; Wang, Huan; Liu, Yu; Wang, Wei; Gao, Jianping

    2014-10-01

    Bimetallic palladium-silver nanoparticles (NPs) supported on reduced oxide graphene (RGO) with different Pd/Ag ratios (Pd-Ag/RGO) were prepared by an easy green method which did not use any additional reducing agents or a dispersing agent. During the process, simultaneous redox reactions between AgNO3, K2PdCl4 and graphene oxide (GO) led to bimetallic Pd-Ag NPs. The morphology and composition of the Pd-Ag/RGO were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the electrochemical activities and stabilities of these Pd-Ag/RGO catalysts for the electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline media. Among the different Pd/Ag ratios, the Pd-Ag (1:1)/RGO had the best catalytic activities and stability. So it is a promising catalyst for direct alcohol fuel cell applications.

  13. Hydrotalcite-derived cobalt-aluminum mixed oxide catalysts for toluene combustion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Białas, Anna; Mazur, Michal; Natkański, Piotr; Dudek, Barbara; Kozak, Marek; Wach, Anna; Kuśtrowski, Piotr

    2016-01-01

    Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) containing cobalt and aluminum (intended Co/Al molar ratio = 3.0) were coprecipitated at 30, 50 and 70 °C. Their crystallinity, which was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, increased with the precipitation temperature. Furthermore, HTlcs with various cobalt contents were prepared at 70 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that HTlcs were transformed into stable oxides at 550 °C. The decrease in the crystallite size of the formed spinels with the increase in the precipitation temperature was observed. Low temperature sorption of nitrogen revealed meso-macroporous nature of the oxides with extended interparticle porosity. Aluminum segregated on the samples surface, which contained various amounts of lattice and adsorbed/electrophilic oxygen as detected by X-ray electron spectroscopy. The high ratio of lattice to adsorbed/electrophilic oxygen found for the sample with Co/Al = 3:1 caused that it turned out to be the most efficient catalyst in the total oxidation of toluene (50% conversion at 257 °C).

  14. Synthesis of ZnO-CuO/MCM-48 photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutions.

    PubMed

    Duan, Yongzheng; Shen, Yulian

    2017-07-01

    The photocatalytic properties of ZnO-CuO catalysts supported on siliceous MCM-48 (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 48) for the degradation of organic pollutions such as methylene blue and salicylic acid under UV light irradiation were investigated. These catalysts were prepared by impregnation of MCM-48 with a mixed aqueous solution of copper acetate and zinc acetate. X-ray diffraction, N 2 -physisorption, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photoluminescence were used to characterize these samples. Results from characterizations showed that the addition of ZnO to CuO/MCM-48 could markedly improve the photocatalytic degradation properties. The enhanced photocatalytic behaviors of ZnO-CuO/MCM-48 may be due to the formation of p-n heterojunctions between ZnO and CuO, resulting in the effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the photocatalysts were easily recovered and reused for five cycles without considerable loss of activity.

  15. Pulse studies to decipher the role of surface morphology in CuO/CeO₂ nanocatalysts for the water gas shift reaction

    DOE PAGES

    Rodriguez, Jose A.; Zhao, Fuzhen; Liu, Zongyuan; ...

    2015-01-23

    The water-gas shift reaction (WGS, CO + H₂O → CO₂) was studied over CuO/CeO₂ catalysts with two different ceria particle morphohologies, in the form of nanospheres (ns) and nanocubes (nc). To understand the strong dependence of the WGS reaction activity on the ceria nanoshapes, pulses of CO (without and with water vapor) were employed during in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absoprtion near edge structure (XANES) measurements done to characterize the catalysts. The results showed that CuO/CeO₂ (ns) exhibited a substantially better activity than CuO/CeO₂ (nc). The higher activity was associated with the unique properties of CuO/CeO₂ (ns), suchmore » as the easier reduction of highly dispersed CuO to metallic Cu, the stability of metallic Cu and a larger concentration Ce³⁺ in CeO₂ (ns).« less

  16. Synthesis and hydrogenation application of Pt-Pd bimetallic nanocatalysts stabilized by macrocycle-modified dendrimer.

    PubMed

    Jin, Zhijun; Xiao, Haiyan; Zhou, Wei; Zhang, Dongqiao; Peng, Xiaohong

    2017-12-01

    Different generations of poly(propylene imine) (G n -PPI) terminated with N-containing 15-membered triolefinic macrocycle (G n M) ( n  = 2, 3, 4, 5) were prepared. The bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts G n M-(Pt x /Pd 10- x ) ( x  = 0, 3, 5, 7, 10) were prepared by the synchronous ligand-exchange reaction between G n M and the complexes of Pt(PPh 3 ) 4 and Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 . The structure and catalytic properties of G n M-(Pt x /Pd 10- x ) were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The novel bimetallic Pd-Pt nanoparticle catalysts stabilized by dendrimers (DSNs) present higher catalytic activities for the hydrogenation of dimeric acid (DA) than that of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). It can be concluded that bimetallic Pd-Pt DSNs possess alloying and synergistic electronic effects on account of the hydrogenation degree (HD) of DA and NBR. Furthermore, the HD of DA and NBR shows a remarkable decrease with the incremental generations ( n ) of G n M-(Pt 3 /Pd 7 ) ( n  = 2, 3, 4, 5).

  17. The preparation of Fe2O3-ZSM-5 catalysts by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition method for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of m-cresol.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yi; Zhang, Huiping; Yan, Ying

    2018-03-01

    Fe 2 O 3 -ZSM-5 catalysts (0.6 wt% Fe load) prepared by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) method were evaluated in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of m -cresol in a batch reactor. The catalysts have a good iron dispersion and small iron crystalline size, and exhibit high stability during reaction. In addition, the kinetics of the reaction were studied and the initial oxidation rate equation was given. Catalysts were first characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electronic microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that extra-framework Fe 3+ species (presenting in the form of Fe 2 O 3 ) are successfully loaded on ZSM-5 supports by MOCVD method. Performances of catalysts were tested and effects of different temperature, stirring rate, catalyst amount on hydrogen peroxide, m -cresol, total organic carbon (TOC) conversion and Fe leaching concentration were studied. Results reveal that catalytic activity increased with higher temperature, faster stirring rate and larger catalyst amount. In all circumstances, m -cresol conversion could reach 99% in 0.5-2.5 h, and the highest TOC removal (80.5%) is obtained after 3 h under conditions of 60°C, 400 r.p.m. and catalyst amount of 2.5 g l -1 . The iron-leaching concentrations are less than 1.1 mg l -1 under all conditions. The initial oxidation rate equation [Formula: see text] is obtained for m -cresol degradation with Fe 2 O 3 -ZSM-5 catalysts.

  18. Liquid phase catalytic hydrodebromination of tetrabromobisphenol A on supported Pd catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Ke; Zheng, Mengjia; Han, Yuxiang; Xu, Zhaoyi; Zheng, Shourong

    2016-07-01

    Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a widely used brominated flame retardant and reductive debromination is an effective method for the abatement of TBBPA pollution. In this study, Pd catalysts supported on TiO2, CeO2, Al2O3 and SiO2 were prepared by the impregnation (the resulting catalyst denoted as im-Pd/support), deposition-precipitation (the resulting catalyst denoted as dp-Pd/support), and photo-deposition (the resulting catalyst denoted as pd-Pd/support) methods. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, measurement of zeta potential, CO chemisorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that at an identical Pd loading amount (2.0 wt.%) Pd particle size in dp-Pd/TiO2 was much smaller than those in im-Pd/TiO2 and pd-Pd/TiO2. Pd particle size of the dp-Pd/TiO2 catalyst increased with Pd loading amount. Additionally, Pd particles in the dp-Pd/TiO2 catalysts were positively charged due to the strong metal-support interaction, whereas the cationization effect was gradually attenuated with the increase of Pd loading amount. For the liquid phase catalytic hydrodebromination (HDB) of TBBPA, tri-bromobisphenol A (tri-BBPA), di-bromobisphenol A (di-BBPA), and mono-bromobisphenol A (mono-BBPA) were identified as the intermediate products, indicative of a stepwise debromination process. The catalytic HDB of TBBPA followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, reflecting an adsorption enhanced catalysis mechanism. At an identical Pd loading amount, the Pd catalyst supported on TiO2 exhibited a much higher catalytic activity than those on other supports. Furthermore, dp-Pd/TiO2 was found to be more active than im-Pd/TiO2 and pd-Pd/TiO2.

  19. Surface chemistry characterization of hydrodesulfurization and methanol synthesis model nanocatalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Komarneni, Mallikharjuna Rao

    Surface science investigations of model catalysts have contributed significantly to heterogeneous catalysis over the past several decades. The unique properties of nanomaterials are being exploited in catalysis for the development of highly active and selective catalysts. Surface science investigations of model catalysts such as inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanoparticles (NP), inorganic nanotubes (INT), and the oxide-supported nanoclusters are included in this dissertation. Thermal desorption spectroscopy and molecular beam scattering were respectively utilized to study the adsorption kinetics and dynamics of gas phase molecules on catalyst surfaces. In addition, ambient pressure kinetics experiments were performed to characterize the catalytic activity of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) nanocatalysts. The nanocatalysts were characterized with a variety of techniques, including Auger electron spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The adsorption kinetics studies of thiophene on novel HDS catalysts provided the first evidence for the presence of different adsorption sites on INT-WS2. Additionally, the adsorption sites on IF-MoS2 NP and silica-supported Mo clusters (Mo/silica) were characterized. Furthermore, the C-S bond activation energy of thiophene on Mo/silica was determined. These studies finally led to the fabrication of Ni/Co coated INT-WS2, which showed good catalytic activity towards HDS of thiophene. The studies of methanol synthesis catalysts include the adsorption kinetics and dynamics studies of CO and CO2 on Cu/silica and silica-supported EBL-fabricated Cu/CuOx nanoclusters. The adsorption dynamics of CO on Cu/silica are modeled within the frame work of the capture zone model (CZM), and the active sites of the silica-supported Au/Cu catalysts are successfully mapped. Studies on EBL model catalysts identify the rims of the CuOx nanoclusters as catalytically active sites. This observation has implications for new methanol catalyst design.

  20. One-pot solvothermal synthesis of ordered intermetallic Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} as stable and efficient electrocatalyst towards direct alcohol fuel cell application

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jana, Rajkumar; Peter, Sebastian C., E-mail: sebastiancp@jncasr.ac.in

    Ordered intermetallic Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} nanoparticles have been synthesized by superhydride reduction of K{sub 2}PtCl{sub 4} and InCl{sub 3}.xH{sub 2}O precursors using facile, one-pot solvothermal method. We report surfactant free solvothermal synthesis of a novel ordered Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} intermetallic nanoparticles for the first time. The structure and morphology of the catalyst has been confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic properties of the catalysts have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The as prepared Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} catalyst exhibit far superior electrocatalytic activity andmore » stability towards alcohol oxidation over commercial Pt/C. The specific activity of as synthesized catalyst was found to be ~3.2 and ~2.3 times higher than commercial Pt/C for methanol and ethanol oxidation, respectively. This improved activity and durability of the Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} nanoparticles can make the catalyst an ideal catalyst candidate for direct alcohol fuel cell. - Graphical abstract: The ordered structure of Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} nanoparticles synthesized by solvothermal method has confirmed through XRD and TEM. Cyclic voltametry and chronoamperometry showed improved catalytic activity and stability compared to commercial Pt/C. - Highlights: • Ordered Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} nanoparticles were synthesized by solvothermal method. • Electrooxidation of alcohols on Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} catalyst was investigated in acidic medium. • Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} catalyst has superior catalytic activity compared to commercial Pt/C. • Pt{sub 2}In{sub 3} catalyst exhibited much higher stability than commercial Pt/C.« less

  1. The enhancement of CuO modified V2O5-WO3/TiO2 based SCR catalyst for Hg° oxidation in simulated flue gas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Chuanmin; Jia, Wenbo; Liu, Songtao; Cao, Yue

    2018-04-01

    CuO modified V2O5-WO3/TiO2 based SCR catalysts prepared by improved impregnation method were investigated to evaluate the catalytic activity for elemental mercury (Hg°) oxidation in simulated flue gas at 150-400 °C. Nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the catalysts. It was found that V0.8WTi-Cu3 catalyst exhibited the superior Hg° oxidation activity and wide operating temperature window at the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 3 × 105 h-1. The BET and XRD results showed that CuO was well loaded and highly dispersed on the catalysts surface. The XPS results suggested that the addition of CuO generated abundant chemisorbed oxygen, which was due to the synergistic effect between CuO and V2O5. The existence of the redox cycle of V4+ + Cu2+ ↔ V5+ + Cu+ in V0.8WTi-Cu3 catalyst enhanced Hg° oxidation activity. The effects of flue gas components (O2, NO, SO2 and H2O) on Hg° oxidation over V0.8WTi-Cu3 catalyst were also explored. Moreover, the co-presence of NO and NH3 remarkably inhibited Hg° oxidation, which was due to the competitive adsorption and reduction effect of NH3 at SCR condition. Fortunately, this inhibiting effect was gradually scavenged with the decrease of GHSV. The mechanism of Hg° oxidation was also investigated.

  2. Synthesis and stability of L-tryptophan adsorbed on Ti/MCM-41 as a catalyst for the regioselective aminolysis of styrene oxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aghapoor, Kioumars; Amini, Mostafa M.; Jadidi, Khosrow; Mohsenzadeh, Farshid; Darabi, Hossein Reza; Sayahi, Hani; Jalali, Mohammad Reza

    2015-11-01

    L-tryptophan is adsorbed on the titania surface of Ti/MCM-41 (L-tryp≡Ti/MCM-41) as a novel material via two steps. Ti/MCM-41 was first prepared by grafting TiCl4 on activated MCM-41 mesoporous silica in an anhydrous THF. Subsequent adsorption of L-tryptophan on the surface of grafted Ti sites from an aqueous solution afforded L-tryp≡Ti/MCM-41. Characterization of the material was carried out with thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analyses, powder X-ray diffraction, BET and BJH nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods, Fourier transform infrared, UV-Visible, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopes. The results indicate that the adsorption of L-tryptophan on the surface of Ti/MCM-41 occurred. L-tryp≡Ti/MCM-41 was applied successfully as a heterogeneous catalyst for the ring opening of styrene oxide with aniline derivatives and demonstrated high to excellent activity and regioselectivity under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions. This thermal-resistant catalyst can be recycled at least five times without appreciable loss of activity, which confirms the strong adsorption of L-tryptophan on Ti/MCM-41.

  3. Green synthesis of Pt and Ag nanoparticles and their use towards nitric oxide abatement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Castegnaro, Marcus V.; Alexandre, Jéssica; Baibich, Ione M.; Alves, Maria C. M.; Morais, Jonder

    2014-12-01

    Pt and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by eco-friendly room-temperature chemical reduction routes based on trisodium citrate and L-ascorbic acid (for Pt NPs) and on gelatin and trisodium citrate (for Ag NPs). The as-prepared NPs were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses, which confirmed the formation of sub-10 nm metal particles. Then, the colloidal solutions were used to obtain activated carbon-supported catalysts (metal/AC) for direct NO decomposition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction measurements proved that the NPs hosted on the support surface were present in the metallic chemical state. In situ infrared absorption spectroscopy investigations during NO reduction catalytic reactions showed that the Pt/AC and Ag/AC catalysts were highly active at 373 K. At 573 K, we observed different behaviors for each catalyst. While Ag/AC performed similarly to the reaction at 373 K, Pt/AC was found to participate in a redox mechanism, where the catalyst’s active sites were oxidized by NO and reduced by carbon, thus emitting CO2 and enhancing its catalytic activity, an effect that we have also observed in carbon-supported Pd NPs.

  4. Fe-based MOFs for efficient adsorption and degradation of acid orange 7 in aqueous solution via persulfate activation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xianghui; Guo, Weilin; Liu, Zhonghua; Wang, Ruiqin; Liu, Hua

    2016-04-01

    Fe-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) including MIL-101(Fe), MIL-100(Fe), MIL-53(Fe), and MIL-88B(Fe) prepared via a facile solvothermal process were introduced as both adsorbents and catalysts to generate powerful radicals from persulfate for acid orange 7 (AO7) removal in aqueous solution. Various catalysts were described and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectra. Because of the high specific surface area of the materials, we studied the adsorption isotherms of the four MILs by the fitting of Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Meanwhile, the catalytic activities in persulfate oxidation system were investigated. The results showed that the sequence of the materials ability in the combination of adsorption and degradation was MIL-101(Fe) > MIL-100(Fe) > MIL-53(Fe) > MIL-88B(Fe), which had a close connection with the activity of metal ion in active site of the catalysts and their different cages in size. Moreover, the reactive species in MILs/persulfate system were identified as sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals. The reaction mechanism for persulfate activation over MILs was also studied.

  5. The oxidation of carbon monoxide using tin oxide based catalysts

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sampson, Christopher F.; Jorgensen, Norman

    1990-01-01

    The preparation conditions for precious metal/tin oxide catalysts were optimized for maximum carbon monoxide/oxygen recombination efficiency. This was achieved by controlling the tin digestion, the peptization to form the sol, the calcination process and the method of adding the precious metals. Extensive studies of the tin oxide structure were carried out over the temperature range 20 to 500 C in air or hydrogen environments using Raman scattering and X ray diffraction. Adsorbed species on tin oxide, generated in an environment containing carbon monoxide, gave rise to a Raman band at about 1600 cm(exp -1) which was assigned to carbonaceous groups, possible carbonate.

  6. Syntheses, Characterization and Kinetics of Nickel-Tungsten Nitride Catalysts for Hydrotreating of Gas Oil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Botchwey, Christian

    This thesis summarizes the methods and major findings of Ni-W(P)/gamma-Al 2O3 nitride catalyst synthesis, characterization, hydrotreating activity, kinetic analysis and correlation of the catalysts' activities to their synthesis parameters and properties. The range of parameters for catalyst synthesis were W (15-40 wt%), Ni (0-8 wt%), P (0-5 wt%) and nitriding temperature (TN) (500-900 °C). Characterization techniques used included: N2 sorption studies, chemisorption, elemental analysis, temperature programmed studies, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray absorption near edge structure. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydrodearomatization (HDA) were performed at: temperature (340-380 °C), pressure (6.2-9.0 MPa), liquid hourly space velocity (1-3 h-1) and hydrogen to oil ratio (600 ml/ml, STP). The predominant species on the catalyst surface were Ni3N, W2N and bimetallic Ni2W3N. The bimetallic Ni-W nitride species was more active than the individual activities of the Ni3N and W2N. P increased weak acid sites while nitriding temperature decreased amount of strong acid sites. Low nitriding temperature enhanced dispersion of metal particles. P interacted with Al 2O3 which increased the dispersion of metal nitrides on the catalyst surface. HDN activity increased with Ni and P loading but decreased with increase in nitriding temperature (optimum conversion; 60 wt%). HDS and HDA activities went through a maximum with increase in the synthesis parameters (optimum conversions; 88. wt% for HDS and 47 wt% for HDA). Increase in W loading led to increase in catalyst activity. The catalysts were stable to deactivation and had the nitride structure conserved during hydrotreating in the presence of hydrogen sulfide. The results showed good correlation between hydrotreating activities (HDS and HDN) and the catalyst nitrogen content, number of exposed active sites, catalyst particle size and BET surface area. HDS and HDN kinetic analyses, using Langmuir-Hinshelwood models, gave activation energies of 66 and 32 kJ/mol, respectively. There were no diffusion limitations in the reaction process. Two active sites were involved in HDS reaction while one site was used for HDN. HDS and HDN activities of the Ni-W(P)/gamma-Al 2O3 nitride catalysts were comparable to the corresponding sulfides.

  7. Nickel-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles: efficient catalysts for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds and photo-oxidative degradation of toxic dyes.

    PubMed

    Singh, Charanjit; Goyal, Ankita; Singhal, Sonal

    2014-07-21

    This study deals with the exploration of NixCo₁-xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) ferrite nanoparticles as catalysts for reduction of 4-nitrophenol and photo-oxidative degradation of Rhodamine B. The ferrite samples with uniform size distribution were synthesized using the reverse micelle technique. The structural investigation was performed using powder X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and scanning tunneling microscopy. The spherical particles with ordered cubic spinel structure were found to have the crystallite size of 4-6 nm. Diffused UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy was employed to investigate the optical properties of the synthesized ferrite nanoparticles. The surface area calculated using BET method was found to be highest for Co₀.₄Ni₀.₆Fe₂O₄ (154.02 m(2) g(-1)). Co₀.₄Ni₀.₆Fe₂O₄ showed the best catalytic activity for reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 as reducing agent, whereas CoFe₂O₄ was found to be catalytically inactive. The reduction reaction followed pseudo-first order kinetics. The effect of varying the concentration of catalyst and NaBH₄ on the reaction rates was also scrutinized. The photo-oxidative degradation of Rhodamine B, enhanced oxidation efficacy was observed with the introduction of Ni(2+) in to the cobalt ferrite lattice due to octahedral site preference of Ni(2+). Almost 99% degradation was achieved in 20 min using NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as catalyst.

  8. Probing solid catalysts under operating conditions: electrons or X-rays?

    PubMed

    Thomas, John Meurig; Hernandez-Garrido, Juan-Carlos

    2009-01-01

    Seeing is believing: In light of recent advances, the pros and cons of using electrons and X-rays for in situ studies of catalysts are analyzed: by using X-rays the structure of bound reactants at steady state are obtained from extended X-ray adsorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) data (see graph), thereby affording mechanistic insights.

  9. Hydrodeoxygenation of Guaiacol over Ceria-Zirconia Catalysts.

    PubMed

    Schimming, Sarah M; LaMont, Onaje D; König, Michael; Rogers, Allyson K; D'Amico, Andrew D; Yung, Matthew M; Sievers, Carsten

    2015-06-22

    The hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol is investigated over bulk ceria and ceria-zirconia catalysts with different elemental compositions. The reactions are performed in a flow reactor at 1 atm and 275-400 °C. The primary products are phenol and catechol, whereas cresol and benzene are formed as secondary products. No products with hydrogenated rings are formed. The highest conversion of guaiacol is achieved over a catalyst containing 60 mol % CeO2 and 40 mol % ZrO2 . Pseudo-first-order activation energies of 97-114 kJ mol(-1) are observed over the mixed metal oxide catalysts. None of the catalysts show significant deactivation during 72 h on stream. The important physicochemical properties of the catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction, titration of oxygen vacancies, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. On the basis of these experimental results, the reasons for the observed reactivity trends are identified. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  10. ZrO2/bamboo leaves ash (BLA) Catalyst in Biodiesel Conversion of Rice Bran Oil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fatimah, Is; Taushiyah, Ana; Badriatun Najah, Fitri; Azmi, Ulil

    2018-04-01

    Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity of ZrO2/bamboo leaves ash (BLA) catalyst for conversion of rice bran oil to biodiesel have been investigated. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation method of ZrOCl2 as ZrO2 precursor with BLA at a theoretical content of 20% wt. followed by calcination. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst material were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR and surface acidity measurement. Activity test of materials in biodiesel conversion of rice bran oil was used by reflux method and microwave (MW) assisted method. Reaction variables studied in the investigation were the effect of catalyst weight and time of MW irradiation compared with the use reflux method. The results showed that ZrO2/BLA catalyst exhibited competitively effective and efficient processes for the production of biodiesel. The reflux method demonstrated an higher conversion (%) compared to MW method, however MW method showed the better reusable properties.

  11. A novel method for synthesis of phosphomolybdic acid-modified Pd/C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Mingyuan; Gao, Xiaoling; Luo, Guangqin; Dai, Bin

    2013-03-01

    This manuscript reports a convenient method for immobilizing phosphomolybdic acid (HPMo) on polyaniline (PAN-) functionalized carbon supports. The obtained HPMo-PAN-C sample is used as the support to prepare a Pd/HPMo-PAN-C catalyst. The samples are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results suggest that HPMo retains its Keggin structure and that the presence of HPMo reduces the average particle size of the Pd nano-particles in the obtained Pd/HPMo-PAN-C catalyst. Electro-chemical measurements in 0.5 M HClO4 solution reveal that the Pd/HPMo-PAN-C catalyst has higher catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reactions than does a Pd/C catalyst prepared using a similar procedure. The stability of the Pd/HPMo-PAN-C catalyst is evaluated by multiple-cycle voltammetry techniques; the mass catalytic activity decreases by only 10% after 100 scanning cycles.

  12. Production of biodiesel fuel by transesterification of different vegetable oils with methanol using Al₂O₃ modified MgZnO catalyst.

    PubMed

    Olutoye, M A; Hameed, B H

    2013-03-01

    An active heterogeneous Al2O3 modified MgZnO (MgZnAlO) catalyst was prepared and the catalytic activity was investigated for the transesterification of different vegetable oils (refined palm oil, waste cooking palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil) with methanol to produce biodiesel. The catalyst was characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analysis to ascertain its versatility. Effects of important reaction parameters such as methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst dosage, reaction temperature and reaction time on oil conversion were examined. Within the range of studied variability, the suitable transesterification conditions (methanol/oil ratio 16:1, catalyst loading 3.32 wt.%, reaction time 6h, temperature 182°C), the oil conversion of 98% could be achieved with reference to coconut oil in a single stage. The catalyst can be easily recovered and reused for five cycles without significant deactivation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. n-Hexane hydro-isomerization over promoted Pd/HZSM-5 catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thoa Dao, Thi Kim; Loc Luu, Cam

    2015-09-01

    A series of Pd/HZSM-5 catalysts modified by various metallic species, including Co, Ni, Fe, Re, and Cu, was prepared by sequential impregnation. Contents of Pd and second metals in modified catalysts were 0.8 and 1.0 wt%, respectively. Physico-chemical characteristics of catalysts were investigated by nitrogen physi-sorption (BET), x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and hydrogen pulse chemisorption (HPC). Coke formation was studied by the method of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The activities of catalysts in n-hexane isomerization were studied in a micro-flow reactor under atmospheric pressure at 250 °C, and molar ratio of H2: n-hexane of 5.92. It was found that Co, Ni, Fe, and Re additives exhibited geometric and electronic effects toward Pd/HZSM-5 catalyst, leading to an enhancement of its activity and stability. On the contrary, Cu additive caused Pd/HZSM-5 to become poorer in activity and stability.

  14. Synchrotron Powder X-ray Diffraction Study of the Structure and Dehydration Behavior of Sepiolite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Post, J. E.; Bish, D. L.; Heaney, P. J.

    2006-05-01

    Sepiolite is a hydrous Mg-silicate clay mineral with fibrous morphology that typically occurs as fine-grained, poorly crystalline masses. It occurs in a wide variety of geological environments and has been mined for centuries because of its many uses, e.g. in the pharmaceutical, fertilizer, and pesticide industries. Its versatile functionality derives from the large surface area and microporosity that are characteristic of the material. In recent years, sepiolite has received considerable attention with regard to the adsorption of organics, for use as a support for catalysts, as a molecular sieve, and as an inorganic membrane for ultrafiltration. Because of its fine-grained and poorly crystalline nature, it has not been possible to study sepiolite's crystal structure using single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods, and consequently many details of the structure are still not well known. In this study, Rietveld refinements using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data were used to investigate the crystal structure and dehydration behavior of sepiolite from Durango, Mexico. The room- temperature (RT) sepiolite structure in air compares well with previous models but reveals an additional zeolitic water site. The RT structure under vacuum retained only ~1/8 of the zeolitic water and the volume decreased 1.3%. Real-time, temperature-resolved synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data and Rietveld refinements were used to investigate the behavior of the sepiolite structure from 300 to 925 K. Rietveld refinements revealed that most of the zeolitic water is lost by ~390 K, accompanied by a decrease in the a and c unit-cell parameters. Above ~600 K the sepiolite structure folds as one-half of the crystallographically bound water is lost. Rietveld refinements of the "anhydrous" sepiolite structure reveal that, in general, unit-cell parameters a, b, â and volume steadily decrease with increasing temperature; there is an obvious change in slope at ~820 K suggesting a phase transformation coinciding with the loss of the remaining bound water molecule. These temperature-resolved real-time powder X-ray diffraction studies provide the first comprehensive description of the sepiolite structure and the complex changes it undergoes as it dehydrates. Additional heating and cooling in situ powder X-ray diffraction experiments are underway in order to investigate the relative stabilities and rehydration behaviors of the partially-hydrated sepiolite phases. The results of these studies should provide a more robust model for predicting and modifying the properties and applications of this critical industrial material and environmentally important mineral.

  15. Integrated removal of NO and mercury from coal combustion flue gas using manganese oxides supported on TiO2.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Shibo; Zhao, Yongchun; Wang, Zonghua; Zhang, Junying; Wang, Lulu; Zheng, Chuguang

    2017-03-01

    A catalyst composed of manganese oxides supported on titania (MnO x /TiO 2 ) synthesized by a sol-gel method was selected to remove nitric oxide and mercury jointly at a relatively low temperature in simulated flue gas from coal-fired power plants. The physico-chemical characteristics of catalysts were investigated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, etc. The effects of Mn loading, reaction temperature and individual flue gas components on denitration and Hg 0 removal were examined. The results indicated that the optimal Mn/Ti molar ratio was 0.8 and the best working temperature was 240°C for NO conversion. O 2 and a proper ratio of [NH 3 ]/[NO] are essential for the denitration reaction. Both NO conversion and Hg 0 removal efficiency could reach more than 80% when NO and Hg 0 were removed simultaneously using Mn0.8Ti at 240°C. Hg 0 removal efficiency slightly declined as the Mn content increased in the catalysts. The reaction temperature had no significant effect on Hg 0 removal efficiency. O 2 and HCl had a promotional effect on Hg 0 removal. SO 2 and NH 3 were observed to weaken Hg 0 removal because of competitive adsorption. NO first facilitated Hg 0 removal and then had an inhibiting effect as NO concentration increased without O 2 , and it exhibited weak inhibition of Hg 0 removal efficiency in the presence of O 2 . The oxidation of Hg 0 on MnO x /TiO 2 follows the Mars-Maessen and Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanisms. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  16. Selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides over a modified silicoaluminophosphate commercial zeolite.

    PubMed

    Petitto, Carolina; Delahay, Gérard

    2018-03-01

    Nitrogen oxides (NO x : NO, NO 2 ) are a concern due to their adverse health effects. Diesel engine transport sector is the major emitter of NO x . The regulations have been strengthened and to comply with them, one of the two methods commonly used is the selective catalytic reduction of NO x by NH 3 (NH 3 -SCR), NH 3 being supplied by the in-situ hydrolysis of urea. Efficiency and durability of the catalyst for this process are highly required. Durability is evaluated by hydrothermal treatment of the catalysts at temperature above 800°C. In this study, very active catalysts for the NH 3 -SCR of NO x were prepared by using a silicoaluminophosphate commercial zeolite as copper host structure. Characterizations by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH 3 -TPD) showed that this commercial zeolite was hydrothermally stable up to 850°C and, was able to retain some structural properties up to 950°C. After hydrothermal treatment at 850°C, the NO x reduction efficiency into NH 3 -SCR depends on the copper content. The catalyst with a copper content of 1.25wt.% was the most active. The difference in activity was much more important when using NO than the fast NO/NO 2 reaction mixture. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  17. Influence of lanthanum on the surface structure and CO hydrogenation activity of supported cobalt catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ledford, J.S.; Houalla, M.; Proctor, A.

    1989-09-07

    X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA or XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, H{sub 2} chemisorption, and gravimetric analysis have been used to characterize three series of La/Al{sub 3}O{sub 3} and CoLa/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts. CoLa/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts were prepared by two methods: impregnation of La first followed by Co (designated CoLay) and impregnation of Co first followed by La (designated LayCo). The information obtained from surface and bulk characterization has been compared with CO hydrogenation activity and selectivity of the supported Co/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts. For CoLay catalysts with low La loadings (La/Al atomic ratio {le} 0.026), the presence ofmore » La had little effect on the structure or CO hydrogenation activity. However, the selectivity to higher hydrocarbons and olefinic products increased with increasing La content. For CoLay catalysts with higher La loadings, Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} is suppressed in favor of an amorphous dispersed La-Co mixed oxide. ESCA and H{sub 2} chemisorption indicated higher dispersion of the metallic cobalt phase for high La loadings. The turnover frequency (TOF) for CO hydrogenation decreased dramatically for high La loadings. This has been correlated to the decrease in the amount of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} present in the La-rich catalysts. Catalysts prepared by reverse impregnation (LayCo) showed little evidence of La-Co interaction. No significant variation in reducibility or cobalt metal dispersion was observed. Lanthanum addition had little effect on the TOF for CO hydrogenation or the selectivity to olefinic products and higher hydrocarbons.« less

  18. Conversion of kraft lignin over hierarchical MFI zeolite.

    PubMed

    Kim, Seong-Soo; Lee, Hyung Won; Ryoo, Ryong; Kim, Wookdong; Park, Sung Hoon; Jeon, Jong-Ki; Park, Young-Kwon

    2014-03-01

    Catalytic pyrolysis of kraft lignin was carried out using pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Hierarchical mesoporous MFI was used as the catalyst and another mesoporous material Al-SBA-15 was also used for comparison. The characteristics of mesoporous MFI were analyzed by X-ray diffraction patterns, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and temperature programmed desorption of NH3. Two catalyst/lignin mass ratios were tested: 5/1 and 10/1. Aromatics and alkyl phenolics were the main products of the catalytic pyrolysis of lignin over mesoporous MFI. In particular, the yields of mono-aromatics such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were increased substantially by catalytic upgrading. Increase in the catalyst dose enhanced the production of aromatics further, which is attributed to decarboxylation, decarbonlyation, and aromatization reactions occurring over the acid sites of mesoporous MFI.

  19. Novel methods of stabilization of Raney-Nickel catalyst for fuel-cell electrodes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al-Saleh, M. A.; Sleem-Ur-Rahman; Kareemuddin, S. M. M. J.; Al-Zakri, A. S.

    Two new methods of stabilizing Raney-Nickel (Raney-Ni) catalyst for making fuel-cell anodes were studied. In the first method, the catalyst was oxidized with aqueous H 2O 2 solution, while in the second, oxygen/air (O 2/air) was used in a slurry reactor. Effects of different concentrations of H 2O 2 (5-25 wt.%) and different pressures (10-20 psig) of gas were investigated. The stabilized catalyst was characterized using BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The catalyst was used in fuel-cell anodes and the electrochemical performance was determined in an alkaline half-cell. The results were compared with electrodes prepared using conventionally stabilized catalysts. The hydrogen peroxide-treated catalyst has higher BET surface area and produces electrodes with lower polarization. In addition to this, H 2O 2 treatment is convenient, fast and needs simple equipment which involves no instrumentation. Use of oxygen in a slurry reactor to stabilize the catalyst is also convenient but electrode performance is relatively poor.

  20. Micro X-ray diffraction analysis of thin films using grazing-exit conditions.

    PubMed

    Noma, T; Iida, A

    1998-05-01

    An X-ray diffraction technique using a hard X-ray microbeam for thin-film analysis has been developed. To optimize the spatial resolution and the surface sensitivity, the X-ray microbeam strikes the sample surface at a large glancing angle while the diffracted X-ray signal is detected with a small (grazing) exit angle. Kirkpatrick-Baez optics developed at the Photon Factory were used, in combination with a multilayer monochromator, for focusing X-rays. The focused beam size was about 10 x 10 micro m. X-ray diffraction patterns of Pd, Pt and their layered structure were measured. Using a small exit angle, the signal-to-background ratio was improved due to a shallow escape depth. Under the grazing-exit condition, the refraction effect of diffracted X-rays was observed, indicating the possibility of surface sensitivity.

  1. Research on the Treatment of Wastewater by Waste Ceramic Adsorption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Lingfeng; Zhang, Yongli; Shi, Liang

    2018-03-01

    The process of preparing porous ceramic with waste porcelain powder as aggregate was researched. The affect of assimilate time on cuprum removal efficiency in wastewater containing copper was investigated. The results show the water copper removal rate increased along with the augment of assimilate time, and the assimilate time is suitable for 35 min; XRD characterizations show the porous ceramic catalyst before and after calcination in active components of X ray diffraction peak position almost had no changes, and the diffraction intensity slightly changed with calcination and absorption, and diffraction peaks became sharper, and its crystallinity was improved. Baking leads to the growth of crystal particles, and the performance of porous ceramics is stable before and after adsorption.

  2. Titania modified activated carbon prepared from sugarcane bagasse: adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation.

    PubMed

    El-Salamony, R A; Amdeha, E; Ghoneim, S A; Badawy, N A; Salem, K M; Al-Sabagh, A M

    2017-12-01

    Activated carbon (AC), prepared from sugarcane bagasse waste through a low-temperature chemical carbonization treatment, was used as a support for nano-TiO 2 . TiO 2 supported on AC (xTiO 2 -AC) catalysts (x = 10, 20, 50, and 70 wt.%) were prepared through a mechano-mixing method. The photocatalysts were characterized by Raman, X-ray diffraction analysis, FTIR, S BET , field emission scanning electron microscope, and optical technique. The adsorption and photo-activity of the prepared catalysts (xTiO 2 -AC) were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) dye. The photocatalytic degradation of MB was evaluated under UVC irradiation and visible light. The degradation percentage of the 100 ppm MB at neutral pH using 20TiO 2 -AC reaches 96 and 91 after 180 min under visible light and UV irradiation, respectively. In other words, these catalysts are more active under visible light than under UV light irradiation, opening the possibility of using solar light for this application.

  3. Esterification of phenyl acetic acid with p-cresol using metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclay catalysts.

    PubMed

    Bhaskar, M; Surekha, M; Suma, N

    2018-02-01

    The liquid phase esterification of phenyl acetic acid with p -cresol over different metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclays yields p -cresyl phenyl acetate. Different metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclays (M n +  = Al 3+ , Zn 2+ , Mn 2+ , Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ ) were prepared and the catalytic activity was studied. The esterification reaction was conducted by varying molar ratio of the reactants, reaction time and catalyst amount on the yield of the ester. Among the different metal cation exchanged catalysts used, Al 3+ -montmorillonite nanoclay was found to be more active. The characterization of the material used was studied under different techniques, namely X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The product obtained, p -cresyl phenyl acetate, was identified by thin-layer chromotography and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR. The regeneration activity of used catalyst was also investigated up to fourth generation.

  4. Polyethyleneimine-modified superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles: An efficient, reusable and water tolerance nanocatalyst

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khoobi, Mehdi; Delshad, Tayebeh Modiri; Vosooghi, Mohsen; Alipour, Masoumeh; Hamadi, Hosein; Alipour, Eskandar; Hamedani, Majid Pirali; Sadat ebrahimi, Seyed Esmaeil; Safaei, Zahra; Foroumadi, Alireza; Shafiee, Abbas

    2015-02-01

    A novel magnetically separable catalyst was prepared based on surface modification of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle (MNPs) with polyethyleneimine (PEI) via covalent bonding. [3-(2,3-Epoxypropoxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane (EPO) was used as cross linker to bond PEI on the surface of MNPs with permanent stability in contrast to PEI coating via electrostatic interactions. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The catalyst show high efficiency for one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran derivatives via multi-component reaction (MCR). This procedure offers the advantages of green reaction media, high yield, short reaction time, easy purification of the products and simple recovery and reuse of the catalyst by simple magnetic decantation without significant loss of catalytic activity.

  5. PET-modified red mud as catalysts for oxidative desulfurization reactions.

    PubMed

    do Prado, Nayara T; Heitmann, Ana P; Mansur, Herman S; Mansur, Alexandra A; Oliveira, Luiz C A; de Castro, Cinthia S

    2017-07-01

    This work describes the synthesis of catalysts based on red mud/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composites and their subsequent heat treatment under N 2 atmosphere. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and N 2 adsorption/desorption. The catalysts were evaluated in the oxidative desulfurization reaction of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in a biphasic system. The results indicated that the PET impregnation on red mud increased the affinity of the catalyst with the nonpolar phase (fuel), in which the contaminant was dissolved, allowing a higher conversion (up to 80%) and selectivity to the corresponding dibenzothiophene sulfone. The sulfone compound is more polar than DBT and diffused into the polar solvent as indicated by the data obtained via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  6. Effect of Pt and Fe catalysts in the transformation of carbon black into carbon nanotubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Asokan, Vijayshankar; Myrseth, Velaug; Kosinski, Pawel

    2015-06-01

    In this research carbon nanotubes and carbon nano onion-like structures were synthesized from carbon black using metal catalysts at 400 °C and 700 °C. Platinum and iron-group metals were used as catalysts for the transformation of CB into graphitized nanocarbon and the effect of both metals was compared. The synthesized products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The characterization shows that this process is very efficient in the synthesis of high quality graphitized products from amorphous carbon black, even though the process temperature was relatively low in comparison with previous studies. Distinguished graphitic walls of the newly formed carbon nanostructures were clearly visible in the HRTEM images. Possible growth difference related to the type of catalyst used is briefly explained with the basis of electron vacancies in d-orbitals of metals.

  7. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CuO nanocomposite for the degradation of textile dye on visible light illumination.

    PubMed

    Saravanan, R; Karthikeyan, S; Gupta, V K; Sekaran, G; Narayanan, V; Stephen, A

    2013-01-01

    The photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes such as methylene blue and methyl orange in the presence of various percentages of composite catalyst under visible light irradiation was carried out. The catalyst ZnO nanorods and ZnO/CuO nanocomposites of different weight ratios were prepared by new thermal decomposition method, which is simple and cost effective. The prepared catalysts were characterized by different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Further, the most photocatalytically active composite material was used for degradation of real textile waste water under visible light illumination. The irradiated samples were analysed by total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand. The efficiency of the catalyst and their photocatalytic mechanism has been discussed in detail. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Anchoring of Cu(II) onto surface of porous metal-organic framework through post-synthesis modification for the synthesis of benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kardanpour, Reihaneh; Tangestaninejad, Shahram, E-mail: stanges@sci.ui.ac.ir; Mirkhani, Valiollah, E-mail: mirkhani@sci.ui.ac.ir

    2016-03-15

    Efficient synthesis of various benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles under mild conditions catalyzed by Cu(II) anchored onto UiO-66–NH{sub 2} metal organic framework is reported. In this manner, first, the aminated UiO-66 was modified with thiophene-2-carbaldehyde and then the prepared Schiff base was reacted with CuCl{sub 2}. The prepared catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N{sub 2} adsorption, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The UiO-66–NH{sub 2}–TC–Cu was applied as a highly efficient catalyst for synthesis of benzimidazole and benzothiazole derivatives by the reaction of aldehydes with 1,2-diaminobenzenemore » or 2-aminothiophenol. The Cu(II)-containing MOF was reused several times without any appreciable loss of its efficiency. - Graphical abstract: Efficient synthesis of benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles catalyzed by Cu(II) anchored onto UiO-66–NH{sub 2} metal organic framework is reported. - Highlights: • A copper Schiff base was immobilized on UiO-66 via postsynthetic modification. • The modified MOFs were fully characterized by a variety of methods. • The catalyst was used for the preparation of benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles. • In comparison of other catalysts, our catalyst was more efficient and forceful.« less

  9. Synthesis, characterization and effect of calcination temperature on phase transformation and photocatalytic activity of Cu,S-codoped TiO 2 nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hamadanian, M.; Reisi-Vanani, A.; Majedi, A.

    2010-01-01

    A novel copper and sulfur codoped TiO 2 photocatalyst was synthesized by modified sol-gel method using titanium(IV) isopropoxide, CuCl 2·2H 2O and thiourea as precursors. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray micro-analysis (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The XRD results showed undoped and Cu,S-codoped TiO 2 nanoparticles only include anatase phase. Effect of calcination temperature showed rutile phase appears in 650 and 700 °C for undoped and 0.1% Cu,S-codoped TiO 2, respectively. The SEM analysis revealed the doping of Cu and S does not leave any change in morphology of the catalyst surface. The increase of copper doping enhanced "red-shift" in the UV-vis absorption spectra. The TEM images confirmed the dopants suppressed the growth of TiO 2 grains. The photocatalytic activity of samples was tested for degradation of methyl orange (MO) solutions. The results showed photocatalytic activity of the catalysts with 0.05% Cu,0.05% S and 0.1% Cu,0.05% S were higher than that of other catalysts under ultraviolet (UV) and visible irradiation, respectively. Because of synergetic effect of S and Cu, the Cu,S-codoped TiO 2 catalyst has higher activity than undoped and Cu or S doped TiO 2 catalysts.

  10. Room-temperature CO Thermoelectric Gas Sensor based on Au/Co3O4 Catalyst Tablet.

    PubMed

    Sun, L; Luan, W L; Wang, T C; Su, W X; Zhang, L X

    2017-02-17

    A carbon monoxide (CO) thermoelectric (TE) gas sensor was fabricated by affixing a Au/Co 3 O 4 catalyst tablet on a TE film layer. The Au/Co 3 O 4 catalyst tablet was prepared by a co-precipitation and tablet compression method and its possible catalytic mechanism was discussed by means of x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction of hydrogen, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The optimal catalyst, with a Au content of 10 wt%, was obtained at a calcination temperature between 200 and 300 °C. The small size of the Au nanoparticles, high specific surface, the existence of Co 3+ and water-derived species contributed to  high catalytic activity. Based on the optimal Au/Co 3 O 4 catalyst tablet, the CO TE gas sensor worked at room temperature and showed a response voltage signal (ΔV) of 23 mV, high selectivity among hydrogen and methane, high stability, and a fast response time of 106 s for 30 000 ppm CO/air. In addition, a CO concentration in the range of 5000-30 000 ppm could obviously be detected and exhibited a linear relationship with ΔV. The CO TE gas sensor provides a promising option for the detection of CO gas at room temperature.

  11. Fabrication of solar light induced Fe-TiO{sub 2} immobilized on glass-fiber and application for phenol photocatalytic degradation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lin, Shaohua, E-mail: linsh75@163.com; Zhang, Xiwang; Sun, Qinju

    2013-11-15

    Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Fe-doped TiO{sub 2} immobilized on glass-fiber net were prepared by sol–gel method. • Fe inhibited the phase transition of TiO{sub 2} from anatase to rutile. • The optimal Fe doping dose was around 0.005 wt%. • The optimal calcination temperature was around 600 °C. - Abstract: Iron-doped anatase titanium dioxide catalysts coated on glass-fiber were successfully synthesized by a dip-coating sol–gel method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to understand the synthesis mechanism, and their photocatalytic activities weremore » evaluated by photodegradation of phenol under simulated solar irradiation. EDX analysis confirmed the existence of iron in the immobilized catalysts. XRD suggested that the phase transition of the catalysts from anatase to rutile were restrained, and almost pure anatase TiO{sub 2} could retain even the calcination temperature reached 800 °C. The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of the catalysts showed a red shift and increased photoabsorbance in the visible range for all the doped samples. Iron loading and calcination temperature have obvious influences on photocatalytic activity. In this study, the optimal doping dose and calcination temperature were around 0.005 wt% and 600 °C, respectively.« less

  12. Novel carbon nanostructures as catalyst support for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Natarajan, Sadesh Kumar

    Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, with one of active area focused on improving the long-term performance of carbon supported catalysts, which has been recognized as one of the most important issues to be addressed for the commercialization of PEMFCs. The central part of a PEMFC is the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) which consists of two electrodes (anode and cathode) and a cation exchange membrane. These electrodes are commonly made of carbon black (most often, Vulcan XC-72) supported on carbon paper or carbon cloth backings. It is the primary objective of this thesis to prepare and investigate carbon nanostructures (CNS, licensed to Hydrogen Research Institute -- IRH, Quebec, Canada), the carbon material with more graphite component like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for use as catalyst support in PEMFCs. High energy ball-milling of activated carbon along with transition metal catalysts under hydrogen atmosphere, followed by heat-treatment leads to nanocrystalline structures of carbon called CNS. However, CNS formed in the quartz tube after heat-treatment is inevitably accompanied by many impurities such as metal particles, amorphous carbon and other carbon nanoparticules. Such impurities are a serious impediment to detailed characterization of the properties of nanostructures. In addition, since the surface of CNS is itself rather inert, it is difficult to control the homogeneity and size distribution of Pt nanoparticules. In this thesis work, we demonstrated a novel mean to purify and functionalize CNS via acid-oxidation under reflux conditions. To investigate and quantify these nanostructures X-ray diffraction, electrical conductivity measurements, specific surface area measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies were used. Cyclic voltammetry studies were performed on different samples to derive estimates for the relationship between the composition of the acid mixture and their influence in producing high density of surface functional groups. Such surface functionalization on CNS enhances the reactivity, improves the specificity and provides an avenue for Pt deposition. It was also shown that a 1:1 mixture of 7.5 M sulphuric acid and 15 M nitric acid have generated higher composition of non-acidic functional groups over other acid compositions discussed in this thesis. In this thesis, we also demonstrated a novel method to deposit and disperse platinum clusters on carbon nanotubes via a chemically specific nucleation mechanism. To investigate and quantify these platinized CNS X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic adsorption spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were used. An average Pt cluster size of 4 nm was dispersed homogeneously on CNS that was functionalized with the method described above. The corrosive nature of carbon support material is a crucial issue for the commercialization of PEMFC systems. Therefore, electrochemical oxidations of Pt/CNS compared with Pt/C were studied in this thesis with the aim to understand their durability as catalyst support in PEMFCs. The surface oxidation of the catalyst materials has been compared following potentiostatic treatments up to 200 h under condition simulating the PEMFC cathode environment (80°C, nitrogen purged 0.5 M sulphuric acid, and a constant potential of 1.2 V). The degradation of Pt catalysts and the carbon support was also evaluated by measuring the cell voltage at constant load after different oxidation intervals at 1.2 V. The agglomeration of Pt catalyst particles and the changes in surface functional groups of the carbon material at different intervals of electrochemical oxidation was evaluated using X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric studies. The subsequent electrochemical characterization at different treatment time intervals by both the above methods suggests that CNS is electrochemically more stable than Vulcan XC-72 with less surface oxide formation and Pt surface area loss without sacrificing catalytic activity. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

  13. In situ/operando studies for the production of hydrogen through the water-gas shift on metal oxide catalysts.

    PubMed

    Rodriguez, José A; Hanson, Jonathan C; Stacchiola, Dario; Senanayake, Sanjaya D

    2013-08-07

    In this perspective article, we show how a series of in situ techniques {X-ray diffraction (XRD), pair-distribution-function analysis (PDF), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS)} can be combined to perform detailed studies of the structural, electronic and chemical properties of metal oxide catalysts used for the production of hydrogen through the water-gas shift reaction (WGS, CO + H2O → H2 + CO2). Under reaction conditions most WGS catalysts undergo chemical transformations that drastically modify their composition with respect to that obtained during the synthesis process. Experiments of time-resolved in situ XRD, XAFS, and PDF indicate that the active phase of catalysts which combine Cu, Au or Pt with oxides such as ZnO, CeO2, TiO2, CeOx/TiO2 and Fe2O3 essentially involves nanoparticles of the reduced noble metals. The oxide support undergoes partial reduction and is not a simple spectator, facilitating the dissociation of water and in some cases modifying the chemical properties of the supported metal. Therefore, to optimize the performance of these catalysts one must take into consideration the properties of the metal and oxide phases. IR and AP-XPS have been used to study the reaction mechanism for the WGS on metal oxide catalysts. Data of IR spectroscopy indicate that formate species are not necessarily involved in the main reaction path for the water-gas shift on Cu-, Au- and Pt-based catalysts. Thus, a pure redox mechanism or associative mechanisms that involve either carbonate-like (CO3, HCO3) or carboxyl (HOCO) species should be considered. In the last two decades, there have been tremendous advances in our ability to study catalytic materials under reaction conditions and we are moving towards the major goal of fully understanding how the active sites for the production of hydrogen through the WGS actually work.

  14. Mössbauer study of iron-based perovskite-type materials as potential catalysts for ethyl acetate oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paneva, D.; Dimitrov, M.; Velinov, N.; Kolev, H.; Kozhukharov, V.; Tsoncheva, T.; Mitov, I.

    2010-03-01

    La-Sr-Fe perovskite-type oxides were prepared by the nitrate-citrate method. The basic object of this study is layered Ruddlesden-Popper phase LaSr3Fe3O10. The phase composition and structural properties of the obtained materials are investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The preliminary catalytic tests show a high potential of these materials for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) elimination as they possess high conversion ability and selectivity to total oxidation of ethyl acetate. Catalytic performance of LaSr3Fe3O10 is depended on the stability of structure and Fe4+-oxidation state.

  15. Controllable deposition of platinum nanoparticles on single-wall carbon nanohorns as catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Niu, Ben; Xu, Wei; Guo, Zhengduo; Zhou, Nengzhi; Liu, Yang; Shi, Zujin; Lian, Yongfu

    2012-09-01

    Uniform and well dispersed platinum nanoparticles were successfully deposited on single-walled carbon nanohorns with the assistance of 4,4-dipydine and ion liquids, respectively. In particular, the size of platinum nanoparticles could be controlled in a very narrow range (2.2 to 2.5 nm) when ion liquids were applied. The crystalline nature of these platinum nanoparticles was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy observation and X-ray power diffraction analysis, and two species of platinum Pt(0) and Pt(II) were detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical studies revealed that thus obtained nanocomposites had much better electrocatalytic activity for the methanol oxidation than those prepared with carbon nanotubes as supporter.

  16. Lithographically fabricated silicon microreactor for in situ characterization of heterogeneous catalysts—Enabling correlative characterization techniques

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baier, S.; Rochet, A.; Hofmann, G.

    2015-06-15

    We report on a new modular setup on a silicon-based microreactor designed for correlative spectroscopic, scattering, and analytic on-line gas investigations for in situ studies of heterogeneous catalysts. The silicon microreactor allows a combination of synchrotron radiation based techniques (e.g., X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy) as well as infrared thermography and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic performance can be determined simultaneously by on-line product analysis using mass spectrometry. We present the design of the reactor, the experimental setup, and as a first example for an in situ study, the catalytic partial oxidation of methane showing the applicability of this reactor formore » in situ studies.« less

  17. Optimization of metal atomic ratio of PdxRuyNiz on carbon support for ethanol oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Charoen, Kanin; Warakulwit, Chompunuch; Prapainainar, Chaiwat; Seubsai, Anusorn; Chareonpanich, Metta; Prapainainar, Paweena

    2017-11-01

    The catalytic activity of palladium (Pd) on an alloy catalyst on carbon supports with regards to ethanol oxidation was enhanced by systematically varying the atomic ratio of Pd, ruthenium (Ru), and nickel (Ni) alloy catalyst. Each atomic ratio catalyst was investigated so as to find the highest current density per mass of palladium. Functionalized carbon black (C) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were used as carbon supports. The PdxRuyNiz/carbon catalysts were prepared by impregnation and reduction method with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) being used as the reducing agent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the functionalized carbon supports, and the synthesized PdxRuyNiz/carbon catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The electrical properties of catalyst were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and CO-stripping to investigate the catalytic activity compared to 20%wt synthesized Pd/C. The results showed that Pd:Ru:Ni = 60:0:40 on rGO (Pd60Ni40/rGO) had the best metal atomic ratio and support for the electro-oxidation of ethanol. The maximum current density and the electrochemical surface area were 11,074 mA cm-2 mg-1Pd and 55.6 m2 g-1Pd, which were 1.7 and 2.67 times the corresponding values of synthesized Pd/C, respectively.

  18. Preparation of weak-light-driven TiO2-based catalysts via adsorbed-layer nanoreactor synthesis and enhancement of their photo-degradation performance in seawater

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Ting; Xu, Zhi-yong; Zhu, Yi-chen; Wu, Li-guang; Yuan, Hao-xuan; Li, Chang-chun; Liu, Ya-yu; Cai, Jing

    2017-11-01

    Graphene oxide (GO) was first employed as a support in preparing TiO2 nanoparticles by adsorbed-layer nanoreactor synthesis (ALNS). Both TiO2 crystallization and GO reduction simultaneously occurred during solvothermal treatment with alcohol as a solvent. By transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, the results showed that TiO2 nanoparticles with less than 10 nm of size distributed very homogeneously on the GO surface. Tight interaction between TiO2 particles and GO surface could effectively inhibit the aggregation of TiO2 particles, during solvothermal treatment for anatase TiO2 formation. Alcohol could also reduce oxygenated functional groups on GO surface after solvothermal treatment. TiO2 particles with small size and the decrease in oxygenated functional groups on the GO surface both caused high separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers, thus resulting in high photo-degradation performance of catalysts. Strong phenol adsorption on photocatalyst was key to enhancing photo-degradation efficiency for phenol in seawater. Moreover, the change in catalyst structure was minimal at different temperatures of solvothermal treatment. But, the degradation rate and efficiency for phenol in seawater were obviously enhanced because of the sensitive structure-activity relationship of catalysts under weak-light irradiation.

  19. In-situ Characterization of Cu/CeO 2 Nanocatalysts during CO 2 Hydrogenation: Morphological Effects of Nanostructured Ceria on the Catalytic Activity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lin, Lili; Yao, Siyu; Liu, Zongyuan

    Here, a combination of time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD), ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to carry out an in-situ characterization of Cu/CeO 2 nanocatalysts during the hydrogenation of CO 2. Morphological effects of the ceria supports on the catalytic performances were investigated by examining the behavior of copper/ceria-nanorods (NR) and nanospheres (NS). At atmospheric pressures, the hydrogenation of CO 2 on the copper-ceria catalysts produced mainly CO through the reverse-water gas shift reaction (RWGS) and a negligible amount of methanol. The Cu/CeO 2-NR catalyst displayed the higher activity, which demonstrates thatmore » the RWGS is a structure sensitive reaction. In-situ TR-XRD and AP-XPS characterization showed significant changes in the chemical state of the catalysts under reaction conditions with the copper being fully reduced and a partial Ce 4+ to Ce 3+ transformation occurring. A more effective CO 2 dissociative activation at high temperature and a preferential formation of active bidentate carbonate and formate intermediates over CeO 2(110) terminations are probably the main reasons for the better performance of the Cu/CeO 2-NR catalyst in the RWGS reaction.« less

  20. Size and morphology controlled NiSe nanoparticles as efficient catalyst for the reduction reactions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Subbarao, Udumula; Marakatti, Vijaykumar S.; Amshumali, Mungalimane K.

    Facile and efficient ball milling and polyol methods were employed for the synthesis of nickel selenide (NiSe) nanoparticle. The particle size of the NiSe nanoparticle has been controlled mechanically by varying the ball size in the milling process. The role of the surfactants in the formation of various morphologies was studied. The compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The efficiency of the NiSe nanoparticle as a catalyst was tested for the reduction of para-nitroaniline (PNA) to para-phenyldiamine (PPD) and para-nitrophenol (PNP) to para-aminophenol (PAP)more » using NaBH{sub 4} as the reducing agent. Particle size, morphology and the presence of surfactant played a crucial role in the reduction process. - Graphical abstract: NiSe nanoparticles in different size and morphology were synthesized using facile ball milling and polyol methods. Particle size, morphology and the presence of surfactant in these materials played a crucial role in the hydrogenation of PNA and PNP. - Highlights: • NiSe nanoparticles synthesized using ball milling and solution phase methods. • NiSe nanoparticle is an efficient catalyst for the reduction of PNA and PNP. • NiSe is found to be better than the best reported noble metal catalysts.« less

  1. Synthesis of cerium and nickel doped titanium nanofibers for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride.

    PubMed

    Tamboli, Ashif H; Gosavi, S W; Terashima, Chiaki; Fujishima, Akira; Pawar, Atul A; Kim, Hern

    2018-07-01

    A recyclable titanium nanofibers, doped with cerium and nickel doped was successfully synthesized by using sol-gel and electrospinning method for hydrogen generation from alkali free hydrolysis of NaBH 4 . The resultant nanocomposite was characterized to find out the structural and physical-chemical properties by a series of analytical techniques such as FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy),N 2 adsorption-desorption and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), etc. The results revealed that cerium and nickel nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on the surface of the TiO 2 nanofibers due to having similar oxidation state and atomic radium of TiO 2 nanofibers with CeO 2 and NiO for the effective immobilization of metal ions. The NiO doped catalyst showed superior catalytic performance towards the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH 4 at room temperature. These catalysts have ability to produce 305 mL of H 2 within the time of 160 min at room temperature. Additionally, reusability test revealed that the catalyst is active even after five runs of hydrolytic reaction, implying the as-prepared NiO doped TiO 2 nanofibers could be considered as a potential candidate catalyst for portable hydrogen fuel system such as PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cells). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Reaction between NiO and Al2O3 in NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts probed by positronium atom

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, C. Y.; Zhang, H. J.; Chen, Z. Q.

    2013-02-01

    NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with NiO content of 9 wt% and 24 wt% were prepared by solid state reaction method. They are annealed in air at temperatures from 100 °C to 1000 °C. Positron lifetime spectra were measured to study the microstructure variation during annealing process. Four positron lifetime components were resolved with two long lifetime τ3 and τ4, which can be attributed to the ortho-positronium lifetime in microvoids and large pores, respectively. It was found that the longest lifetime τ4 is rather sensitive to the chemical environment of the large pores. The NiO active centers in the catalysts cause decrease of both τ4 and its intensity I4, which is due to the spin-conversion of positronium induced by NiO. However, after heating the catalysts above 600 °C, abnormal increase of the lifetime τ4 is observed. This is due to the formation of NiAl2O4 spinel from the reaction of NiO and γ-Al2O3. The generated NiAl2O4 weakens the spin-conversion effect of positronium, thus leads to the increase of o-Ps lifetime τ4. Formation of NiAl2O4 is further confirmed by both X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements.

  3. High thermal stability of La 2O 3 and CeO 2-stabilized tetragonal ZrO 2

    DOE PAGES

    Wang, Shichao; Xie, Hong; Lin, Yuyuan; ...

    2016-02-15

    Catalyst support materials of tetragonal ZrO 2, stabilized by either La 2O 3 (La 2O 3-ZrO 2) or CeO 2 (CeO 2-ZrO 2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 200 °C with NH 4OH or tetramethylammonium hydroxide as the mineralizer. From In Situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements, the calcined La 2O 3-ZrO 2 and CeO 2-ZrO 2 supports were nonporous nanocrystallites that exhibited rectangular shapes with thermal stability up to 1000 °C in air. These supports had an average size of ~10 nm and a surface area of 59-97 m 2/g. The catalysts Pt/La 2Omore » 3-ZrO 2 and Pt/CeO 2-ZrO 2 were prepared by using atomic layer deposition with varying Pt loadings from 6.3-12.4 wt %. Mono-dispersed Pt nanoparticles of ~3 nm were obtained for these catalysts. As a result, the incorporation of La 2O 3 and CeO 2 into the t-ZrO 2 structure did not affect the nature of the active sites for the Pt/ZrO 2 catalysts for the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction.« less

  4. Enhanced selective photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CH4 over plasmonic Au modified g-C3N4 photocatalyst under UV-vis light irradiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Hailong; Gao, Yan; Xiong, Zhuo; Liao, Chen; Shih, Kaimin

    2018-05-01

    A series of Au-g-C3N4 (Au-CN) catalysts were prepared through a NaBH4-reduction method using g-C3N4 (CN) from pyrolysis of urea as precursor. The catalysts' surface area, crystal structure, surface morphology, chemical state, functional group composition and optical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectra, fourier transform infrared, photoluminescence and transient photocurrent analysis. The carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction activities under ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) light irradiation were significantly enhanced when gold (Au) was loaded on the surface of CN. 2Au-CN catalyst with Au to CN mole ratio of 2% showed the best catalytic activity. After 2 h UV-vis light irradiation, the methane (CH4) yield over the 2Au-CN catalyst was 9.1 times higher than that over the pure CN. The CH4 selectivity also greatly improved for the 2Au-CN compared to the CN. The deposited Au nanoparticles facilitated the separation of electron-hole pairs on the CN surface. Moreover, the surface plasmon resonance effect of Au further promoted the generation of hot electrons and visible light absorption. Therefore, Au loading significantly improved CO2 photoreduction performance of CN under UV-vis light irradiation.

  5. In-situ Characterization of Cu/CeO 2 Nanocatalysts during CO 2 Hydrogenation: Morphological Effects of Nanostructured Ceria on the Catalytic Activity

    DOE PAGES

    Lin, Lili; Yao, Siyu; Liu, Zongyuan; ...

    2018-05-28

    Here, a combination of time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD), ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to carry out an in-situ characterization of Cu/CeO 2 nanocatalysts during the hydrogenation of CO 2. Morphological effects of the ceria supports on the catalytic performances were investigated by examining the behavior of copper/ceria-nanorods (NR) and nanospheres (NS). At atmospheric pressures, the hydrogenation of CO 2 on the copper-ceria catalysts produced mainly CO through the reverse-water gas shift reaction (RWGS) and a negligible amount of methanol. The Cu/CeO 2-NR catalyst displayed the higher activity, which demonstrates thatmore » the RWGS is a structure sensitive reaction. In-situ TR-XRD and AP-XPS characterization showed significant changes in the chemical state of the catalysts under reaction conditions with the copper being fully reduced and a partial Ce 4+ to Ce 3+ transformation occurring. A more effective CO 2 dissociative activation at high temperature and a preferential formation of active bidentate carbonate and formate intermediates over CeO 2(110) terminations are probably the main reasons for the better performance of the Cu/CeO 2-NR catalyst in the RWGS reaction.« less

  6. In situ spectroscopic characterization of Ni 1-xZn x/ZnO catalysts and their selectivity for acetylene semihydrogenation in excess ethylene

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Spanjers, Charles S.; Sim, Richard S.; Sturgis, Nicholas P.

    2015-10-30

    The structures of ZnO-supported Ni catalysts were explored with in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Calcination of nickel nitrate on a nanoparticulate ZnO support at 450 °C results in the formation of Zn-doped NiO (ca. N₀̣̣₈₅ Zn₀̣̣₁₅O) nanoparticles with the rock salt crystal structure. Subsequent in situ reduction monitored by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) at the Ni K edge reveals a direct transformation of the Zn-doped NiO nanoparticles to a face-centered cubic alloy, Ni 1-xZn x, at ~400 °C with x increasingmore » with increasing temperature. Both in situ XANES and ex situ HRTEM provide evidence for intermetallic β₁-NiZn formation at ~550 °C. In comparison to a Ni/SiO₂ catalyst, Ni/ZnO necessitates a higher temperature for the reduction of Ni II to Ni⁰, which highlights the strong interaction between Ni and the ZnO support. The catalytic activity for acetylene removal from an ethylene feed stream is decreased by a factor of 20 on Ni/ZnO in comparison to Ni/SiO₂. The decrease in catalytic activity of Ni/ZnO is accompanied by a reduced absolute selectivity to ethylene. H–D exchange measurements demonstrate a reduced ability of Ni/ZnO to dissociate hydrogen in comparison to Ni/SiO₂.These results of the catalytic experiments suggest that the catalytic properties are controlled, in part, by the zinc oxide support and stress the importance of reporting absolute ethylene selectivity for the catalytic semihydrogenation of acetylene in excess ethylene.« less

  7. Bimetal-organic frameworks for functionality optimization: MnFe-MOF-74 as a stable and efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes with H2O2.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Kuo; Song, Tianqun; Wang, Dawei; Zou, Ye; Li, Jinfeng; Zhang, Xiaotao; Tang, Zhiyong; Hu, Wenping

    2018-01-25

    In this work, we synthesized a series of microcrystalline Mn x N 100-x -MOF-74 (N = Fe, Co and Ni) materials by a one-pot reaction. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of Mn x N 100-x -MOF-74 matched well with those of single-metal MOF-74, and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images exhibited homogeneous nanocrystallites aggregated together. The amounts and dispersion of metals were analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), separately. Mn x N 100-x -MOF-74 could remain crystalline and efficiently catalyze the epoxidation of alkenes in DMF with NaHCO 3 and 30% H 2 O 2 . In particular, Mn 29.39 Fe 70.61 -MOF-74 can achieve almost 100% conversion for styrene with 95.0% selectivity towards styrene oxide and be reused at least five times without loss of activity.

  8. Iridium-catalyzed direct tetraborylation of perylene bisimides.

    PubMed

    Teraoka, Takuro; Hiroto, Satoru; Shinokubo, Hiroshi

    2011-05-20

    Treatment of perylene bisimides (PBIs) with bis(pinacolato)diboron in the presence of an iridium catalyst provides tetraborylated PBIs at 2,5,8,11-positions in good yields with perfect regioselectivity. The planar structure of the perylene core has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Oxidation of tetraborylated PBI with hydroxylamine hydrochloride affords tetrahydroxy PBI in excellent yield, which exhibits a substantially blue-shifted absorption spectrum due to an intramolecular hydrogenbonding interaction between carbonyl and hydroxy groups.

  9. Mesoporous Nitrogen Doped Carbon-Glass Ceramic Cathode for High Performance Lithium-Oxygen Battery

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-06-01

    dry room with controlled moisture content. Composite 3 films on nickel foam were used as working cathodes along with lithium metal as anode and the...cathode formulation [6,7,8,9,10], efficient oxygen reduction catalysts [11,12], electrolyte compositions [13,14], effect of moisture [15], etc...specimens. Structure and purity of these materials were performed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) on a Rigaku D/MAX-2250 diffractometer fitted with CuKα

  10. Revealing Lattice Expansion of Small-Pore Zeolite Catalysts during the Methanol-to-Olefins Process Using Combined Operando X-ray Diffraction and UV-vis Spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Goetze, Joris; Yarulina, Irina; Gascon, Jorge; Kapteijn, Freek; Weckhuysen, Bert M

    2018-03-02

    In small-pore zeolite catalysts, where the size of the pores is limited by eight-ring windows, aromatic hydrocarbon pool molecules that are formed inside the zeolite during the Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process cannot exit the pores and are retained inside the catalyst. Hydrocarbon species whose size is comparable to the size of the zeolite cage can cause the zeolite lattice to expand during the MTO process. In this work, the formation of retained hydrocarbon pool species during MTO at a reaction temperature of 400 °C was followed using operando UV-vis spectroscopy. During the same experiment, using operando X-ray Diffraction (XRD), the expansion of the zeolite framework was assessed, and the activity of the catalyst was measured using online gas chromatography (GC). Three different small-pore zeolite frameworks, i.e., CHA, DDR, and LEV, were compared. It was shown using operando XRD that the formation of retained aromatic species causes the zeolite lattice of all three frameworks to expand. Because of the differences in the zeolite framework dimensions, the nature of the retained hydrocarbons as measured by operando UV-vis spectroscopy is different for each of the three zeolite frameworks. Consequently, the magnitude and direction of the zeolite lattice expansion as measured by operando XRD also depends on the specific combination of the hydrocarbon species and the zeolite framework. The catalyst with the CHA framework, i.e., H-SSZ-13, showed the biggest expansion: 0.9% in the direction along the c -axis of the zeolite lattice. For all three zeolite frameworks, based on the combination of operando XRD and operando UV-vis spectroscopy, the hydrocarbon species that are likely to cause the expansion of the zeolite cages are presented; methylated naphthalene and pyrene in CHA, 1-methylnaphthalene and phenalene in DDR, and methylated benzene and naphthalene in LEV. Filling of the zeolite cages and, as a consequence, the zeolite lattice expansion causes the deactivation of these small-pore zeolite catalysts during the MTO process.

  11. Revealing Lattice Expansion of Small-Pore Zeolite Catalysts during the Methanol-to-Olefins Process Using Combined Operando X-ray Diffraction and UV–vis Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    2018-01-01

    In small-pore zeolite catalysts, where the size of the pores is limited by eight-ring windows, aromatic hydrocarbon pool molecules that are formed inside the zeolite during the Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process cannot exit the pores and are retained inside the catalyst. Hydrocarbon species whose size is comparable to the size of the zeolite cage can cause the zeolite lattice to expand during the MTO process. In this work, the formation of retained hydrocarbon pool species during MTO at a reaction temperature of 400 °C was followed using operando UV–vis spectroscopy. During the same experiment, using operando X-ray Diffraction (XRD), the expansion of the zeolite framework was assessed, and the activity of the catalyst was measured using online gas chromatography (GC). Three different small-pore zeolite frameworks, i.e., CHA, DDR, and LEV, were compared. It was shown using operando XRD that the formation of retained aromatic species causes the zeolite lattice of all three frameworks to expand. Because of the differences in the zeolite framework dimensions, the nature of the retained hydrocarbons as measured by operando UV–vis spectroscopy is different for each of the three zeolite frameworks. Consequently, the magnitude and direction of the zeolite lattice expansion as measured by operando XRD also depends on the specific combination of the hydrocarbon species and the zeolite framework. The catalyst with the CHA framework, i.e., H-SSZ-13, showed the biggest expansion: 0.9% in the direction along the c-axis of the zeolite lattice. For all three zeolite frameworks, based on the combination of operando XRD and operando UV–vis spectroscopy, the hydrocarbon species that are likely to cause the expansion of the zeolite cages are presented; methylated naphthalene and pyrene in CHA, 1-methylnaphthalene and phenalene in DDR, and methylated benzene and naphthalene in LEV. Filling of the zeolite cages and, as a consequence, the zeolite lattice expansion causes the deactivation of these small-pore zeolite catalysts during the MTO process. PMID:29527401

  12. Metal Doping Effect of the M-Co2P/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes (M = Fe, Ni, Cu) Hydrogen Evolution Hybrid Catalysts.

    PubMed

    Pan, Yuan; Liu, Yunqi; Lin, Yan; Liu, Chenguang

    2016-06-08

    The enhancement of catalytic performance of cobalt phosphide-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still challenging. In this work, the doping effect of some transition metal (M = Fe, Ni, Cu) on the electrocatalytic performance of the M-Co2P/NCNTs (NCNTs, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes) hybrid catalysts for the HER was studied systematically. The M-Co2P/NCNTs hybrid catalysts were synthesized via a simple in situ thermal decomposition process. A series of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 sorption were used to characterize the as-synthesized M-Co2P/NCNTs hybrid catalysts. Electrochemical measurements showed the catalytic performance according to the following order of Fe-Co2P/NCNTs > Ni-Co2P/NCNTs > Cu-Co2P/NCNTs, which can be ascribed to the difference of structure, morphology, and electronic property after doping. The doping of Fe atoms promote the growth of the [111] crystal plane, resulting in a large specific area and exposing more catalytic active sites. Meanwhile, the Fe(δ+) has the highest positive charge among all the M-Co2P/NCNTs hybrid catalysts after doping. All these changes can be used to contribute the highest electrocatalytic activity of the Fe-Co2P/NCNTs hybrid catalyst for HER. Furthermore, an optimal HER electrocatalytic activity was obtained by adjusting the doping ratio of Fe atoms. Our current research indicates that the doping of metal is also an important strategy to improve the electrocatalytic activity for the HER.

  13. MOF derived Ni/Co/NC catalysts with enhanced properties for oxygen evolution reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Jiapeng; Chen, Juan; Lin, Hao; Liu, Ruilai; Yang, Xiaobing

    2018-03-01

    Designing efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is very important for renewable energy storage and conversion devices. In this paper, we introduced a new strategy to synthesize Ni doped Co/NC catalysts (NC is the abbreviation of nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon), which were derived from ZIF-67. All catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The results show that Ni was well doped in the Ni/Co/NC catalysts and the doping of Ni has great influence on the OER activity of Ni/Co/NC catalysts. Among these catalysts, 0.50Ni/Co/NC exhibits the highest OER activity. The onset potential of 0.50Ni/Co/NC is 1.47 V, which is superior than the onset potential of Co/NC (1.54 V), 0.25Ni/Co/NC (1.48 V), 1.00Ni/Co/NC (1.53 V). The excellent OER activity of 0.50Ni/Co/NC catalyst makes its potential to be used on renewable energy storage.

  14. Preparation and characterizaton of CaO nanoparticle for biodiesel production

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gupta, Jharna; Agarwal, Madhu

    2016-04-01

    Nanoparticle of CaO from calcium Nitrate (CaO/CaN) and Snail shell (CaO/SS) are successfully synthesized by method as described in the literature and used as an active and stable catalyst for the biodiesel production. These catalysts are characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The average crystalline size in nanometer was also calculated by Debye-Scherrer equation. The performance of the CaO/CaN and CaO/SS were tested for their catalytic activity via transesterification process and it was found that biodiesel yield has been increased from 93 to 96%. The optimum conditions for the highest yield were 8wt% catalyst loading, 65°C temperature, 12:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, and 6 h for reaction time. The nano catalyst from snail shell exhibits excellent catalytic activity and stability for the transesterification reaction, which suggested that this catalyst would be potentially used as a solid base nano catalyst for biodiesel production. In order to examine the reusability of catalyst developed from snail shell, five transesterification reaction cycles were also performed.

  15. Effect of alkaline earth metals on the liquid-phase hydrogenation of hydroquinone over Ru-based catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Hongwei; Ji, Dong; Li, Yu; Liang, Yalan; Li, Gui Xian

    2015-12-01

    A series of Ru-based catalysts modified by alkaline earth metals were prepared by the impregnation-precipitation method and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ICP optical emission spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine analysis and surface area analysis. The performance of the catalysts was measured via liquid-phase hydroquinone hydrogenation reaction. Results show that the Ru-Sr/NaY catalyst has the best activity and selectivity among those Ru-based catalysts. The conversion of hydroquinone and the selectivity to 1,4-cyclohexanediol reached up to 99.6% and 89.6% at optimum reaction condition (700 r/min, 423 K and 5 MPa pressure of H2 in 3 h). This may be attributed to the fact that the right amount of Strontium is beneficial to the good dispersion of the ruthenium nanoclusters on the surface of NaY and modify the acidic properties of the catalyst. Moreover, IR of adsorbed pyridine analysis suggested the proper ratio of L/B acid of the catalysts played an important role in the performance of the hydroquinone hydrogenation reaction.

  16. A new Keggin-type polyoxometalate catalyst for degradation of aqueous organic contaminants

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Olgun, Asim; Çolak, Alper Tolga; Gübbük, İ. Hilal; Şahin, Onur; Kanar, Ebru

    2017-04-01

    In this study, a new polyoxometalate, K16[Ni(H2O)6]2[BW12O40]4·48H2O (1) was synthesized at room temperature and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffractions, elemental analyses, IR spectra, and thermo gravimetric analyses (TGA). Crystal structure analysis reveals that compound 1 exhibits a supramolecular structure containing one Keggin-type [BW12O40]4 heteropoly anion. The catalytic properties of this molecule for the degradation of Methyl red (MR), Rhodamine B (RhB), Methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) were investigated. The results show that the compound 1 is a promising catalyst candidate for dye degradation.

  17. Copper-based 2D-coordination polymer as catalyst for allylation of aldehydes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    da Silva, Gilson B.; Menezes, Paulo H.; Malvestiti, Ivani; Falcão, Eduardo H. L.; Alves, Severino, Jr.; Chojnacki, Jarosław; da Silva, Fausthon F.

    2018-03-01

    A copper-tartrate, [Cu2(Tart)2(H2O)2]·4H2O, was synthesized at room temperature in aqueous media using copper chloride and D-tartaric acid. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system P21 space group and was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and the results are in good agreement with the single crystal structure. Catalytic properties for allylation of aldehydes were investigated at different solvents, and the best conditions obtained were using a mixture of CH2Cl2:H2O. The copper-tartrate obtained showed good performance as catalyst for different substrates and yields were between 62% and 95%.

  18. X-ray diffraction from shock-loaded polycrystals.

    PubMed

    Swift, Damian C

    2008-01-01

    X-ray diffraction was demonstrated from shock-compressed polycrystalline metals on nanosecond time scales. Laser ablation was used to induce shock waves in polycrystalline foils of Be, 25-125 microm thick. A second laser pulse was used to generate a plasma x-ray source by irradiation of a Ti foil. The x-ray source was collimated to produce a beam of controllable diameter, which was directed at the Be sample. X-rays were diffracted from the sample, and detected using films and x-ray streak cameras. The diffraction angle was observed to change with shock pressure. The diffraction angles were consistent with the uniaxial (elastic) and isotropic (plastic) compressions expected for the loading conditions used. Polycrystalline diffraction will be used to measure the response of the crystal lattice to high shock pressures and through phase changes.

  19. Synthesis of new 2-amino-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylate derivatives using nanocrystalline MIIZr4(PO4)6 ceramics as reusable and robust catalysts under microwave irradiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Safaei-Ghomi, Javad; Javidan, Abdollah; Ziarati, Abolfazl; Shahbazi-Alavi, Hossein

    2015-08-01

    In the present paper, we report the successful synthesis of nanocrystalline MIIZr4(PO4)6 ceramics (M: Mn, Ni, Fe, Co). These nano-structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Size of nano-structures was in the range of 20-150 nm. Nano-MIIZr4(PO4)6 as an efficient and green catalyst has been used for the preparation of 2-amino-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylate derivatives by the three-component condensation reaction of ethyl cyanoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, and various aromatic aldehydes under microwave irradiation. Extraordinarily, the best results were obtained using MnZr4(PO4)6 nanocrystallines as an efficient catalyst. This method provides several advantages including easy work-up, excellent yields, short reaction times, using of microwave as green method, recoverability of the catalyst, and little catalyst loading.

  20. Single-pulse x-ray diffraction using polycapillary optics for in situ dynamic diffraction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Maddox, B. R., E-mail: maddox3@llnl.gov; Akin, M. C., E-mail: akin1@llnl.gov; Teruya, A.

    2016-08-15

    Diagnostic use of single-pulse x-ray diffraction (XRD) at pulsed power facilities can be challenging due to factors such as the high flux and brightness requirements for diffraction and the geometric constraints of experimental platforms. By necessity, the x-ray source is usually positioned very close, within a few inches of the sample. On dynamic compression platforms, this puts the x-ray source in the debris field. We coupled x-ray polycapillary optics to a single-shot needle-and-washer x-ray diode source using a laser-based alignment scheme to obtain high-quality x-ray diffraction using a single 16 ns x-ray pulse with the source >1 m from themore » sample. The system was tested on a Mo sample in reflection geometry using 17 keV x-rays from a Mo anode. We also identified an anode conditioning effect that increased the x-ray intensity by 180%. Quantitative measurements of the x-ray focal spot produced by the polycapillary yielded a total x-ray flux on the sample of 3.3 ± 0.5 × 10{sup 7} molybdenum Kα photons.« less

  1. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of recombinant adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus strain HB27

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sinitsyna, E. V.; Timofeev, V. I.; Tuzova, E. S.; Kostromina, M. A.; Murav'eva, T. I.; Esipov, R. S.; Kuranova, I. P.

    2017-07-01

    Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) belongs to the type I phosphoribosyltransferase family and catalyzes the formation of adenosine monophosphate via transfer of the 5-phosphoribosyl group from phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate to the nitrogen atom N9 of the adenine base. Proteins of this family are involved in a salvage pathway of nucleotide synthesis, thus providing purine base utilization and maintaining the optimal level of purine bases in the body. Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from the extremely thermophilic Thermus thermophilus strain HB27 was produced using a highly efficient E. coli producer strain and was then purified by affinity and gel-filtration chromatography. This enzyme was successfully employed as a catalyst for the cascade biosynthesis of biologically important nucleotides. The screening of crystallization conditions for recombinant APRT from T. thermophilus HB27 was performed in order to determine the enzyme structure by X-ray diffraction. The crystallization conditions, which were found by the vapor-diffusion technique, were then optimized to apply the counter-diffusion technique. The crystals of the enzyme were grown by the capillary counter-diffusion method. The crystals belong to sp. gr. P1211 and have the following unitcell parameters: a = 69.86 Å, b = 82.16 Å, c = 91.39 Å, α = γ = 90°, β = 102.58°. The X-ray diffraction data set suitable for the determination of the APRT structure at 2.6 Å resolution was collected from the crystals at the SPring-8 synchrotron facility (Japan).

  2. Nickel-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles: efficient catalysts for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds and photo-oxidative degradation of toxic dyes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Charanjit; Goyal, Ankita; Singhal, Sonal

    2014-06-01

    This study deals with the exploration of NixCo1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) ferrite nanoparticles as catalysts for reduction of 4-nitrophenol and photo-oxidative degradation of Rhodamine B. The ferrite samples with uniform size distribution were synthesized using the reverse micelle technique. The structural investigation was performed using powder X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and scanning tunneling microscopy. The spherical particles with ordered cubic spinel structure were found to have the crystallite size of 4-6 nm. Diffused UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy was employed to investigate the optical properties of the synthesized ferrite nanoparticles. The surface area calculated using BET method was found to be highest for Co0.4Ni0.6Fe2O4 (154.02 m2 g-1). Co0.4Ni0.6Fe2O4 showed the best catalytic activity for reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 as reducing agent, whereas CoFe2O4 was found to be catalytically inactive. The reduction reaction followed pseudo-first order kinetics. The effect of varying the concentration of catalyst and NaBH4 on the reaction rates was also scrutinized. The photo-oxidative degradation of Rhodamine B, enhanced oxidation efficacy was observed with the introduction of Ni2+ in to the cobalt ferrite lattice due to octahedral site preference of Ni2+. Almost 99% degradation was achieved in 20 min using NiFe2O4 nanoparticles as catalyst.

  3. Novel low-cost Fenton-like layered Fe-titanate catalyst: preparation, characterization and application for degradation of organic colorants.

    PubMed

    Chen, Yongzhou; Li, Nian; Zhang, Ye; Zhang, Lide

    2014-05-15

    Novel low-cost layered Fe-titanate catalyst for photo-Fenton degradation of organic contaminants was successfully developed by ion exchange of Fe(3+) with Na(+) layered nano Na-titanates which was prepared by alkali hydrothermal method. The as prepared materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The catalytic activity of the Fe-titanate catalyst was evaluated by the decolorization of three different dyes (rhodamine 6G (R6G), methyl blue (MB), and methyl orange (MO)) under UV irradiation at room temperature. Effect of several important factors such as Fe loading in the catalyst, initial solution pH, catalyst dosage, H2O2 amount, and reaction time was systematically studied. It was found that the decolorization was very efficient for all three dyes. The efficiency reached 98% for R6G, 98.5% for MB, and 97% for MO, respectively, under optimal conditions. The oxidation process was quick, and only 15 min is needed for all three dyes. Moreover, the Fe-titanate catalyst could be used in a wider and near neutral pH range compared with classic Fenton systems which need to be operated at around pH 3.0. Kinetic analysis results showed that the oxidation kinetics was accurately represented by pseudo-first-order model. More importantly, the catalyst was very stable and could be reused for at least four cycles when operated under near neutral pH. The Fe leaching from the catalyst measured was almost negligible, which not only demonstrated the stability of the catalyst, but also avoided the formation of secondary Fe pollution. Therefore, the reported Fe-titanates are promising nanomaterials which can be used as Fenton like catalyst for the degradation of organic contaminant in wastewater. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. MOF-74 as an Efficient Catalyst for the Low-Temperature Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx with NH3.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Haoxi; Wang, Qianyun; Wang, Huiqin; Chen, Yifei; Zhang, Minhua

    2016-10-12

    In this work, Mn-MOF-74 with hollow spherical structure and Co-MOF-74 with petal-like shape have been prepared successfully via the hydrothermal method. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry-mass spectrum analysis (TG-MS), N 2 adsorption/desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that MOF-74(Mn, Co) exhibits the capability for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO x at low temperatures. Both experimental (temperature-programmed desorption, TPD) and computational methods have shown that Co-MOF-74 and Mn-MOF-74 owned high adsorption and activation abilities for NO and NH 3 . The catalytic activities of Mn-MOF-74 and Co-MOF-74 for low-temperature denitrification (deNO x ) in the presence of NH 3 were 99% at 220 °C and 70% at 210 °C, respectively. It is found that the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (CUSs) in M-MOF-74 (M = Mn and Co) played important roles in SCR reaction. M-MOF-74 (M = Mn and Co), especially Mn-MOF-74, showed excellent catalytic performance for low-temperature SCR. In addition, in the reaction process, NO conversion on Mn-MOF-74 decreased with the introduction of H 2 O and SO 2 and almost recovered when gas was cut off. However, for Co-MOF-74, SO 2 almost has no effect on the catalytic activity. This work showed that MOF-74 could be used prospectively as deNO x catalyst.

  5. Removal of toluene from water by photocatalytic oxidation with activated carbon supported Fe(3+)-doped TiO2 nanotubes.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Rongfang; Zhou, Beihai; Ma, Li

    2014-01-01

    In this work, activated carbon (AC)-supported TiO2 containing 1.0% (mass percent) of 1.0 at.% (atomic percent) Fe(3+)-doped TiO2 nanotubes (Fe-TNTs) were successfully synthesized. The catalyst was used to effectively decompose toluene in water under O3/UV conditions, and some properties including the morphology, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, specific surface area and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were analyzed. A removal efficiency of 90.7% was achieved in the presence of fresh AC-supported Fe-TNTs calcined at 550 °C, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.038/min. The removal efficiency of toluene was reduced when the catalysts were repeatedly used, since the amount of adsorption sites of the supporting substrates decreased. However, even after AC-supported catalyst was used four times, the removal efficiency of toluene was still sufficient in water treatment. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of AC-supported Fe-TNTs was related to the synergistic effect of AC adsorption and Fe-TNTs photocatalytic ozonation. The water from a petrochemical company in China was used to obtain the removal efficiency of the pollutants, and the toluene and total organic carbon removal efficiencies were 69.9% and 58.3%, respectively.

  6. Solar photodegradation of a textile azo dye using synthesized ZnO/Bentonite.

    PubMed

    Boutra, B; Trari, M

    2017-03-01

    The present work is devoted to the synthesis of a new photocatalyst ZnO (7.5%)/Bentonite prepared by impregnation method and its successful application for the degradation of Solophenyl Red 3BL (SR 3BL) under solar light (∼660 W/m 2 ). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates mixed phases of the nanocomposite catalyst (ZnO/Bentonite), characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence and attenuated total reflection. The optical properties confirm the presence of the Wurtzite ZnO phase with an optical gap of 3.27 eV. The catalyst dose (0.25-1 gL -1 ), pH solution (2.5-11) and initial dye concentration (5-75 mg/L) are optimized. The optimal pH (∼6.7) is close to the natural environment. The photodegradation yield increases with decreasing the SR 3BL concentration. The equilibrium is reached within 160 min and the data are well fitted by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model; the SR 3BL disappearance obeys to a first-order kinetic with an apparent rate constant of 10 - 2 mn - 1 . The best yield of SR 3BL photodegradation (92%) is achieved for a concentration of 5 mg/L and a catalyst dose of 0.75 gL -1 at free pH.

  7. Characterization and activity of Pd-modified TiO2 catalysts for photocatalytic oxidation of NO in gas phase.

    PubMed

    Wu, Zhongbiao; Sheng, Zhongyi; Liu, Yue; Wang, Haiqiang; Tang, Nian; Wang, Jie

    2009-05-30

    Pd-modified TiO(2) prepared by thermal impregnation method was used in this study for photocatalytic oxidation of NO in gas phase. The physico-chemical properties of Pd/TiO(2) catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectrum analysis (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS) and photoluminescence spectra (PL). It was found that Pd dopant existed as PdO particles in as-prepared photocatalysts. The results of PL spectra indicated that the photogenerated electrons and holes were efficiently separated after Pd doping. During in situ XPS study, it was found that the content of hydroxyl groups on the surface of Pd/TiO(2) increased when the catalyst was irradiated by UV light, which could result in the improvement of photocatalytic activity. The activity test showed that the optimum Pd dopant content was 0.05 wt.%. And the maximum conversion of NO was about 72% higher than that of P25 when the initial concentration of NO was 200 ppm, which showed that Pd/TiO(2) photocatalysts could be potentially applied to oxidize higher concentration of NO.

  8. Rational design of template-free MnOx-CeO2 hollow nanotube as de-NOx catalyst at low temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Chenlu; Tang, Xiaolong; Yi, Honghong; Wang, Lifeng; Cui, Xiaoxu; Chu, Chao; Li, Jingying; Zhang, Runcao; Yu, Qingjun

    2018-01-01

    MnOx-CeO2 hollow nanotube was synthesized for the low temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3. The nanotube was fabricated firstly through the interfacial oxidation-reduction reaction by dealing the Ce(OH)CO3 intermediate with KMnO4 aqueous solution, then followed by selective wash with HNO3. The catalysts were systematically examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption measurements and catalytic activity test. It was found that the as-prepared MnOx-CeO2-B nanotube exhibited best NOx removal efficiency among the catalysts investigated, where 96% NOx conversion at 100 °C at a space velocity of 30000 h-1 was obtained. Meanwhile, superior resistance to H2O and SO2 was achieved as well as high thermal stability. On the basis of various analysis results, the remarkable de-NOx performance of the MnOx-CeO2-B nanobube could be attributed to the uniform distribution of active species, abundant content of Mn4+ and Oα species, and especially the hollow porous architectures provided huge specific surface area and sufficient acidic sites.

  9. Catalytic conversion of aliphatic alcohols on carbon nanomaterials: The roles of structure and surface functional groups

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tveritinova, E. A.; Zhitnev, Yu. N.; Chernyak, S. A.; Arkhipova, E. A.; Savilov, S. V.; Lunin, V. V.

    2017-03-01

    Carbon nanomaterials with the structure of graphene and different compositions of the surface groups are used as catalysts for the conversion of C2-C4 aliphatic alcohols. The conversions of ethanol, propanol- 1, propanol-2, butanol-1, butanol-2, and tert-butanol on carbon nanotubes, nanoflakes, and nanoflakes doped with nitrogen are investigated. Oxidized and nonoxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nanoflakes, and nanoflakes doped with nitrogen are synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electronic microscopies, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, derivatographic analyses, and the pulsed microcatalytic method are used to characterize comprehensively the prepared catalysts. It was established that all of the investigated carbon nanomaterials (with the exception of nondoped carbon nanoflakes) are bifunctional catalysts for the conversion of aliphatic alcohols, and promote dehydration reactions with the formation of olefins and dehydrogenation reactions with the formation of aldehydes or ketones. Nanoflakes doped with nitrogen are inert with respect to secondary alcohols and tert-butanol. The role of oxygen-containing and nitrogen-containing surface groups, and of the geometrical structure of the carbon matrix of graphene nanocarbon materials in the catalytic conversion of aliphatic alcohols, is revealed. Characteristics of the conversion of aliphatic alcohols that are associated with their structure are identified.

  10. X-Ray Diffraction Apparatus

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Blake, David F. (Inventor); Bryson, Charles (Inventor); Freund, Friedmann (Inventor)

    1996-01-01

    An x-ray diffraction apparatus for use in analyzing the x-ray diffraction pattern of a sample is introduced. The apparatus includes a beam source for generating a collimated x-ray beam having one or more discrete x-ray energies, a holder for holding the sample to be analyzed in the path of the beam, and a charge-coupled device having an array of pixels for detecting, in one or more selected photon energy ranges, x-ray diffraction photons produced by irradiating such a sample with said beam. The CCD is coupled to an output unit which receives input information relating to the energies of photons striking each pixel in the CCD, and constructs the diffraction pattern of photons within a selected energy range striking the CCD.

  11. A facile synthesis for cauliflower like CeO2 catalysts from Ce-BTC precursor and their catalytic performance for CO oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xiaodong; Hou, Fulin; Yang, Yang; Wang, Yuxin; Liu, Ning; Chen, Dan; Yang, Yiqiong

    2017-11-01

    The paper presents a novel and facile method for preparing cauliflowerlike CeO2 through direct decomposition of cerium based metal-organic framework (MOF) Ce-BTC (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) straw in air. Several analytical tools such as Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric (TG), N2 adsorption-desorption, Temperature programmed reduction (TPR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) and Photoluminescence (PL) have been used to characterize Ce-BTC and CeO2. The Ce-BTC calcined at 500 °C (CeO2-500) maintains the morphology of its template ;Ce-BTC; and forms a special cauliflower-like structure. XRD patterns showed that the catalyst has a perfect CeO2 crystal structure and has a smaller particle size. The prepared CeO2 cauliflowers exhibit excellent catalytic activities, long-term stability, and cycling stability for CO oxidation. The improved catalytic activities could be attributed to porous nanorods of CeO2 cauliflowers, which provide more active sites and oxygen vacancy for CO oxidation.

  12. Synthesis and characterization of TiO2 loaded cashew nut shell activated carbon and photocatalytic activity on BG and MB dyes under sunlight radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ragupathy, S.; Raghu, K.; Prabu, P.

    2015-03-01

    Synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and TiO2 loaded cashew nut shell activated carbon (TiO2/CNSAC) had been undertaken using sol-gel method and their application in BG and MB dyes removal under sunlight radiation has been investigated. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Vis-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The various experimental parameters like amount of catalyst, contact time for efficient dyes degradation of BG and MB were concerned in this study. Activity measurements performed under solar irradiation has shown good results for the photodegradation of BG and MB in aqueous solution. It was concluded that the higher photocatalytic activity in TiO2/CNSAC was due to parameters like band-gap, number of hydroxyl groups, surface area and porosity of the catalyst. The kinetic data were also described by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models.

  13. The performance of spinel bulk-like oxygen-deficient CoGa2O4 as an air-cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Di; Mo, Xiaoping; Li, Kexun; Liu, Yi; Wang, Junjie; Yang, Tingting

    2017-08-01

    Nano spinel bulk-like CoGa2O4 prepared via a facile hydrothermal method is used as a high efficient electrochemical catalyst in activated carbon (AC) air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC). The maximum power density of the modified MFC is 1911 ± 49 mW m-2, 147% higher than the MFC of untreated AC cathode. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) exhibit the morphology and crystal structure of CoGa2O4. Rotating disk electrode (RDE) confirms the four-electron pathway at the cathode during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) illustrate that the high rate oxygen vacancy exist in the CoGa2O4. The oxygen vacancy of CoGa2O4 plays an important role in catalytic activity. In a word, the prepared nano spinel bulk-like CoGa2O4 provides an alternative to the costly Pt in air-cathode for power output.

  14. Integrated In Situ Characterization of a Molten Salt Catalyst Surface: Evidence of Sodium Peroxide and Hydroxyl Radical Formation.

    PubMed

    Takanabe, Kazuhiro; Khan, Abdulaziz M; Tang, Yu; Nguyen, Luan; Ziani, Ahmed; Jacobs, Benjamin W; Elbaz, Ayman M; Sarathy, S Mani; Tao, Franklin Feng

    2017-08-21

    Sodium-based catalysts (such as Na 2 WO 4 ) were proposed to selectively catalyze OH radical formation from H 2 O and O 2 at high temperatures. This reaction may proceed on molten salt state surfaces owing to the lower melting point of the used Na salts compared to the reaction temperature. This study provides direct evidence of the molten salt state of Na 2 WO 4 , which can form OH radicals, using in situ techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrometry, and ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). As a result, Na 2 O 2 species, which were hypothesized to be responsible for the formation of OH radicals, have been identified on the outer surfaces at temperatures of ≥800 °C, and these species are useful for various gas-phase hydrocarbon reactions, including the selective transformation of methane to ethane. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

  15. Synthesis of 3D iron and carbon-based composite as a bifunctional sorbent and catalyst for remediation of organic pollutants

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Ling; Shen, Yi; Wang, Zhaomei

    2017-07-01

    We prepared a 3D monolith by integrating graphite nanosheet encapsulated iron nanoparticles (Fe@GNS) into graphite felt (GF) supports. The structural properties of the resulting Fe@GNS/GF monolith are characterized by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The Fe@GNS/GF monoliths are utilized as a bifunctional sorbent and catalyst for water remediation. Using Congo red and methyl violet 2B as model pollutants, the sorption and catalytic performance of the Fe@GNS/GF composite are examined. The Fe@GNS/GF monolith possesses maximum sorption capacities of 177 and 142 mg g-1 for the sorption of CR and MV-2B, respectively. It also exhibits rate constants of 0.0563 and 0.0464 min-1 for the catalytic degradation of CR and MV-2B, respectively. As a proof of concept, the Fe@GNS/GF is successfully utilized to decontaminate simulated organic waste water via a combination of sorption and catalytic degradation processes.

  16. Graphene-oxide-supported CuAl and CoAl layered double hydroxides as enhanced catalysts for carbon-carbon coupling via Ullmann reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmed, Nesreen S.; Menzel, Robert; Wang, Yifan; Garcia-Gallastegui, Ainara; Bawaked, Salem M.; Obaid, Abdullah Y.; Basahel, Sulaiman N.; Mokhtar, Mohamed

    2017-02-01

    Two efficient catalyst based on CuAl and CoAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) supported on graphene oxide (GO) for the carbon-carbon coupling (Classic Ullmann Homocoupling Reaction) are reported. The pure and hybrid materials were synthesised by direct precipitation of the LDH nanoparticles onto GO, followed by a chemical, structural and physical characterisation by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), surface area measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The GO-supported and unsupported CuAl-LDH and CoAl-LDH hybrids were tested over the Classic Ullman Homocoupling Reaction of iodobenzene. In the current study CuAl- and CoAl-LDHs have shown excellent yields (91% and 98%, respectively) at very short reaction times (25 min). GO provides a light-weight, charge complementary and two-dimensional material that interacts effectively with the 2D LDHs, in turn enhancing the stability of LDH. After 5 re-use cycles, the catalytic activity of the LDH/GO hybrid is up to 2 times higher than for the unsupported LDH.

  17. Diatomite-supported Pd-M (M=Cu, Co, Ni) bimetal nanocatalysts for selective hydrogenation of long-chain aliphatic esters.

    PubMed

    Huang, Changliang; Zhang, Hongye; Zhao, Yanfei; Chen, Sha; Liu, Zhimin

    2012-11-15

    Diatomite supported Pd-M (M=Cu, Co, Ni) bimetal nanocatalysts with various metal compositions were prepared and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that the metal nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the support, and their size was centered around 8 nm with a relatively narrow size distribution. The catalysts were used to catalyze hydrogenation of long-chain aliphatic esters, including methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, and methyl laurate. It was indicated that the all diatomite-supported Pd-based bimetal catalysts were active to the selective hydrogenation of long-chain esters to corresponding alcohols at 270°C, originated from the synergistic effect between the metal particles and the diatomite support. For the selective hydrogenation of methyl palmitate, Pd-Cu/diatomite with metal loading of 1% and Pd/Cu=3 displayed the highest performance, giving a 1-hexadecanol yield of 82.9% at the substrate conversion of 98.8%. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Photochemical degradation of an anionic surfactant by TiO2 nanoparticle doped with C, N in aqueous solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zamiri, M.; Giahi, M.

    2016-12-01

    Novel C,N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by a solid phase reaction. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that crystallite size of synthesized C,N-doped TiO2 particles were in nanoscale. UV light photocatalytic studies were carried out using sodium naphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde condensate (SNF) as a model pollutant. The effects of initial concentration of surfactant, catalyst amount, pH, addition of oxidant on the reaction rate were ascertained and optimum conditions for maximum degradation was determined. The results indicated that for a solution of 20 mg/L of SNF, almost 98.7% of the substance were removed at pH 4.0 and 0.44 g/L photocatalyst load, with addition of 1 mM K2S2O8 and irradiation time of 90 min. The kinetics of the process was studied, and the photodegradation rate of SNF was found to obey pseudo-first-order kinetics equation represented by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.

  19. Iron doped SnO2/Co3O4 nanocomposites synthesized by sol-gel and precipitation method for metronidazole antibiotic degradation.

    PubMed

    Agarwal, Shilpi; Tyagi, Inderjeet; Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Sohrabi, Maryam; Mohammadi, Sanaz; Golikand, Ahmad Nozad; Fakhri, Ali

    2017-01-01

    Sol-gel and precipitation reaction methods were used to synthesize Un-doped and Fe-doped SnO 2 /Co 3 O 4 nanocomposites under UV light; the synthesized nanocomposites were applied for the photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole antibiotic. The developed photo catalyst was well characterized using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-Visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Effective parameters such as pH, photocatalyst dose and contact time was optimized and well investigated. From the obtained facts it is clear that the 98.3% of MTZ was degraded with in 15min, pH6 and 0.1g catalyst when the Fe molar ratio was 1:1 at %. As compared to results obtained from un-doped SnO 2 /Co 3 O 4 nanocomposites Fe doped SnO 2 /Co 3 O 4 nanocomposites possess greater photocatalytic efficiency. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Improving the catalytic activity of magnetic Fe3O4/ZnO-CdO/reduced graphene oxide for ultrasonic degradation of the organic pollutants and the green oxidation of olefins

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mirzazadeh, Hoda; Lashanizadegan, Maryam

    2018-05-01

    Magnetic Fe3O4/ZnO-CdO/reduced graphene oxide (MFZC/RGO) has been synthesized by simple hydrothermal method. The structure and morphology were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). MFZC/RGO was applied as catalyst in degradation of methylene blue (MB), rhodamin B (RhB) and methylorange (MO) under ultrasonic irradiation. Based on the results, excellent degradation efficiencies of MB, RhB and MO (>99%) were achieved within 10, 20 and 20 min, respectively under oxygen flow. Moreover the catalytic property of MFZC/RGO was investigated in oxidation of styrene, α-methyl styrene, cyclohexene and cyclooctene under oxygen flow. In addition, MFZC/RGO can be easily collected and separated by an external magnet. The catalyst displayed negligible loss in activity and selectivity within several successive runs due to super paramagnetism.

  1. An Investigation of Methyl Viologen Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide: Chitosan as a Support for Pt Nanoparticles Towards Ethanol Electrooxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ekrami-Kakhki, Mehri-Saddat; Farzaneh, Nahid; Abbasi, Sedigheh; Beitollahi, Hadi; Ekrami-Kakhki, Seyed Ali

    2018-05-01

    In this research, graphene oxide was prepared by a modified Hummers' method, and then functionalized with 1, 1'-dimethyl-4, 4'-bipyridinium dichloride (MV), and chitosan (CH) to get a MV-RGO-CH support. Pt nanoparticles were prepared on this support to get Pt/MV-RGO-CH catalyst. The morphology and microstructure of Pt/MV-RGO-CH catalyst were characterized with transmission electron microscopy image and X-ray diffraction analysis. The electrocatalytic activity of the prepared catalyst towards ethanol oxidation was investigated by carbon monoxide stripping voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The effects of some experimental parameters such as scan rate, ethanol concentration, and temperature were investigated for ethanol electrooxidation at Pt/MV-RGO-CH catalyst. Durability of the catalyst was also investigated. The electrocatalytic performance of Pt/MV-RGO-CH catalyst for ethanol oxidation was compared with those of Pt/CH and Pt/MV-RGO catalysts. The higher electrocatalytic performance of Pt/MV-RGO-CH than Pt/CH and Pt/MV-RGO catalysts towards ethanol electrooxidation indicated that Pt/MV-RGO-CH could be a promising catalyst for application in direct ethanol fuel cells.

  2. [Degradation of m-Cresol with Fe-MCM-41 in Catalytic Ozonation].

    PubMed

    Sun, Wen-jing; Wang, Ya-min; Wei, Huang-zhao; Wang, Sen; Li, Xu-ning; Li, Jing-mei; Sun, Cheng-lin; An, Lu-yang

    2015-04-01

    Fe-MCM-41 was first used for the treatment of m-cresol in catalytic ozonation. The effect of the percentage of Fe dopping mass, catalyst dosage and the natural concentration of substrate on m-cresol conversion and TOC removal were studied. The structural property of Fe-MCM-41 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, Mössbauer spectra and BET of catalysts. The results showed that Fe dopping mass had a great effect on the catalytic activity of Fe-MCM-41 in catalytic ozonation and the optimal percentage of dopping mass was 4.4% (wt). The results showed that with Fe dopping mass increase, the degree of crystallinity became weaker, the crystal surface distance reduced, as well as the specific surface area, pore volume and aperture. γ-Fe2O3 was the only form staying on the surface of MCM-41, and the catalyst had good ferromagnetism and stability. Ozonation played a role of both direct oxidation and indirect oxidation in the reaction, approximately the same ratio. Under the experimental condition of the natural pH of model wastewater,using 4.4% (wt) Fe-MCM-41 as catalyst, natural concentration of m-cresol 500 mg x L(-1), catalyst dosage 0.1 g x L(-1) and reaction time 30 min, m-cresol conversion and TOC removal were 100% and 26.8%, respectively.

  3. Functional kaolin supported nanoscale zero-valent iron as a Fenton-like catalyst for the degradation of Direct Black G.

    PubMed

    Lin, Jiajiang; Sun, Mengqiang; Liu, Xinwen; Chen, Zuliang

    2017-10-01

    Kaolin supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (K-nZVI) is synthesized and applied as the Fenton-like oxidation catalyst to degrade a model azo dye, Direct Black G (DBG). The characterization of K-nZVI by the high resolution transmission electronmicroscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Diffraction Spectrum (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) show that kaolin as a support material not only reduces the aggregation of zero-valent iron (nZVI) but also facilitates the Fenton-like oxidation by increasing the local concentration of DBG in the vicinity of nZVI. Pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order kinetic models are employed to reveal the adsorption and degradation of the DBG using K-nZVI as the catalyst. A better fit with pseudo second-order model for the adsorption process and equal excellent fits with pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order models for the degradation process are observed; the adsorption process is found to be the rate limiting step for overall reactions. The adsorption, evaluated by isotherms and thermodynamic parameters is a spontaneous and endothermic process. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was used to test degraded products in the degradation of DGB by K-nZVI. A removal mechanism based on the adsorption and degradation is proposed, including (i) prompt adsorption of DBG onto the K-nZVI surface, and (ii) oxidation of DBG by hydroxyl radicals at the K-nZVI surface. The application of K-nZVI to treat real wastewater containing azo dyes shows excellent degradation efficiency. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Real-time X-ray Diffraction: Applications to Materials Characterization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rosemeier, R. G.

    1984-01-01

    With the high speed growth of materials it becomes necessary to develop measuring systems which also have the capabilities of characterizing these materials at high speeds. One of the conventional techniques of characterizing materials was X-ray diffraction. Film, which is the oldest method of recording the X-ray diffraction phenomenon, is not quite adequate in most circumstances to record fast changing events. Even though conventional proportional counters and scintillation counters can provide the speed necessary to record these changing events, they lack the ability to provide image information which may be important in some types of experiment or production arrangements. A selected number of novel applications of using X-ray diffraction to characterize materials in real-time are discussed. Also, device characteristics of some X-ray intensifiers useful in instantaneous X-ray diffraction applications briefly presented. Real-time X-ray diffraction experiments with the incorporation of image X-ray intensification add a new dimension in the characterization of materials. The uses of real-time image intensification in laboratory and production arrangements are quite unlimited and their application depends more upon the ingenuity of the scientist or engineer.

  5. Synthesis and hydrogenation application of Pt–Pd bimetallic nanocatalysts stabilized by macrocycle-modified dendrimer

    PubMed Central

    Xiao, Haiyan; Zhou, Wei; Zhang, Dongqiao; Peng, Xiaohong

    2017-01-01

    Different generations of poly(propylene imine) (Gn-PPI) terminated with N-containing 15-membered triolefinic macrocycle (GnM) (n = 2, 3, 4, 5) were prepared. The bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts GnM-(Ptx/Pd10−x) (x = 0, 3, 5, 7, 10) were prepared by the synchronous ligand-exchange reaction between GnM and the complexes of Pt(PPh3)4 and Pd(PPh3)4. The structure and catalytic properties of GnM-(Ptx/Pd10−x) were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The novel bimetallic Pd–Pt nanoparticle catalysts stabilized by dendrimers (DSNs) present higher catalytic activities for the hydrogenation of dimeric acid (DA) than that of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). It can be concluded that bimetallic Pd–Pt DSNs possess alloying and synergistic electronic effects on account of the hydrogenation degree (HD) of DA and NBR. Furthermore, the HD of DA and NBR shows a remarkable decrease with the incremental generations (n) of GnM-(Pt3/Pd7) (n = 2, 3, 4, 5). PMID:29308263

  6. Template-Mediated Ni(II) Dispersion in Mesoporous SiO2 for Preparation of Highly Dispersed Ni Catalysts: Influence of Template Type.

    PubMed

    Ning, Xin; Lu, Yiyuan; Fu, Heyun; Wan, Haiqin; Xu, Zhaoyi; Zheng, Shourong

    2017-06-07

    Supported Ni catalysts on three mesoporous SiO 2 supports (i.e., SBA-15, MCM-41, and HMS) were prepared using a solid-state reaction between Ni(NO 3 ) 2 and organic template-occluded mesoporous SiO 2 . For comparison, supported Ni catalysts on mesoporous SiO 2 synthesized by the conventional impregnation method were also included. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H 2 temperature-programmed reduction, transmission electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray. The catalytic properties of the catalysts were evaluated using gas-phase catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane. The results showed that upon grinding Ni(NO 3 ) 2 with template-occluded mesoporous SiO 2 , strong coordination between Ni 2+ and dodecylamine was identified in the Ni(NO 3 ) 2 -HMS system. Additionally, the results of H 2 temperature-programmed reduction revealed that NiO in calcined NiO/HMS was reduced at higher temperature than those in calcined NiO/SBA-15 and NiO/MCM-41, reflecting the presence of a strong interaction between NiO and mesoporous SiO 2 in NiO/HMS. Consistently, the average particle sizes of metallic Ni were found to be 2.7, 3.4, and 9.6 nm in H 2 -reduced Ni/HMS, Ni/SBA-15, and Ni/MCM-41, respectively, indicative of a much higher Ni dispersion in Ni/HMS. For the catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane, Ni/MCM-41 synthesized by the solid-state reaction method exhibited a catalytic activity similar to that prepared by the impregnation method, while higher catalytic activities were observed on Ni/HMS and Ni/SBA-15 than on their counterparts prepared by the impregnation method. Furthermore, a higher conversion was identified on Ni/HMS than on Ni/SBA-15 and Ni/MCM-41, highlighting the importance of template type for the preparation of highly dispersed metal catalysts on mesoporous SiO 2 .

  7. Radiation damage free ghost diffraction with atomic resolution

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Zheng; Medvedev, Nikita; Chapman, Henry N.; ...

    2017-12-21

    The x-ray free electron lasers can enable diffractive structural determination of protein nanocrystals and single molecules that are too small and radiation-sensitive for conventional x-ray diffraction. However the electronic form factor may be modified during the ultrashort x-ray pulse due to photoionization and electron cascade caused by the intense x-ray pulse. For general x-ray imaging techniques, the minimization of the effects of radiation damage is of major concern to ensure reliable reconstruction of molecular structure. Here in this paper, we show that radiation damage free diffraction can be achieved with atomic spatial resolution by using x-ray parametric down-conversion and ghostmore » diffraction with entangled photons of x-ray and optical frequencies. We show that the formation of the diffraction patterns satisfies a condition analogous to the Bragg equation, with a resolution that can be as fine as the crystal lattice length scale of several Ångstrom. Since the samples are illuminated by low energy optical photons, they can be free of radiation damage.« less

  8. Radiation damage free ghost diffraction with atomic resolution

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Zheng; Medvedev, Nikita; Chapman, Henry N.

    The x-ray free electron lasers can enable diffractive structural determination of protein nanocrystals and single molecules that are too small and radiation-sensitive for conventional x-ray diffraction. However the electronic form factor may be modified during the ultrashort x-ray pulse due to photoionization and electron cascade caused by the intense x-ray pulse. For general x-ray imaging techniques, the minimization of the effects of radiation damage is of major concern to ensure reliable reconstruction of molecular structure. Here in this paper, we show that radiation damage free diffraction can be achieved with atomic spatial resolution by using x-ray parametric down-conversion and ghostmore » diffraction with entangled photons of x-ray and optical frequencies. We show that the formation of the diffraction patterns satisfies a condition analogous to the Bragg equation, with a resolution that can be as fine as the crystal lattice length scale of several Ångstrom. Since the samples are illuminated by low energy optical photons, they can be free of radiation damage.« less

  9. Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Diffraction Techniques Applied to Insect Flight Muscle.

    PubMed

    Iwamoto, Hiroyuki

    2018-06-13

    X-ray fiber diffraction is a powerful tool used for investigating the molecular structure of muscle and its dynamics during contraction. This technique has been successfully applied not only to skeletal and cardiac muscles of vertebrates but also to insect flight muscle. Generally, insect flight muscle has a highly ordered structure and is often capable of high-frequency oscillations. The X-ray diffraction studies on muscle have been accelerated by the advent of 3rd-generation synchrotron radiation facilities, which can generate brilliant and highly oriented X-ray beams. This review focuses on some of the novel experiments done on insect flight muscle by using synchrotron radiation X-rays. These include diffraction recordings from single myofibrils within a flight muscle fiber by using X-ray microbeams and high-speed diffraction recordings from the flight muscle during the wing-beat of live insects. These experiments have provided information about the molecular structure and dynamic function of flight muscle in unprecedented detail. Future directions of X-ray diffraction studies on muscle are also discussed.

  10. Hydrothermal synthesis of highly crystalline RuS{sub 2} nanoparticles as cathodic catalysts in the methanol fuel cell and hydrochloric acid electrolysis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Yanjuan; College of Material Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012; Li, Nan, E-mail: lin@jlu.edu.cn

    2015-05-15

    Highlights: • Highly crystalline RuS{sub 2} nanoparticles have been first synthesized by a “one-step” hydrothermal method. • The product presents a pure cubic phase of stoichiometric ratio RuS{sub 2} with average particle size of 14.8 nm. • RuS{sub 2} nanoparticles were used as cathodic catalysts in methanol fuel cell and hydrochloric acid electrolysis. • The catalyst outperforms commercial Pt/C in methanol tolerance and stability towards Cl{sup −}. - Abstract: Highly crystalline ruthenium sulfide (RuS{sub 2}) nanoparticles have been first synthesized by a “one-step” hydrothermal method at 400 °C, using ruthenium chloride and thiourea as reactants. The products were characterized bymore » powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), thermo gravimetric-differential thermal analyze (TG-DTA), transmission electron microscopy equipped with selected area electron diffraction (TEM/SAED). Fourier transform infrared spectra (IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD result illustrates that the highly crystalline product presents a pure cubic phase of stoichiometric ratio RuS{sub 2} and the average particle size is 14.8 nm. SEM and TEM images display the products have irregular shape of 6–25 nm. XPS analyst indicates that the sulfur exists in the form of S{sub 2}{sup 2−}. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), rotating disk electrode (RDE), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements are conducted to evaluate the electrocatalytic activity and stability of the highly crystalline RuS{sub 2} nanoparticles in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for methanol fuel cell and hydrochloric acid electrolysis. The results illustrate that RuS{sub 2} is active towards oxygen reduction reaction. Although the activity of RuS{sub 2} is lower than that of Pt/C, the RuS{sub 2} catalyst outperforms commercial Pt/C in methanol tolerance and stability towards Cl{sup −}.« less

  11. Copper catalyzed oxidative homocoupling of terminal alkynes to 1,3-diynes: a Cu3(BTC)2 MOF as an efficient and ligand free catalyst for Glaser-Hay coupling.

    PubMed

    Devarajan, Nainamalai; Karthik, Murugan; Suresh, Palaniswamy

    2017-11-07

    A straightforward and efficient method has been demonstrated for the oxidative coupling of terminal alkynes using a simple Cu 3 (BTC) 2 -metal organic framework as a sustainable heterogeneous copper catalyst. A series of symmetrical 1,3-diynes bearing diverse functional groups have been synthesized in moderate to excellent yields via a Cu 3 (BTC) 2 catalyzed Glaser-Hay reaction. The presence of the coordinatively unsaturated open Cu II sites in Cu 3 (BTC) 2 catalyzes the homocoupling in the presence of air, as an environment friendly oxidant without the use of external oxidants, ligands or any additives. The present methodology avoids stoichiometric reagents and harsher or special reaction conditions, and shows good functional group tolerance. The as-prepared catalyst could be separated easily by simple filtration and reused several times without any notable loss in activity. The hot filtration test has investigated the true heterogeneity of the catalyst. Additionally, the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the reused catalyst revealed the high stability of the catalyst.

  12. Efficient method for the conversion of agricultural waste into sugar alcohols over supported bimetallic catalysts.

    PubMed

    Tathod, Anup P; Dhepe, Paresh L

    2015-02-01

    Promoter effect of Sn in the PtSn/γ-Al2O3 (AL) and PtSn/C bimetallic catalysts is studied for the conversion of variety of substrates such as, C5 sugars (xylose, arabinose), C6 sugars (glucose, fructose, galactose), hemicelluloses (xylan, arabinogalactan), inulin and agricultural wastes (bagasse, rice husk, wheat straw) into sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, arabitol, galactitol). In all the reactions, PtSn/AL showed enhanced yields of sugar alcohols by 1.5-3 times than Pt/AL. Compared to C, AL supported bimetallic catalysts showed prominent enhancement in the yields of sugar alcohols. Bimetallic catalysts characterized by X-ray diffraction study revealed the stability of catalyst and absence of alloy formation thereby indicating that Pt and Sn are present as individual particles in PtSn/AL. The TEM analysis also confirmed stability of the catalysts and XPS study disclosed formation of electron deficient Sn species which helps in polarizing carbonyl bond to achieve enhanced hydrogenation activity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Preparation and Characterization of NiMo/Al2O3Catalyst for Hydrocracking Processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Widiyadi, Aditya; Guspiani, Gema Adil; Riady, Jeffry; Andreanto, Rikky; Chaiunnisa, Safina Dea; Widayat

    2018-02-01

    Hydrocracking is a chemical process used in petroleum refineries for converting high boiling hydrocarbons in petroleum crude oils to more valuable lower boiling products such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil that operate at high temperature and pressure. Catalyst was used in hydrocracking to reduce temperature and pressure. Hydrocracking catalyst are composed of active components and support. Alumina is widely used in hydrocracking process as catalyst support due to its high surface area, high thermal stability, and low prices. The objective of this research was preparated NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst that used as hydrocracking catalyst. Catalyst was synthesized by wetness impregnation method and simple heating method with various kind of Al2O3. The physicochemical properties of catalyst were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine type of crystal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine morphology of the catalyst. The NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by aluminium potassium sulfate dodecahydrate exhibited the highest crystallinity of 90.23% and it is clear that MoO3 and NiO crystallites are highly dispersed on the NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst which indicates as the best catalyst. The catalytic activity in hydrocracking process was successfully examined to convert fatty acid into hydrocarbon.

  14. Combining experiment and optical simulation in coherent X-ray nanobeam characterization of Si/SiGe semiconductor heterostructures

    DOE PAGES

    Tilka, J. A.; Park, J.; Ahn, Y.; ...

    2016-07-06

    Here, the highly coherent and tightly focused x-ray beams produced by hard x-ray light sources enable the nanoscale characterization of the structure of electronic materials but are accompanied by significant challenges in the interpretation of diffraction and scattering patterns. X-ray nanobeams exhibit optical coherence combined with a large angular divergence introduced by the x-ray focusing optics. The scattering of nanofocused x-ray beams from intricate semiconductor heterostructures produces a complex distribution of scattered intensity. We report here an extension of coherent xray optical simulations of convergent x-ray beam diffraction patterns to arbitrary x-ray incident angles to allow the nanobeam diffraction patternsmore » of complex heterostructures to be simulated faithfully. These methods are used to extract the misorientation of lattice planes and the strain of individual layers from synchrotron x-ray nanobeam diffraction patterns of Si/SiGe heterostructures relevant to applications in quantum electronic devices. The systematic interpretation of nanobeam diffraction patterns from semiconductor heterostructures presents a new opportunity in characterizing and ultimately designing electronic materials.« less

  15. The preparation and cathodoluminescence of ZnS nanowires grown by chemical vapor deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Meng-Wen; Cheng, Yin-Wei; Pan, Ko-Ying; Chang, Chen-Chuan; Shieu, F. S.; Shih, Han C.

    2012-11-01

    Single crystal ZnS nanowires were successfully synthesized in large quantities on Si (1 0 0) substrates by simple thermal chemical vapor deposition without using any catalyst. The morphology, composition, and crystal structure were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy. SEM observations show that the nanowires have diameters about 20-50 nm and lengths up to several tens of micrometers. XRD and TEM results confirmed that the nanowires exhibited both wurtzite and zinc blende structures with growth directions aligned along [0 0 0 2] and [1 1 1], respectively. The CL spectrum revealed emission bands in the UV and blue regions. The blue emissions at 449 and ˜581 nm were attributed to surface states and impurity-related defects of the nanowires, respectively. The perfect crystal structure of the nanowires indicates their potential applications in nanotechnology and in the fabrication of nanodevices.

  16. A flexible gas flow reaction cell for in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy studies

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kroner, Anna B., E-mail: anna.kroner@diamond.ac.uk; Gilbert, Martin; Duller, Graham

    2016-07-27

    A capillary-based sample environment with hot air blower and integrated gas system was developed at Diamond to conduct X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies of materials under time-resolved, in situ conditions. The use of a hot air blower, operating in the temperature range of 298-1173 K, allows introduction of other techniques e.g. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy for combined techniques studies. The flexibility to use either quartz or Kapton capillaries allows users to perform XAS measurement at energies as low as 5600 eV. To demonstrate performance, time-resolved, in situ XAS results of Rh catalysts during the process of activation (Rh K-edge,more » Ce L{sub 3}-edge and Cr K-edge) and the study of mixed oxide membrane (La{sub 0.6}Sr{sub 0.4}Co{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.8}O{sub 3−δ}) under various partial oxygen pressure conditions are described.« less

  17. Importance of Low Dimensional CeO x Nanostructures in Pt/CeO x –TiO 2 Catalysts for the Water–Gas Shift Reaction

    DOE PAGES

    Luo, Si; Barrio, Laura; Nguyen-Phan, Thuy-Duong; ...

    2017-03-15

    CO 2 and H 2 production from the water–gas shift (WGS) reaction was studied over Pt/CeO x–TiO 2 catalysts with incremental loadings of CeO x, which adopts variations in the local morphology. The lowest loading of CeO x (1 wt % to 0.5 at. %) that is configured in its smallest dimensions exhibited the best WGS activity over larger dimensional structures. We attribute this to several factors including the ultrafine dispersed one-dimensional nanocluster geometry, a large concentration of Ce 3+ and enhanced reducibility of the low loadings. We utilized several in situ experiments to monitor the active state of themore » catalyst during the WGS reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed lattice expansion that indicated reduced ceria was prevalent during the WGS reaction. On the surface, Ce 3+ related hydroxyl groups were identified by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The enhanced reducibility of the catalyst with the introduction of ceria was further revealed by H 2-temperature programed reduction (H 2-TPR) and good thermal stability was confirmed by in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM). Finally, we also investigated the formation of the low dimensional structures during catalyst preparation, through a two-stage crystal growth of ceria crystallite on TiO 2 nanoparticle: fine crystallites ~1D formed at ~250 °C, followed by crystal growth into 2D chain and 3D particle from 250–400 °C.« less

  18. Desulfurization from thiophene by SO(4)(2-)/ZrO(2) catalytic oxidation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

    PubMed

    Wang, Bo; Zhu, Jianpeng; Ma, Hongzhu

    2009-05-15

    Thiophene, due to its poison, together with its combustion products which causes air pollution and highly toxic characteristic itself, attracted more and more attention to remove from gasoline and some high concentration systems. As the purpose of achieving the novel method of de-thiophene assisted by SO(4)(2-)/ZrO(2) (SZ), three reactions about thiophene in different atmosphere at room temperature and atmospheric pressure were investigated. SO(4)(2-)/ZrO(2) catalyst were synthesized and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The products were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). XP spectra show that ozone-catalyst system (SZO) have two forms of sulfur element (S(6+) and S(2-)) on the catalyst surface, which distinguished from that of air-catalyst system (SZA) and blank-catalyst system (SZB) (S(6+)). And the results of GC-MS exhibited that some new compounds has been produced under this extremely mild condition. Especially, many kinds of sulfur compounds containing oxygen, that is easier to be extracted by oxidative desulfurization (ODS), have been detected in the SZA-1.5h and SZB-3h system. In addition, some long chain hydrocarbons have also been detected. While in SZO-0.5h system, only long chain hydrocarbons were found. The results show that total efficiency of desulfurization from thiophene with ozone near to 100% can be obtained with the SO(4)(2-)/ZrO(2) catalytic oxidation reaction.

  19. Catalytic decomposition of toxic chemicals over iron group metals supported on carbon nanotubes.

    PubMed

    Li, Lili; Chen, Can; Chen, Long; Zhu, Zixue; Hu, Jianli

    2014-03-18

    This study explores catalytic decomposition of phosphine (PH3) using iron group metals (Co, Ni) and metal oxides (Fe2O3, Co(3)O4, NiO) supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The catalysts are synthesized by means of a deposition-precipitation method. The morphology, structure, and composition of the catalysts are characterized using a number of analytical instrumentations, including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, BET surface area measurement, and inductively coupled plasma. The activity of the catalysts in the PH3 decomposition reaction is measured and correlated with their surface and structural properties. The characterization results show that phosphidation occurs on the catalyst surface, and the resulting metal phosphides act as an active phase in the PH3 decomposition reaction. Cobalt phosphide, CoP, is formed on Co/CNTs and Co(3)O4/CNTs, whereas iron phosphide, FeP, is formed on Fe2O3/CNTs. In contrast, phosphorus-rich phosphide NiP2 is formed on Ni/CNTs and NiO/CNTs. The initial activities of the catalysts are shown in the following sequence: Ni/CNTs > Co/CNTs > Co(3)O4/CNTs >NiO/CNTs > Fe2O3/CNTs, whereas activities of metal phosphides are shown in the following order: CoP > NiP2 > FeP. The catalytic activity of metal phosphides is attributed to their electronic properties. Cobalt phosphide formed on Co/CNTs and Co(3)O4/CNTs exhibits not only the highest activity, but also long-term stability in the PH3 decomposition reaction.

  20. Preparation method of Ni@Pt/C nanocatalyst affects the performance of direct borohydride-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell: Improved power density and increased catalytic oxidation of borohydride.

    PubMed

    Hosseini, Mir Ghasem; Mahmoodi, Raana

    2017-08-15

    The Ni@Pt/C electrocatalysts were synthesized using two different methods: with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and without SDS. The metal loading in synthesized nanocatalysts was 20wt% and the molar ratio of Ni: Pt was 1:1. The structural characterizations of Ni@Pt/C electrocatalysts were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The electrocatalytic activity of Ni@Pt/C electrocatalysts toward BH 4 - oxidation in alkaline medium was studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that Ni@Pt/C electrocatalyst synthesized without SDS has superior catalytic activity toward borohydride oxidation (22016.92Ag Pt -1 ) in comparison with a catalyst prepared in the presence of SDS (17766.15Ag Pt -1 ) in NaBH 4 0.1M at 25°C. The Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) used in fuel cell set-up was fabricated with catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) technique. The effect of Ni@Pt/C catalysts prepared with two methods as anode catalyst on the performance of direct borohydride-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell was studied. The maximum power density was obtained using Ni@Pt/C catalyst synthesized without SDS at 60°C, 1M NaBH 4 and 2M H 2 O 2 (133.38mWcm -2 ). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Fabrication and testing of a newly designed slit system for depth-resolved X-ray diffraction measurements

    DOE PAGES

    Sinsheimer, John; Bouet, Nathalie; Ghose, Sanjit; ...

    2016-10-06

    A new system of slits called `spiderweb slits' have been developed for depth-resolved powder or polycrystalline X-ray diffraction measurements. The slits act on diffracted X-rays to select a particular gauge volume of sample, while absorbing diffracted X-rays from outside of this volume. Although the slit geometry is to some extent similar to that of previously developed conical slits or spiral slits, this new design has advantages over the previous ones in use for complex heterogeneous materials and in situ and operando diffraction measurements. For example, the slits can measure a majority of any diffraction cone for any polycrystalline material, overmore » a continuous range of diffraction angles, and work for X-ray energies of tens to hundreds of kiloelectronvolts. In addition, the design is generated and optimized using ray-tracing simulations, and fabricated through laser micromachining. The first prototype was successfully tested at the X17A beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source, and shows similar performance to simulations, demonstrating gauge volume selection for standard powders, for all diffraction peaks over angles of 2–10°. A similar, but improved, design will be implemented at the X-ray Powder Diffraction beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II.« less

  2. Heterogeneous electro-Fenton using modified iron-carbon as catalyst for 2,4-dichlorophenol degradation: influence factors, mechanism and degradation pathway.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chao; Zhou, Minghua; Ren, Gengbo; Yu, Xinmin; Ma, Liang; Yang, Jie; Yu, Fangke

    2015-03-01

    Modified iron-carbon with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was firstly investigated as heterogeneous electro-Fenton (EF) catalyst for 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) degradation in near neutral pH condition. The catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the effects of some important operating parameters such as current intensity and pH on the 2,4-DCP degradation were investigated. After the catalyst modification with 20% PTFE, the degradation performance maintained well with much lower iron leaching, and at current intensity 100 mA, initial pH 6.7, catalyst loading 6 g/L, the degradation efficiency of 2,4-DCP could exceed 95% within 120 min treatment. Two-stage pseudo first-order kinetics of 2,4-DCP degradation was observed, including a slow anodic oxidation stage (first-stage) and much faster heterogeneous EF oxidation (second-stage), in which the automatic drop of pH in the first-stage initiated the Fe(2+) release from micro-electrolysis and thus benefited to the subsequent EF reaction. Aromatic intermediates such as 3,5-dichlorocatechol, 4,6-dichlororesorcinol and 2-chlorohydroquinone were detected by GC-MS. Oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid and Cl(-) were quantified by ion chromatograph. Based on these analysis as well as the detection of H₂O₂ and OH, a possible mechanism and degradation pathway for 2,4-DCP were proposed. This work demonstrated that such a heterogeneous EF using cheap modified Fe-C catalyst was promising for organic wastewater treatment in initial neutral pH condition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. La and Al co-doped CaMnO 3 perovskite oxides: From interplay of surface properties to anion exchange membrane fuel cell performance

    DOE PAGES

    Dzara, Michael J.; Christ, Jason M.; Joghee, Prabhuram; ...

    2017-09-01

    This work reports the first account of perovskite oxide and carbon composite oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts integrated into anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Perovskite oxides with a theoretical stoichiometry of Ca 0.9La 0.1Al 0.1Mn 0.9O 3-δ are synthesized by an aerogel method and calcined at various temperatures, resulting in a set of materials with varied surface chemistry and surface area. Material composition is evaluated by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The perovskite oxide calcined at 800 degrees C shows the importance of balance between surface area, purity of the perovskite phase, and surfacemore » composition, resulting in the highest ORR mass activity when evaluated in rotating disk electrodes. Integration of this catalyst into AEMFCs reveals that the best AEMFC performance is obtained when using composites with 30:70 perovskite oxide:carbon composition. Doubling the loading leads to an increase in the power density from 30 to 76 mW cm -2. The AEMFC prepared with a composite based on perovskite oxide and N-carbon achieves a power density of 44 mW cm -2, demonstrating an ~50% increase when compared to the highest performing composite with undoped carbon at the same loading.« less

  4. Differences in the Nature of Active Sites for Methane Dry Reforming and Methane Steam Reforming over Nickel Aluminate Catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rogers, Jessica L.; Mangarella, Michael C.; D’Amico, Andrew D.

    In this paper, the Pechini synthesis was used to prepare nickel aluminate catalysts with the compositions NiAl 4O 7, NiAl 2O 4, and Ni 2Al 2O 5. The samples have been characterized by N 2 physisorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Characterization results indicate unique structural properties and excellent regeneration potential of nickel aluminates. Prepared samples were tested when unreduced and reduced prior to reaction for methane dry reforming and methane steam reforming reactivity. NiAl 2O 4 in the reduced and unreduced statemore » as well as NiAl 4O 7 in the reduced state are active and stable for methane dry reforming due to the presence of 4-fold coordinated oxidized nickel. The limited amount of metallic nickel in these samples minimizes carbon deposition. Finally, on the other hand, the presence of metallic nickel is required for methane steam reforming. Ni 2Al 2O 5 in the reduced and unreduced states and NiAl 2O 4 in the reduced state are found to be active for methane steam reforming due to the presence of sufficiently small nickel nanoparticles that catalyze the reaction without accumulating carbonaceous deposits.« less

  5. La and Al co-doped CaMnO3 perovskite oxides: From interplay of surface properties to anion exchange membrane fuel cell performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dzara, Michael J.; Christ, Jason M.; Joghee, Prabhuram; Ngo, Chilan; Cadigan, Christopher A.; Bender, Guido; Richards, Ryan M.; O'Hayre, Ryan; Pylypenko, Svitlana

    2018-01-01

    This work reports the first account of perovskite oxide and carbon composite oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts integrated into anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Perovskite oxides with a theoretical stoichiometry of Ca0.9La0.1Al0.1Mn0.9O3-δ are synthesized by an aerogel method and calcined at various temperatures, resulting in a set of materials with varied surface chemistry and surface area. Material composition is evaluated by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The perovskite oxide calcined at 800 °C shows the importance of balance between surface area, purity of the perovskite phase, and surface composition, resulting in the highest ORR mass activity when evaluated in rotating disk electrodes. Integration of this catalyst into AEMFCs reveals that the best AEMFC performance is obtained when using composites with 30:70 perovskite oxide:carbon composition. Doubling the loading leads to an increase in the power density from 30 to 76 mW cm-2. The AEMFC prepared with a composite based on perovskite oxide and N-carbon achieves a power density of 44 mW cm-2, demonstrating an ∼50% increase when compared to the highest performing composite with undoped carbon at the same loading.

  6. Elucidation of structure and nature of the PdO-Pd transformation using in situ PDF and XAS techniques.

    PubMed

    Keating, Jonathan; Sankar, Gopinathan; Hyde, Timothy I; Kohara, Shinji; Ohara, Koji

    2013-06-14

    The PdO-Pd phase transformation in a 4 wt% Pd/Al2O3 catalyst has been investigated using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and in situ X-ray total scattering (also known as high-energy X-ray diffraction) techniques. Both the partial and total pair distribution functions (PDF) from these respective techniques have been analysed in depth. New information from PDF analysis of total scattering data has been garnered using the differential PDF (d-PDF) approach where only correlations orginating from PdO and metallic Pd are extracted. This method circumvents problems encountered in characerising the catalytically active components due to the diffuse scattering from the disordered γ-Al2O3 support phase. Quantitative analysis of the palladium components within the catalyst allowed for the phase composition to be established at various temperatures. Above 850 °C it was found that PdO had converted to metallic Pd, however, the extent of reduction was of the order ca. 70% Pd metal and 30% PdO. Complementary in situ XANES and EXAFS were performed, with heating to high temperature and subsequent cooling in air, and the results of the analyses support the observations, that residual PdO is detected at elevated temperatures. Hysteresis in the transformation upon cooling is confirmed from XAS studies where reoxidation occurs below 680 °C.

  7. Synchrotron-Based In Situ Characterization of Carbon-Supported Platinum and Platinum Monolayer Electrocatalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Sasaki, Kotaro; Marinkovic, Nebojsa; Isaacs, Hugh S.; ...

    2015-11-17

    Understanding oxidation/dissolution mechanisms of Pt is critical in designing durable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but exact mechanisms remain unclear. Our present work explores the oxidation/dissolution of Pt and Pt monolayer (ML) electrocatalysts over a wide range of applied potentials using cells that facilitate in situ measurements by combining X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Furthermore, the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurement demonstrated that Pt nanoparticle surfaces were oxidized from metallic Pt to α-PtO 2-type oxide during the potential sweep from 0.41 to 1.5 V, and the transition state of O or OHmore » adsorption on Pt and the onset of the place exchange process were revealed by the delta mu (Δμ) method. Only the top layers of Pt nanoparticles were oxidized, while the inner Pt atoms remained intact. At a higher potential over 1.9 V, α-PtO 2-type surface oxides dissolve due to local acidification caused by the oxygen evolution reaction and carbon corrosion. Pt oxidation of Pt ML on the Pd nanoparticle electrocatalyst is considerably hampered compared with the Pt/C catalyst, presumably because preferential Pd oxidation proceeds at the defects in Pt MLs up to 0.91 V and through O penetrated through the Pt MLs by the place exchange process above 1.11 V.« less

  8. Differences in the Nature of Active Sites for Methane Dry Reforming and Methane Steam Reforming over Nickel Aluminate Catalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Rogers, Jessica L.; Mangarella, Michael C.; D’Amico, Andrew D.; ...

    2016-07-20

    In this paper, the Pechini synthesis was used to prepare nickel aluminate catalysts with the compositions NiAl 4O 7, NiAl 2O 4, and Ni 2Al 2O 5. The samples have been characterized by N 2 physisorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Characterization results indicate unique structural properties and excellent regeneration potential of nickel aluminates. Prepared samples were tested when unreduced and reduced prior to reaction for methane dry reforming and methane steam reforming reactivity. NiAl 2O 4 in the reduced and unreduced statemore » as well as NiAl 4O 7 in the reduced state are active and stable for methane dry reforming due to the presence of 4-fold coordinated oxidized nickel. The limited amount of metallic nickel in these samples minimizes carbon deposition. Finally, on the other hand, the presence of metallic nickel is required for methane steam reforming. Ni 2Al 2O 5 in the reduced and unreduced states and NiAl 2O 4 in the reduced state are found to be active for methane steam reforming due to the presence of sufficiently small nickel nanoparticles that catalyze the reaction without accumulating carbonaceous deposits.« less

  9. Surface modification of layered perovskite Sr2TiO4 for improved CO2 photoreduction with H2O to CH4.

    PubMed

    Kwak, Byeong Sub; Do, Jeong Yeon; Park, No-Kuk; Kang, Misook

    2017-11-27

    Layered perovskite Sr 2 TiO 4 photocatalyst was synthesized by using sol-gel method with citric acid. In order to increase the surface area of layered perovskite Sr 2 TiO 4 , and thus to improve its photocatalytic activity for CO 2 reduction, its surface was modified via hydrogen treatment or exfoliation. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption-desorption, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electrophoretic light scattering. CO 2 photoreduction was performed in a closed reactor under 6 W/cm 2 UV irradiation. The gaseous products were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization and thermal conductivity detectors. The exfoliated Sr 2 TiO 4 catalyst (E-Sr 2 TiO 4 ) exhibited a narrow band gap, a large surface area, and high dispersion. Owing to these advantageous properties, E-Sr 2 TiO 4 photocatalyst showed an excellent catalytic performance for CO 2 photoreduction reaction. The rate of CH 4 production from the photoreduction of CO 2 with H 2 O using E-Sr 2 TiO 4 was about 3431.77 μmol/g cat after 8 h.

  10. A magnetically separable and recyclable Ag-supported magnetic TiO2 composite catalyst: Fabrication, characterization, and photocatalytic activity.

    PubMed

    Chung, Woo Jin; Nguyen, Dinh Duc; Bui, Xuan Thanh; An, Sang Woo; Banu, J Rajesh; Lee, Sang Moon; Kim, Sung Su; Moon, Dea Hyun; Jeon, Byong Hun; Chang, Soon Woong

    2018-05-01

    In this study, a magnetically separable, highly active, and recyclable photocatalyst was synthesized by physico-chemical incorporation of Ag, TiO 2 , and Fe 3 O 4 into one structure. The physical and chemical properties of the catalysts were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, field emission transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The Ag-supported magnetic TiO 2 composite demonstrated desirable properties and features such as a narrow band gap of 1.163 eV, modifiable structure, and high degradation efficiency. The activity and durability of the synthesized photocatalyst in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solutions under visible light irradiation and different experimental conditions were evaluated and compared to those of commercial TiO 2 and Ag/TiO 2 composites. It was found that the synthesized composite showed a much higher MO photodegradation efficiency than the other composites under visible light irradiation. Moreover, it exhibited a high photocatalytic activity and was recoverable and durable; its photocatalytic efficiency in MO removal was consistently higher than 93.1% after five reuses without any evident signs of deactivation. Thus, the developed photocatalyst is a very promising material for practical applications in environmental pollution remediation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Physicochemical and photocatalytic studies of Ln3+- ZnO for water disinfection and wastewater treatment applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibrahim, Marwa M.; Asal, Saad

    2017-12-01

    In the present work, x mol Ln3+ modified ZnO Nano-particles (Ln = Sm3+, Eu3+ and Gd3+ ions; x = 0.008, 0.015, 0.025, 0.03 and 0.05) were synthesized by precipitation method. These Nano-particles are characterized by different advanced techniques; such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDX), UV-Visible diffuse reflectance, and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy. Doping by lanthanides improves the crystal, surface area, porosity, morphology, as well as the optical adsorption and emission of UV light properties of the prepared photo-catalysts. Photo-catalytic activity for the prepared Nano-materials was determined using both, fluorescent probe and dye methods. Results showed that the highly active Nano-particle is 0.025 Gd3+-ZnO. The highly active sample (0.025 mol Gd3+- ZnO) successfully mineralized textile dye and real refractory wastewater samples under sunlight illumination using CPC photo-reactor. Prepared photo-catalysts were also applied for water disinfection.

  12. Dynamical scattering in coherent hard x-ray nanobeam Bragg diffraction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pateras, A.; Park, J.; Ahn, Y.; Tilka, J. A.; Holt, M. V.; Kim, H.; Mawst, L. J.; Evans, P. G.

    2018-06-01

    Unique intensity features arising from dynamical diffraction arise in coherent x-ray nanobeam diffraction patterns of crystals having thicknesses larger than the x-ray extinction depth or exhibiting combinations of nanoscale and mesoscale features. We demonstrate that dynamical scattering effects can be accurately predicted using an optical model combined with the Darwin theory of dynamical x-ray diffraction. The model includes the highly divergent coherent x-ray nanobeams produced by Fresnel zone plate focusing optics and accounts for primary extinction, multiple scattering, and absorption. The simulation accurately reproduces the dynamical scattering features of experimental diffraction patterns acquired from a GaAs/AlGaAs epitaxial heterostructure on a GaAs (001) substrate.

  13. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Lidong; Zhou, Lu; Ould-Chikh, Samy

    Surface composition and structure are of vital importance for heterogeneous catalysts, especially for bimetallic catalysts, which often vary as a function of reaction conditions (known as surface segregation). The preparation of bimetallic catalysts with controlled metal surface composition and structure is very challenging. In this study, we synthesize a series of Ni/Pt bimetallic catalysts with controlled metal surface composition and structure using a method derived from surface organometallic chemistry. The evolution of the surface composition and structure of the obtained bimetallic catalysts under simulated reaction conditions is investigated by various techniques, which include CO-probe IR spectroscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanningmore » transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis, XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that the structure of the bimetallic catalyst is evolved from Pt monolayer island-modified Ni nanoparticles to core–shell bimetallic nanoparticles composed of a Ni-rich core and a Ni/Pt alloy shell upon thermal treatment. As a result, these catalysts are active for the dry reforming of methane, and their catalytic activities, stabilities, and carbon formation vary with their surface composition and structure.« less

  14. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Lidong; Zhou, Lu; Ould-Chikh, Samy

    The surface composition and structure are of vital importance for heterogeneous catalysts, especially for bimetallic catalysts, which often vary as a function of reaction conditions (known as surface segregation). The preparation of bimetallic catalysts with controlled metal surface composition and structure is very challenging. In this study, we synthesize a series of Ni/Pt bimetallic catalysts with controlled metal surface composition and structure using a method derived from surface organometallic chemistry. Moreover, the evolution of the surface composition and structure of the obtained bimetallic catalysts under simulated reaction conditions is investigated by various techniques, which include CO-probe IR spectroscopy, high-angle annularmore » dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis, XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that the structure of the bimetallic catalyst is evolved from Pt monolayer island-modified Ni nanoparticles to core–shell bimetallic nanoparticles composed of a Ni-rich core and a Ni/Pt alloy shell upon thermal treatment. The catalysts are active for the dry reforming of methane, and their catalytic activities, stabilities, and carbon formation vary with their surface composition and structure.« less

  15. Coherent x-ray diffraction imaging with nanofocused illumination.

    PubMed

    Schroer, C G; Boye, P; Feldkamp, J M; Patommel, J; Schropp, A; Schwab, A; Stephan, S; Burghammer, M; Schöder, S; Riekel, C

    2008-08-29

    Coherent x-ray diffraction imaging is an x-ray microscopy technique with the potential of reaching spatial resolutions well beyond the diffraction limits of x-ray microscopes based on optics. However, the available coherent dose at modern x-ray sources is limited, setting practical bounds on the spatial resolution of the technique. By focusing the available coherent flux onto the sample, the spatial resolution can be improved for radiation-hard specimens. A small gold particle (size <100 nm) was illuminated with a hard x-ray nanobeam (E=15.25 keV, beam dimensions approximately 100 x 100 nm2) and is reconstructed from its coherent diffraction pattern. A resolution of about 5 nm is achieved in 600 s exposure time.

  16. DynAMITe: a prototype large area CMOS APS for breast cancer diagnosis using x-ray diffraction measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Konstantinidis, A.; Anaxagoras, T.; Esposito, M.; Allinson, N.; Speller, R.

    2012-03-01

    X-ray diffraction studies are used to identify specific materials. Several laboratory-based x-ray diffraction studies were made for breast cancer diagnosis. Ideally a large area, low noise, linear and wide dynamic range digital x-ray detector is required to perform x-ray diffraction measurements. Recently, digital detectors based on Complementary Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor (CMOS) Active Pixel Sensor (APS) technology have been used in x-ray diffraction studies. Two APS detectors, namely Vanilla and Large Area Sensor (LAS), were developed by the Multidimensional Integrated Intelligent Imaging (MI-3) consortium to cover a range of scientific applications including x-ray diffraction. The MI-3 Plus consortium developed a novel large area APS, named as Dynamically Adjustable Medical Imaging Technology (DynAMITe), to combine the key characteristics of Vanilla and LAS with a number of extra features. The active area (12.8 × 13.1 cm2) of DynaMITe offers the ability of angle dispersive x-ray diffraction (ADXRD). The current study demonstrates the feasibility of using DynaMITe for breast cancer diagnosis by identifying six breast-equivalent plastics. Further work will be done to optimize the system in order to perform ADXRD for identification of suspicious areas of breast tissue following a conventional mammogram taken with the same sensor.

  17. PdRu/C catalysts for ethanol oxidation in anion-exchange membrane direct ethanol fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Liang; He, Hui; Hsu, Andrew; Chen, Rongrong

    2013-11-01

    Carbon supported PdRu catalysts with various Pd:Ru atomic ratios were synthesized by impregnation method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrochemical half-cell tests, and the anion-exchange membrane direct ethanol fuel cell (AEM-DEFC) tests. XRD results suggest that the PdRu metal exists on carbon support in an alloy form. TEM study shows that the bimetallic PdRu/C catalysts have slightly smaller average particle size than the single metal Pd/C catalyst. Lower onset potential and peak potential and much higher steady state current for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media were observed on the bimetallic catalysts (PdxRuy/C) than on the Pd/C, while the activity for ethanol oxidation on the pure Ru/C was not noticeable. By using Pd/C anode catalysts and MnO2 cathode catalysts, AEM-DEFCs free from the expensive Pt catalyst were assembled. The AEM DEFC using the bimetallic Pd3Ru/C anode catalyst showed a peak power density as high as 176 mW cm-2 at 80 °C, about 1.8 times higher than that using the single metal Pd/C catalyst. The role of Ru for enhancing the EOR activity of Pd/C catalysts is discussed.

  18. Synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes using CoMnMgO catalysts through catalytic chemical vapor deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Wen; Feng, Yan-Yan; Jiang, Cheng-Fa; Chu, Wei

    2014-12-01

    The CoMgO and CoMnMgO catalysts are prepared by a co-precipitation method and used as the catalysts for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through the catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). The effects of Mn addition on the carbon yield and structure are investigated. The catalysts are characterized by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, and the synthesized carbon materials are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TG). TEM measurement indicates that the catalyst CoMgO enclosed completely in the produced graphite layer results in the deactivation of the catalyst. TG results suggest that the CoMnMgO catalyst has a higher selectivity for CNTs than CoMgO. Meanwhile, different diameters of CNTs are synthesized by CoMnMgO catalysts with various amounts of Co content, and the results show that the addition of Mn avoids forming the enclosed catalyst, prevents the formation of amorphous carbon, subsequently promotes the growth of CNTs, and the catalyst with decreased Co content is favorable for the synthesis of CNTs with a narrow diameter distribution. The CoMnMgO catalyst with 40% Co content has superior catalytic activity for the growth of carbon nanotubes.

  19. [Synergetic effects of silicon carbide and molecular sieve loaded catalyst on microwave assisted catalytic oxidation of toluene].

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiao-Hui; Bo, Long-Li; Liu, Hai-Nan; Zhang, Hao; Sun, Jian-Yu; Yang, Li; Cai, Li-Dong

    2013-06-01

    Molecular sieve loaded catalyst was prepared by impregnation method, microwave-absorbing material silicon carbide and the catalyst were investigated for catalytic oxidation of toluene by microwave irradiation. Research work examined effects of silicon carbide and molecular sieve loading Cu-V catalyst's mixture ratio as well as mixed approach changes on degradation of toluene, and characteristics of catalyst were measured through scanning electron microscope, specific surface area test and X-ray diffraction analysis. The result showed that the fixed bed reactor had advantages of both thermal storage property and low-temperature catalytic oxidation when 20% silicon carbide was filled at the bottom of the reactor, and this could effectively improve the utilization of microwave energy as well as catalytic oxidation efficiency of toluene. Under microwave power of 75 W and 47 W, complete-combustion temperatures of molecular sieve loaded Cu-V catalyst and Cu-V-Ce catalyst to toluene were 325 degrees C and 160 degrees C, respectively. Characteristics of the catalysts showed that mixture of rare-earth element Ce increased the dispersion of active components in the surface of catalyst, micropore structure of catalyst effectively guaranteed high adsorption capacity for toluene, while amorphous phase of Cu and V oxides increased the activity of catalyst greatly.

  20. Facile synthesis of hollow Co3O4 microspheres and its use as a rapid responsive CL sensor of combustible gases.

    PubMed

    Teng, Fei; Yao, Wenqing; Zheng, Youfei; Ma, Yutao; Xu, Tongguang; Gao, Guizhi; Liang, Shuhui; Teng, Yang; Zhu, Yongfa

    2008-09-15

    The hollow Co(3)O(4) microspheres (HCMs) were prepared by the carbonaceous templates, which did not need the surface pretreatment. The chemiluminescence (CL) and catalytic properties for CO oxidation over these hollow samples were evaluated. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy disperse spectra (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (ED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and N(2) adsorption. The influences of filter' band length, flow rate of gas, test temperature, and particle structure on CL intensities were mainly investigated. It was found that compared with the solid Co(3)O(4) particles (SCPs), HCMs had a stronger CL intensity, which was ascribed to its hollow structure; and that CL properties of the catalysts were well correlated with their reaction activities. Moreover, HCMs were used to fabricate a highly sensitive gas detector, which is a rapid and effective method for the selection of catalysts or the detection of environmental deleterious gases.

  1. Resolution enhancement in coherent x-ray diffraction imaging by overcoming instrumental noise.

    PubMed

    Kim, Chan; Kim, Yoonhee; Song, Changyong; Kim, Sang Soo; Kim, Sunam; Kang, Hyon Chol; Hwu, Yeukuang; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Liang, Keng San; Noh, Do Young

    2014-11-17

    We report that reference objects, strong scatterers neighboring weak phase objects, enhance the phase retrieval and spatial resolution in coherent x-ray diffraction imaging (CDI). A CDI experiment with Au nano-particles exhibited that the reference objects amplified the signal-to-noise ratio in the diffraction intensity at large diffraction angles, which significantly enhanced the image resolution. The interference between the diffracted x-ray from reference objects and a specimen also improved the retrieval of the phase of the diffraction signal. The enhancement was applied to image NiO nano-particles and a mitochondrion and confirmed in a simulation with a bacteria phantom. We expect that the proposed method will be of great help in imaging weakly scattering soft matters using coherent x-ray sources including x-ray free electron lasers.

  2. Controlled surface segregation leads to efficient coke-resistant nickel/platinum bimetallic catalysts for the dry reforming of methane

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Lidong; Zhou, Lu; Ould-Chikh, Samy; ...

    2015-02-03

    Surface composition and structure are of vital importance for heterogeneous catalysts, especially for bimetallic catalysts, which often vary as a function of reaction conditions (known as surface segregation). The preparation of bimetallic catalysts with controlled metal surface composition and structure is very challenging. In this study, we synthesize a series of Ni/Pt bimetallic catalysts with controlled metal surface composition and structure using a method derived from surface organometallic chemistry. The evolution of the surface composition and structure of the obtained bimetallic catalysts under simulated reaction conditions is investigated by various techniques, which include CO-probe IR spectroscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanningmore » transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis, XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that the structure of the bimetallic catalyst is evolved from Pt monolayer island-modified Ni nanoparticles to core–shell bimetallic nanoparticles composed of a Ni-rich core and a Ni/Pt alloy shell upon thermal treatment. As a result, these catalysts are active for the dry reforming of methane, and their catalytic activities, stabilities, and carbon formation vary with their surface composition and structure.« less

  3. Electrochemical oxidation of sulfites by DWCNTs, MWCNTs, higher fullerenes and manganese

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uzun, Dzhamal; Pchelarov, George; Dimitrov, Ognian; Vassilev, Sasho; Obretenov, Willi; Petrov, Konstantin

    2018-03-01

    Different electrocatalysts were tested for oxidation of sulfites to sulfates, namely, manganese thin films deposited on fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. The results presented clearly show that electrodes containing HFs (higher fullerenes), DWCNTs (double-wall carbon nanotubes) and manganese acetate are effective catalysts in S/O2 fuel cells. HFs and DWCNTs have high catalytic activity and can be employed as standalone catalysts. Manganese was deposited on DWCNTs, HFs and fullerenes C60/C70 by a thermal process. The electrocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical testing was carried out by plotting the E/V polarization curve. The polarization curves of the electrodes composed of pristine DWCNTs showed the lowest overpotentials.

  4. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Betancourt, Luis E.; Guzman-Blas, Rolando; Luo, Si

    A robust electrodeposition method consisting of the rotating disk slurry electrode (RoDSE) technique to obtain Au nanoparticles highly dispersed on a conductive carbonaceous support, i.e., Vulcan XC-72R, for ethanol electrooxidation reaction in alkaline media was developed. Ceria was used as a cocatalyst using a Ce(III)-EDTA impregnation method in order to enhance the catalytic activity and improve the catalyst’s overall stability. Furthermore, the RoDSE method used to obtain highly dispersed Au nanoparticles does not require the use of a reducing agent or stabilizing agent, and the noble-metal loading was controlled by the addition and tuning of the metal precursor concentration. Inductivelymore » coupled plasma and thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the Au loading in the catalyst was 9 %. We determined the particle size and characteristic Au fcc crystal facets by X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the catalyst was also investigated using electron microscopy techniques. In addition, X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to corroborate the presence and identify the oxidation state of Ce in the system and to observe if there are any electronic interactions within the 8 % Au/CeO x/C system. Cyclic voltammetry of electrodeposited 9 % Au/C and Ce-promoted 8 % Au/C showed a higher catalytic current density for ethanol oxidation when compared with commercially available catalysts (20 % Au/C) of a higher precious metal loading. Additionally, we report a higher stability toward the ethanol electrooxidation process, which was corroborated by 1 mV/s linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometric studies.« less

  5. Fabrication and testing of a newly designed slit system for depth-resolved X-ray diffraction measurements

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sinsheimer, John; Bouet, Nathalie; Ghose, Sanjit

    2016-10-06

    A new system of slits called `spiderweb slits' have been developed for depth-resolved powder or polycrystalline X-ray diffraction measurements. The slits act on diffracted X-rays to select a particular gauge volume of sample, while absorbing diffracted X-rays from outside of this volume. Although the slit geometry is to some extent similar to that of previously developed conical slits or spiral slits, this new design has advantages over the previous ones in use for complex heterogeneous materials andin situandoperandodiffraction measurements. For example, the slits can measure a majority of any diffraction cone for any polycrystalline material, over a continuous range ofmore » diffraction angles, and work for X-ray energies of tens to hundreds of kiloelectronvolts. The design is generated and optimized using ray-tracing simulations, and fabricated through laser micromachining. The first prototype was successfully tested at the X17A beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source, and shows similar performance to simulations, demonstrating gauge volume selection for standard powders, for all diffraction peaks over angles of 2–10°. A similar, but improved, design will be implemented at the X-ray Powder Diffraction beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II.« less

  6. Local terahertz field enhancement for time-resolved x-ray diffraction

    DOE PAGES

    Kozina, M.; Pancaldi, M.; Bernhard, C.; ...

    2017-02-20

    We report local field strength enhancement of single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses in an ultrafast time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiment. We show that patterning the sample with gold microstructures increases the THz field without changing the THz pulse shape or drastically affecting the quality of the x-ray diffraction pattern. Lastly, we find a five-fold increase in THz-induced x-ray diffraction intensity change in the presence of microstructures on a SrTiO 3 thin-film sample.

  7. Local terahertz field enhancement for time-resolved x-ray diffraction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kozina, M.; Pancaldi, M.; Bernhard, C.

    We report local field strength enhancement of single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses in an ultrafast time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiment. We show that patterning the sample with gold microstructures increases the THz field without changing the THz pulse shape or drastically affecting the quality of the x-ray diffraction pattern. Lastly, we find a five-fold increase in THz-induced x-ray diffraction intensity change in the presence of microstructures on a SrTiO 3 thin-film sample.

  8. Synthesis and characterization of poly(lactic acid)/ montmorillonite nanocomposites by in situ polycondensation catalyzed by non-metal-based compound.

    PubMed

    Kaewprapan, Kulwadee; Phattanarudee, Siriwan

    2012-01-01

    Poly(lactic acid)/montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by using non-toxic catalysts, i.e., phthalic acid and succinimide, via in situ polycondensation in presence of silicate. Concentrations of catalysts and clay were varied in a range of 0-3% wt and 0-0.5% wt, respectively. The reaction condition was controlled at 180 degrees C for 24 hr under a reduced pressure. Viscosity average molecular weight of the synthesized polymers and nanocomposites were characterized and compared using an Ubbelohde viscometer. Pattern of silicate distribution in the composites was investigated by X-ray diffraction to correlate with thermal properties evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the addition of catalysts at 2% wt gave the highest product yield (55-60%). The presence of silicate affected on molecular weight reduction, and the diffracted patterns suggested an intercalated structure. With a small amount of added filler, a significant improvement in thermal property and crystallinity of the resultant composites was obtained compared to those of the catalyzed polymers, in which the composites with succinimide exhibited overall better thermal stability and higher crystallinity than the ones prepared with phthalic acid.

  9. Development of highly active and stable hybrid cathode catalyst for PEMFCs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Won Suk

    Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are attractive power sources of the future for a variety of applications including portable electronics, stationary power, and automobile application. However, sluggish cathode kinetics, high Pt cost, and durability issues inhibit the commercialization of PEMFCs. To overcome these drawbacks, research has been focused on alloying Pt with transition metals since alloy catalysts show significantly improved catalytic properties like high activity, selectivity, and durability. However, Pt-alloy catalysts synthesized using the conventional impregnation method exhibit uneven particle size and poor particle distribution resulting in poor performance and/or durability in PEMFCs. In this dissertation, a novel catalyst synthesis methodology is developed and compared with catalysts prepared using impregnation method and commercial catalysts. Two approaches are investigated for the catalyst development. The catalyst durability was studied under U. S. DRIVE Fuel Cell Tech Team suggested protocols. In the first approach, the carbon composite catalyst (CCC) having active sites for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is employed as a support for the synthesis of Pt/CCC catalyst. The structural and electrochemical properties of Pt/CCC catalyst are investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while RDE and fuel cell testing are carried out to study the electrochemical properties. The synergistic effect of CCC and Pt is confirmed by the observed high activity towards ORR for the Pt/CCC catalyst. The second approach is the synthesis of Co-doped hybrid cathode catalysts (Co-doped Pt/CCC) by diffusing the Co metal present within the CCC support into the Pt nanoparticles during heat-treatment. The optimized Co-doped Pt/CCC catalyst performed better than the commercial catalysts and the catalyst prepared using the impregnation method in PEMFCs and showed high stability under 30,000 potential cycles between 0.6 and 1.0 V. To further increase the stability of the catalyst at high potential cycles (1.0-1.5 V), high temperature treatment is used to obtain graphitized carbon having optimum BET surface area. The novel catalyst synthesis procedure developed in this study was successfully applied for the synthesis of Co-doped Pt catalysts supported on the graphitized carbon which showed high activity and enhanced stability at high potentials.

  10. Esterification of phenyl acetic acid with p-cresol using metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclay catalysts

    PubMed Central

    Bhaskar, M.; Surekha, M.; Suma, N.

    2018-01-01

    The liquid phase esterification of phenyl acetic acid with p-cresol over different metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclays yields p-cresyl phenyl acetate. Different metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclays (Mn+ = Al3+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Cu2+) were prepared and the catalytic activity was studied. The esterification reaction was conducted by varying molar ratio of the reactants, reaction time and catalyst amount on the yield of the ester. Among the different metal cation exchanged catalysts used, Al3+-montmorillonite nanoclay was found to be more active. The characterization of the material used was studied under different techniques, namely X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The product obtained, p-cresyl phenyl acetate, was identified by thin-layer chromotography and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The regeneration activity of used catalyst was also investigated up to fourth generation. PMID:29515855

  11. Cross-linked lysozyme crystal templated synthesis of Au nanoparticles as high-performance recyclable catalysts.

    PubMed

    Liang, Miao; Wang, Libing; Liu, Xia; Qi, Wei; Su, Rongxin; Huang, Renliang; Yu, Yanjun; He, Zhimin

    2013-06-21

    Bio-nanomaterials fabricated using a bioinspired templating technique represent a novel class of composite materials with diverse applications in biomedical, electronic devices, drug delivery, and catalysis. In this study, Au nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized within the solvent channels of cross-linked lysozyme crystals (CLLCs) in situ without the introduction of extra chemical reagents or physical treatments. The as-prepared AuNPs-in-protein crystal hybrid materials are characterized by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. Small AuNPs with narrow size distribution reveal the restriction effects of the porous structure in the lysozyme crystals. These composite materials are proven to be active heterogeneous catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. These catalysts can be easily recovered and reused at least 20 times because of the physical stability and macro-dimension of CLLCs. This work is the first to use CLLCs as a solid biotemplate for the preparation of recyclable high-performance catalysts.

  12. Fenton-like degradation of Methylene Blue using paper mill sludge-derived magnetically separable heterogeneous catalyst: Characterization and mechanism.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Guoqiang; Chen, Ziwen; Fang, Fei; He, Yuefeng; Sun, Haili; Shi, Huixiang

    2015-09-01

    For the paper industry, the disposal and management of the yielded sludge are a considerable challenge. In our work, the paper mill sludge-derived magnetically separable heterogeneous catalyst (PMS-Fe-380) was prepared easily through a facile synthesis method. The morphology and structure of PMS-Fe-380 were fully characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller analysis. The catalytic activity of PMS-Fe-380 was evaluated by degradation of Methylene Blue (MB). The reusability and stability of PMS-Fe-380 were evaluated in five repeated runs, which suggested that PMS-Fe-380 manifested excellent stability of catalytic activity. Moreover, leaching tests indicated that the leached iron is negligible (<0.5mg/L). This study provides an alternative environmentally friendly reuse method for paper mill sludge and a novel catalyst PMS-Fe-380 that can be considered as a promising heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  13. Cross-linked lysozyme crystal templated synthesis of Au nanoparticles as high-performance recyclable catalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Miao; Wang, Libing; Liu, Xia; Qi, Wei; Su, Rongxin; Huang, Renliang; Yu, Yanjun; He, Zhimin

    2013-06-01

    Bio-nanomaterials fabricated using a bioinspired templating technique represent a novel class of composite materials with diverse applications in biomedical, electronic devices, drug delivery, and catalysis. In this study, Au nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized within the solvent channels of cross-linked lysozyme crystals (CLLCs) in situ without the introduction of extra chemical reagents or physical treatments. The as-prepared AuNPs-in-protein crystal hybrid materials are characterized by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. Small AuNPs with narrow size distribution reveal the restriction effects of the porous structure in the lysozyme crystals. These composite materials are proven to be active heterogeneous catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. These catalysts can be easily recovered and reused at least 20 times because of the physical stability and macro-dimension of CLLCs. This work is the first to use CLLCs as a solid biotemplate for the preparation of recyclable high-performance catalysts.

  14. The application of inelastic neutron scattering to explore the significance of a magnetic transition in an iron based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst that is active for the hydrogenation of CO

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Warringham, Robbie; McFarlane, Andrew R.; Lennon, David, E-mail: David.Lennon@Glasgow.ac.uk

    2015-11-07

    An iron based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst is evaluated using CO hydrogenation at ambient pressure as a test reaction and is characterised by a combination of inelastic neutron scattering (INS), powder X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed oxidation, Raman scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The INS spectrum of the as-prepared bulk iron oxide pre-catalyst (hematite, α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) is distinguished by a relatively intense band at 810 cm{sup −1}, which has previously been tentatively assigned as a magnon (spinon) feature. An analysis of the neutron scattering intensity of this band as a function of momentum transfer unambiguously confirms this assignment. Post-reaction, the spinon featuremore » disappears and the INS spectrum is characterised by the presence of a hydrocarbonaceous overlayer. A role for the application of INS in magnetic characterisation of iron based FTS catalysts is briefly considered.« less

  15. Hexagonal mesoporous silica modified with copper phthalocyanine as a photocatalyst for pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxiacetic acid degradation.

    PubMed

    DeOliveira, Edimar; Neri, Cláudio R; Ribeiro, Anderson O; Garcia, Vinícius S; Costa, Leonardo L; Moura, Aline O; Prado, Alexandre G S; Serra, Osvaldo A; Iamamoto, Yassuko

    2008-07-01

    A new mesoporous catalyst was prepared by the reaction between 3-aminopropyltrimethoxisylane and Cu(II)-hexadecafluorophthalocyanine, followed by co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate around a micelle formed by n-dodecylamine. The surfactant was removed from the pores by continuous extraction with ethanol, giving the Si-CuF16Pc catalyst. This catalyst was characterized by SEM, FTIR, TGA, 29Si NMR, N2 adsorption and X-ray diffraction. SEM images confirmed that the catalyst material is formed by nanoaggregates with a diameter of 100 nm. N2 adsorption isotherms showed that Si-CuF16Pc has a surface area of approximately 200 m2 g(-1) and a porous diameter of 7.7 nm, characterizing the mesoporosity of this product. This novel material shows an excellent photocatalytic activity, degrading almost 90% of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) up to 30 min, while only approximately 40% of photodegradation was obtained in its absence.

  16. Solution Structures of Highly Active Molecular Ir Water-Oxidation Catalysts from Density Functional Theory Combined with High-Energy X-ray Scattering and EXAFS Spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Yang, Ke R; Matula, Adam J; Kwon, Gihan; Hong, Jiyun; Sheehan, Stafford W; Thomsen, Julianne M; Brudvig, Gary W; Crabtree, Robert H; Tiede, David M; Chen, Lin X; Batista, Victor S

    2016-05-04

    The solution structures of highly active Ir water-oxidation catalysts are elucidated by combining density functional theory, high-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. We find that the catalysts are Ir dimers with mono-μ-O cores and terminal anionic ligands, generated in situ through partial oxidation of a common catalyst precursor. The proposed structures are supported by (1)H and (17)O NMR, EPR, resonance Raman and UV-vis spectra, electrophoresis, etc. Our findings are particularly valuable to understand the mechanism of water oxidation by highly reactive Ir catalysts. Importantly, our DFT-EXAFS-HEXS methodology provides a new in situ technique for characterization of active species in catalytic systems.

  17. Thermal x-ray diffraction and near-field phase contrast imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Zheng; Classen, Anton; Peng, Tao; Medvedev, Nikita; Wang, Fenglin; Chapman, Henry N.; Shih, Yanhua

    2017-10-01

    Using higher-order coherence of thermal light sources, the resolution power of standard x-ray imaging techniques can be enhanced. In this work, we applied the higher-order measurement to far-field x-ray diffraction and near-field phase contrast imaging (PCI), in order to achieve superresolution in x-ray diffraction and obtain enhanced intensity contrast in PCI. The cost of implementing such schemes is minimal compared to the methods that achieve similar effects by using entangled x-ray photon pairs.

  18. Thermal x-ray diffraction and near-field phase contrast imaging

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Zheng; Classen, Anton; Peng, Tao; ...

    2017-12-27

    Using higher-order coherence of thermal light sources, the resolution power of standard x-ray imaging techniques can be enhanced. Here in this work, we applied the higher-order measurement to far-field x-ray diffraction and near-field phase contrast imaging (PCI), in order to achieve superresolution in x-ray diffraction and obtain enhanced intensity contrast in PCI. The cost of implementing such schemes is minimal compared to the methods that achieve similar effects by using entangled x-ray photon pairs.

  19. Hydrodeoxygenation of Guaiacol Over Pt/Al-SBA-15 Catalysts.

    PubMed

    Yu, Mi Jin; Park, Sung Hoon; Jeon, Jong-Ki; Ryu, Changkook; Sohn, Jung Min; Kim, Sang Chai; Park, Young-Kwon

    2015-01-01

    Upgrading of bio-oil through catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction was investigated for guaiacol as a model compound. A batch reactor was used for the reaction condition of 40 bar and 250 degrees C. The target product was cyclohexane. Pt/Al-SBA-15 with the Si/Al ratios of 20, 40, and 80 and Pt/HZSM-5 were used as the catalyst. The SBA-15 catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction analysis, and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. The order of cyclohexane yield was Pt/Al-SBA-15 (Si/Al = 20) > Pt/Al-SBA-15(40) > Pt/Al-SBA-15 (80), indicating that the quantity of acid sites plays an important role in the HDO reaction. On the other hand, Pt/HZSM-5 led to a very low cyclohexane yield, in spite of its abundant strong acid sites, due to its small pore size.

  20. Key structure-activity relationships in the vanadium phosphorus oxide catalyst system

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Thompson, M.R.; Ebner, J.R.

    1990-04-01

    The crystal structure of vanadyl pyrophosphate has been redetermined using single crystals obtained from a near solidified melt of a microcrystalline catalyst sample. Crystals that index as vanadyl pyrophosphate obtained from this melt are variable in color. Crystallographic refinement of the single crystal x-ray diffraction data indicates that structural differences among these materials can be described in terms of crystal defects associated with linear disorder of the vanadium atoms. The importance of the disorder is outlined in the context of its effect on the proposed surface topology parallel to (1,0,0). Models of the surface topology simply and intuitively account formore » the non-stoichometric surface atomic P/V ratio exhibited by selective catalysts of this phase. These models also point to the possible role of the excess phosphorus in providing site isolation of reactive centers at the surface. 33 refs., 7 figs.« less

  1. Catalytic decomposition of toxic chemicals over metal-promoted carbon nanotubes.

    PubMed

    Li, Lili; Han, Changxiu; Han, Xinyu; Zhou, Yixiao; Yang, Li; Zhang, Baogui; Hu, Jianli

    2011-01-15

    Effective decomposition of toxic gaseous compounds is important for pollution control at many chemical manufacturing plants. This study explores catalytic decomposition of phosphine (PH(3)) using novel metal-promoted carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The cerium-promoted Co/CNTs catalysts (CoCe/CNTs) are synthesized by means of coimpregnation method and reduced by three different methods (H(2), KBH(4), NaH(2)PO(2)·H(2)O/KBH(4)). The morphology, structure, and composition of the catalysts are characterized using a number of analytical instrumentations including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, BET surface area measurement, and inductively coupled plasma. The activity of the catalysts in PH(3) decomposition reaction is measured and correlated with their surface and structural properties. The characterization results show that the CoCe/CNTs catalyst reduced by H(2) possesses small particles and is shown thermally stable in PH(3) decomposition reaction. The activities of these catalysts are compared and are shown in the following sequence: CoCe/CNTs > Co/CNTs > CoCeBP/CNTs> CoCeB/CNTs. The difference in reduction method results in the formation of different active phases during the PH(3) decomposition reaction. After a catalytic activity test, only the CoP phase is formed on CoCe/CNTs and Co/CNTs catalysts, whereas multiphases CoP, Co(2)P, and Co phases are formed on CoCeBP/CNTs and CoCeB/CNTs. Results show that the CoP phase is formed predominantly on the CoCe/CNTs and Co/CNTs catalysts and is found to likely be the most active phase for this reaction. Furthermore, the CoCe/CNTs catalyst exhibits not only highest activity but also long-term stability in PH(3) decomposition reaction. When operated in a fixed-bed reactor at 360 °C, single-pass PH(3) conversion of about 99.8% can be achieved.

  2. An image focusing means by using an opaque object to diffract x-rays

    DOEpatents

    Sommargren, Gary E.; Weaver, H. Joseph

    1991-01-01

    The invention provides a method and apparatus for focusing and imaging x-rays. An opaque sphere is used as a diffractive imaging element to diffract x-rays from an object so that the divergent x-ray wavefronts are transformed into convergent wavefronts and are brought to focus to form an image of the object with a large depth of field.

  3. Soft X-Ray Diffraction Microscopy of a Frozen Hydrated Yeast Cell

    DOE PAGES

    Huang, Xiaojing; Nelson, Johanna; Kirz, Janos; ...

    2009-11-01

    We report the first image of an intact, frozen hydrated eukaryotic cell using x-ray diffraction microscopy, or coherent x-ray diffraction imaging. By plunge freezing the specimen in liquid ethane and maintaining it below -170 °C, artifacts due to dehydration, ice crystallization, and radiation damage are greatly reduced. In this example, coherent diffraction data using 520 eV x rays were recorded and reconstructed to reveal a budding yeast cell at a resolution better than 25 nm. This demonstration represents an important step towards high resolution imaging of cells in their natural, hydrated state, without limitations imposed by x-ray optics.

  4. Modifying surface properties of KIT-6 zeolite with Ni and V for enhancing catalytic CO methanation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Hong-Xia; Zhang, Jun; Guo, Cheng-Long; Chen, Jingguang G.; Ren, Xiang-Kun

    2017-12-01

    The surface of the KIT-6 zeolite was modified with different amounts of Ni and V to promote the catalytic properties for CO methanation. A series of xNi-yV/KIT-6 with various Ni and V contents were prepared by the incipient-wetness impregnation method. The modified surfaces were characterized using N2 adsorption-desorption, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. The characterization results illustrated that the modification of V species was able to significantly promote low-temperature catalytic performance below 350 °C compared to that of unmodified Ni/KIT-6, which was likely due to an increase in the H2 uptake accompanied by enhanced CO dissociation derived from stronger electron transfer from V species to Ni0. Correspondingly, the xNi-yV/KIT-6 catalysts exhibited a distinct enhancement in CO conversion, CH4 selectivity and CH4 yield over unmodified Ni/KIT-6. Among all catalysts, 20Ni-2V/KIT-6 showed the best catalytic performance, corresponding to nearly 100% CO conversion and 85% CH4 yield at a low temperature of 300 °C. Furthermore, 20Ni-2V/KIT-6 presented enhanced coking-resistant and anti-sintering properties during a 60h-lifetime test at 500 °C and 1 atm with a high weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 60000 ml/g/h.

  5. Preparation and characterizaton of CaO nanoparticle for biodiesel production

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gupta, Jharna, E-mail: onlinejharna@gmail.com; Agarwal, Madhu, E-mail: madhunaresh@gmail.com

    Nanoparticle of CaO from calcium Nitrate (CaO/CaN) and Snail shell (CaO/SS) are successfully synthesized by method as described in the literature and used as an active and stable catalyst for the biodiesel production. These catalysts are characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The average crystalline size in nanometer was also calculated by Debye–Scherrer equation. The performance of the CaO/CaN and CaO/SS were tested for their catalytic activity via transesterification process and it was found that biodiesel yield has been increased from 93 to 96%. The optimum conditions for the highest yield weremore » 8wt% catalyst loading, 65°C temperature, 12:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, and 6 h for reaction time. The nano catalyst from snail shell exhibits excellent catalytic activity and stability for the transesterification reaction, which suggested that this catalyst would be potentially used as a solid base nano catalyst for biodiesel production. In order to examine the reusability of catalyst developed from snail shell, five transesterification reaction cycles were also performed.« less

  6. Solid Catalyst Nanoparticles derived from Oil-Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OP-EFB) as a Renewable Catalyst for Biodiesel Production

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Husin, H.; Asnawi, T. M.; Firdaus, A.; Husaini, H.; Ibrahim, I.; Hasfita, F.

    2018-05-01

    Solid nanocatalyst derived from oil-palm empty fruit bunches (OP-EFB) fiber was successfully synthesized and its application for biodiesel production was investigated. The OPEFB was treated by burning, milling and heating methods to generate ashes in a nanoparticle size. The nanoparticle palm-bunch ash was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of the calcination temperature and catalyst amounts for transesterification reactions were investigated. XRD analysis of palm bunch ash exhibited that the highest composition of peaks characteristic were potassium oxide (K2O). SEM analysis showed that the nano palm bunch ash have a particle size ranging of 150-400 nm. The highest conversion of palm-oil to biodiesel reach to 97.90% was observed by using of palm bunch ash nanocatalyst which heated at 600°C, 3 h reaction time and 1% catalyst amount. Reusability of palm bunch ash catalysts was also examined. It was found that of its high active sites, reusable solid catalyst was obtained by just heating of palm bunch ash. It has a capability to reduce not only the amount of catalyst consumption but also reduce the reaction time of transesterification process.

  7. Nickel oxide and carbon nanotube composite (NiO/CNT) as a novel cathode non-precious metal catalyst in microbial fuel cells.

    PubMed

    Huang, Jianjian; Zhu, Nengwu; Yang, Tingting; Zhang, Taiping; Wu, Pingxiao; Dang, Zhi

    2015-10-15

    Comparing with the precious metal catalysts, non-precious metal catalysts were preferred to use in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) due to the low cost and high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency. In this study, the transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction as well as Raman investigation revealed that the prepared nanoscale NiO was attached on the surface of CNT. Cyclic voltammogram and rotating ring-disk electrode tests showed that the NiO/CNT composite catalyst had an apparent oxygen reduction peak and 3.5 electron transfer pathway was acquired under oxygen atmosphere. The catalyst performance was highly dependent on the percentage of NiO in the CNT nanocomposites. When 77% NiO/CNT nano-sized composite was applied as cathode catalyst in membrane free single-chamber air cathode MFC, a maximum power density of 670 mW/m(2) and 0.772 V of OCV was obtained. Moreover, the MFC with pure NiO (control) could not achieve more than 0.1 V. All findings suggested that NiO/CNT could be a potential cathode catalyst for ORR in MFCs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Application of focused-beam flat-sample method to synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction with anomalous scattering effect

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanaka, M.; Katsuya, Y.; Matsushita, Y.

    2013-03-01

    The focused-beam flat-sample method (FFM), which is a method for high-resolution and rapid synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction measurements by combination of beam focusing optics, a flat shape sample and an area detector, was applied for diffraction experiments with anomalous scattering effect. The advantages of FFM for anomalous diffraction were absorption correction without approximation, rapid data collection by an area detector and good signal-to-noise ratio data by focusing optics. In the X-ray diffraction experiments of CoFe2O4 and Fe3O4 (By FFM) using X-rays near the Fe K absorption edge, the anomalous scattering effect between Fe/Co or Fe2+/Fe3+ can be clearly detected, due to the change of diffraction intensity. The change of observed diffraction intensity as the incident X-ray energy was consistent with the calculation. The FFM is expected to be a method for anomalous powder diffraction.

  9. Rietveld analysis using powder diffraction data with anomalous scattering effect obtained by focused beam flat sample method

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tanaka, Masahiko, E-mail: masahiko@spring8.or.jp; Katsuya, Yoshio, E-mail: katsuya@spring8.or.jp; Sakata, Osami, E-mail: SAKATA.Osami@nims.go.jp

    2016-07-27

    Focused-beam flat-sample method (FFM) is a new trial for synchrotron powder diffraction method, which is a combination of beam focusing optics, flat shape powder sample and area detectors. The method has advantages for X-ray diffraction experiments applying anomalous scattering effect (anomalous diffraction), because of 1. Absorption correction without approximation, 2. High intensity X-rays of focused incident beams and high signal noise ratio of diffracted X-rays 3. Rapid data collection with area detectors. We applied the FFM to anomalous diffraction experiments and collected synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data of CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (inverse spinel structure) using X-rays near Fe K absorptionmore » edge, which can distinguish Co and Fe by anomalous scattering effect. We conducted Rietveld analyses with the obtained powder diffraction data and successfully determined the distribution of Co and Fe ions in CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} crystal structure.« less

  10. Seven new Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers with 2-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylic acid: Synthesis, structures and properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Xin-Fang; Zhou, Sheng-Bin; Du, Ceng-Ceng; Wang, Duo-Zhi; Jia, Dianzeng

    2017-08-01

    Using a new simi-rigid multitopic ligand 2-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylic acid (H2L), seven new coordination polymers [Zn3(L)2(μ2-OH)2]n (1), {[Zn2(HL)2(H2O)2]·SiF6}n (2), [Zn(HL)(SCN)]n (3), {[Zn2(HL)2(SO4)]·(4,4‧-bpy)}n (4) [4,4‧-bpy =4,4‧-bipyridine], {[Zn(HL)2]·2H2O}n (5), {[Cd(HL)2]·2H2O}n (6) and [Cd2(HL)2(H2O)2(SO4)]n (7) have been successfully obtained from H2L ligand under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. In addition, UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectra demonstrate wide band gaps. Complex 1 features a 3D topological net of {412·63} with the stoichiometry (6-c), contains 1D channels with the accessible solvent volume of 42.1%. 3, 4, 5 and 6 have a 1D chain structure, 5 and 6 further assemble to form 2D sheet and 3D supramolecular frameworks by hydrogen-bonding interactions, respectively. Complexes 2 and 7 possess a 2D layered structure, and the 2D supramolecular network of 2 can be rationalized to be four-connected {44·62} topological sql network with the dinuclear units, while 7 shows a 3-nodal 2D net with a point symbol of {63}. Moreover, the fluorescent emission, fluorescence lifetimes of 1-7 have been investigated and discussed. Interesting enough, complex 1 showed high efficiency for catalyzing the Knoevenagel condensation reaction between 4-substituted aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile as selective heterogeneous catalyst. The CPs combining catalytic and fluorescent properties could further meet the requirement as a multifunctional material. Seven new Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers with simi-rigid multitopic ligand, [(2-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylic acid) (H2L)] have been successfully obtained and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. All the complexes are air stable at room. In addition, the fluorescent emission, fluorescence lifetime and UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectra of 1-7 and H2L have been investigated and discussed. Furthermore, we studied the Knoevenagel condensation reaction between 4-substituted aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile by activated 1a as selective heterogeneous catalyst.

  11. An efficient and heterogeneous recyclable silicotungstic acid with modified acid sites as a catalyst for conversion of fructose and sucrose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in superheated water.

    PubMed

    Jadhav, Arvind H; Kim, Hern; Hwang, In Taek

    2013-03-01

    Acidity modified silver exchanged silicotungstic acid (AgSTA) catalyst was prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR pyridine adsorption, SEM imaging, EDX mapping, and antimicrobial activity was also tested. The catalytic activity was evaluated for the dehydration of fructose and sucrose in superheated water. As a result, 98% conversion of fructose with 85.7% HMF yield and 87.4% HMF selectivity in 120 min reaction time at 120 °C reaction temperature using 10 wt.% of AgSTA catalyst was achieved. While, 92% sucrose conversion with 62.5% of HMF yield was obtained from sucrose at uniform condition in 160 min. The effect of reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature, time, catalyst dosage, and effect acidity on HMF yield was also investigated. The AgSTA catalyst was separated from the reaction mixture by filtration process at end of the reaction and reused eight times without loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. DeNOx Abatement over Sonically Prepared Iron-Substituted Y, USY and MFI Zeolite Catalysts in Lean Exhaust Gas Conditions

    PubMed Central

    Stachurska, Patrycja; Kuterasiński, Łukasz; Dziedzicka, Anna; Górecka, Sylwia; Chmielarz, Lucjan; Łojewska, Joanna; Sitarz, Maciej

    2018-01-01

    Iron-substituted MFI, Y and USY zeolites prepared by two preparation routes—classical ion exchange and the ultrasound modified ion-exchange method—were characterised by micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet (UV)/visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV/Vis DRS). Ultrasound irradiation, a new technique for the preparation of the metal salt suspension before incorporation to the zeolite structure, was employed. An experimental study of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3 on both iron-substituted reference zeolite catalysts and those prepared through the application of ultrasound conducted during an ion-exchange process is presented. The prepared zeolite catalysts show high activity and selectivity in SCR deNOx abatement. The MFI-based iron catalysts, especially those prepared via the sonochemical method, revealed superior activity in the deNOx process, with almost 100% selectivity towards N2. The hydrothermal stability test confirmed high stability and activity of MFI-based catalysts in water-rich conditions during the deNOx reaction at 450 °C. PMID:29301370

  13. Magnetic cellulose/Ag as a novel eco-friendly nanobiocomposite to catalyze synthesis of chromene-linked nicotinonitriles.

    PubMed

    Maleki, Ali; Movahed, Hamed; Ravaghi, Parisa

    2017-01-20

    In this work, design, preparation and performance of magnetic cellulose/Ag nanobiocomposite as a recyclable and highly efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst is described. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) curve, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) image, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) were used for the characterization. Then, its activity was investigated in the synthesis of 2-amino-6-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-4-phenylnicotinonitrile derivatives. The main advantages of the reaction are high yields and short reaction times. The remarkable magnetic property of the nanobiocomposite catalyst provides easy separation from the reaction mixture by an external magnet without considerable loss of its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Study on the mechanism of a manganese-based catalyst for catalytic NOX flue gas denitration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Lei; Wen, Xin; Lei, Zhang; Gao, Long; Sha, Xiangling; Ma, Zhenhua; He, Huibin; Wang, Yusu; Jia, Yang; Li, Yonghui

    2018-04-01

    Manganese-based bimetallic catalysts were prepared with self-made pyrolysis coke as carrier and its denitration performance of low-temperature SCR (selective catalyst reduction) was studied. The effects of different metal species, calcination temperature, calcination time and the metal load quantity on the denitration performance of the catalyst were studied by orthogonal test. The denitration mechanism of the catalyst was analyzed by XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), BET test and transient test. The experiments show that: * The denitration efficiency of Mn-based bimetallic catalysts mainly relates to the metal type, the metal load quantity and the catalyst adjuvant type. * The optimal catalyst preparation conditions are as follows: the load quantity of monometallic MnO2 is 10%, calcined at 300°C for 4h, and then loaded with 8% CeO2, calcined at 350°Cfor 3h. * The denitration mechanism of manganese-based bimetallic oxide catalysts is stated as: NH3 is firstly adsorbed by B acid center Mn-OH which nears Mn4+==O to form NH4+, NH4+ was then attacked by the gas phase NO to form N2, H2O and Mn3+-OH. Finally, Mn3+-OH was oxidized by O2 to regenerate Mn4+.

  15. Synthesis and Characterization of AlCl3 Impregnated Molybdenum Oxide as Heterogeneous Nano-Catalyst for the Friedel-Crafts Acylation Reaction in Ambient Condition.

    PubMed

    Jadhav, Arvind H; Chinnappan, Amutha; Hiremath, Vishwanath; Seo, Jeong Gil

    2015-10-01

    Aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) impregnated molybdenum oxide heterogeneous nano-catalyst was prepared by using simple impregnation method. The prepared heterogeneous catalyst was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, SEM imaging, and EDX mapping. The catalytic activity of this protocol was evaluated as heterogeneous catalyst for the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction at room temperature. The impregnated MoO4(AlCl2)2 catalyst showed tremendous catalytic activity in Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction under solvent-free and mild reaction condition. As a result, 84.0% yield of acyl product with 100% consumption of reactants in 18 h reaction time at room temperature was achieved. The effects of different solvents system with MoO4(AlCl2)2 catalyst in acylation reaction was also investigated. By using optimized reaction condition various acylated derivatives were prepared. In addition, the catalyst was separated by simple filtration process after the reaction and reused several times. Therefore, heterogeneous MoO4(AlCl2)2 catalyst was found environmentally benign catalyst, very convenient, high yielding, and clean method for the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction under solvent-free and ambient reaction condition.

  16. Novel Montmorillonite/TiO₂/MnAl-Mixed Oxide Composites Prepared from Inverse Microemulsions as Combustion Catalysts.

    PubMed

    Napruszewska, Bogna D; Michalik-Zym, Alicja; Rogowska, Melania; Bielańska, Elżbieta; Rojek, Wojciech; Gaweł, Adam; Wójcik-Bania, Monika; Bahranowski, Krzysztof; Serwicka, Ewa M

    2017-11-19

    A novel design of combustion catalysts is proposed, in which clay/TiO₂/MnAl-mixed oxide composites are formed by intermixing exfoliated organo-montmorillonite with oxide precursors (hydrotalcite-like in the case of Mn-Al oxide) obtained by an inverse microemulsion method. In order to assess the catalysts' thermal stability, two calcination temperatures were employed: 450 and 600 °C. The composites were characterized with XRF (X-ray fluorescence), XRD (X-ray diffraction), HR SEM (high resolution scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption/desorption at -196 °C, and H₂ TPR (temperature programmed reduction). Profound differences in structural, textural and redox properties of the materials were observed, depending on the presence of the TiO₂ component, the type of neutralization agent used in the titania nanoparticles preparation (NaOH or NH₃ (aq)), and the temperature of calcination. Catalytic tests of toluene combustion revealed that the clay/TiO₂/MnAl-mixed oxide composites prepared with the use of ammonia showed excellent activity, the composites obtained from MnAl hydrotalcite nanoparticles trapped between the organoclay layers were less active, but displayed spectacular thermal stability, while the clay/TiO₂/MnAl-mixed oxide materials obtained with the aid of NaOH were least active. The observed patterns of catalytic activity bear a direct relation to the materials' composition and their structural, textural, and redox properties.

  17. Investigation of temperature, catalyst thickness and substrate effects in In2O3 nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tuzluca, Fatma Nur; Yesilbag, Yasar Ozkan; Ertugrul, Mehmet

    2017-12-01

    This study successfully synthesized In2O3 nanotowers (NTs), nanowires (NWs), nanochains (NChs) and nanocrystals (NCs) on n-type Si(100) and quartz substrates at temperature of 900-1000 °C by using Au catalysts via the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique. The analyses of experimental results revealed that In2O3 nanostructures (NSs) grew in different morphologies due to variable parameters, such as temperature, thickness of catalyst and substrate type. This was because these In2O3 NSs were formed by both the Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) and the Vapor-Solid (VS) growth mechanisms. For instance, In2O3 NTs and NChs were formed by the VLS growth mechanism; In2O3 NCs were formed by the VS growth mechanism and In2O3 NWs were formed by both the VLS and VS growth mechanisms. Morphology and crystal structures were identified through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) peaks of In2O3 NSs were measured to be 367 nm, 470 nm, and 630 nm at room temperature (RT). These measurement results indicated that structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of synthesized In2O3 NSs correlated with growth parameters.

  18. Dynamical effects in Bragg coherent x-ray diffraction imaging of finite crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shabalin, A. G.; Yefanov, O. M.; Nosik, V. L.; Bushuev, V. A.; Vartanyants, I. A.

    2017-08-01

    We present simulations of Bragg coherent x-ray diffractive imaging (CXDI) data from finite crystals in the frame of the dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction. The developed approach is based on a numerical solution of modified Takagi-Taupin equations and can be applied for modeling of a broad range of x-ray diffraction experiments with finite three-dimensional crystals of arbitrary shape also in the presence of strain. We performed simulations for nanocrystals of a cubic and hemispherical shape of different sizes and provided a detailed analysis of artifacts in the Bragg CXDI reconstructions introduced by the dynamical diffraction. Based on our theoretical analysis we developed an analytical procedure to treat effects of refraction and absorption in the reconstruction. Our results elucidate limitations for the kinematical approach in the Bragg CXDI and suggest a natural criterion to distinguish between kinematical and dynamical cases in coherent x-ray diffraction on a finite crystal.

  19. Instrument and method for X-ray diffraction, fluorescence, and crystal texture analysis without sample preparation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gendreau, Keith (Inventor); Martins, Jose Vanderlei (Inventor); Arzoumanian, Zaven (Inventor)

    2010-01-01

    An X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrument for analyzing samples having no sample preparation includes a X-ray source configured to output a collimated X-ray beam comprising a continuum spectrum of X-rays to a predetermined coordinate and a photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer disposed to receive X-rays output from an unprepared sample disposed at the predetermined coordinate upon exposure of the unprepared sample to the collimated X-ray beam. The X-ray source and the photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer are arranged in a reflection geometry relative to the predetermined coordinate.

  20. Grafted chromium 13-membered dioxo-macrocyclic complex into aminopropyl-based nanoporous SBA-15

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarlani, Aliakbar; Joharian, Monika; Narimani, Khashayar; Muzart, Jacques; Fallah, Mahtab

    2013-07-01

    In a new approach, chromium (III) tetraaza dioxo ligand was grafted onto functionalized SBA-15 after four step reactions by using coordinating ability of anchored amino functionalized SBA-15. After the termination of each step, the obtained product was characterized by FT-IR, low-angle X-ray diffraction (LA-XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)-Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH)) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and used as catalyst for the efficient and regioselective alcoholysis of styrene oxide to 2-alkoxy-1-phenylethanol product at ambient temperature.

  1. Bifunctional Catalysts for CO2 Reduction

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-09-30

    hexane soluble material was crystallized at –35 ºC permitting characterization by X-ray diffraction to identify [(tbsL) Co3 (µ 3- N)]NBu4 as the product...of the trinuclear core and make atom and group-transfer processes even more facile. To probe this we investigated the reactivity of (tbsL) Co3 (py...Reaction of (tbsL) Co3 (py) with with Bu4N[N3] yields the azide adduct Bu4N[( tbsL) Co3 (µ 3-N3)] which features a C3-symmetric, paramagnetically shifted

  2. Configuration-specific synthesis of the facial and meridional isomers of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinate)aluminum (Alq3).

    PubMed

    Katakura, Ryo; Koide, Yoshihiro

    2006-07-24

    Treatment of AlO(OH) with 3 equiv of 8-hydroxyquinolinol in refluxing deionized water provided the meridional and facial isomers of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinate)aluminum (Alq3) with good yields as solid deposits after 1 and 90 h, respectively. X-ray diffraction and solid-state 13C NMR studies revealed that mer-Alq3 is formed in the early stage of the reaction and then gradually converts to fac-Alq3, which is thermodynamically less stable, although no existence of a catalyst substance is implied.

  3. Spectral studies of 2-pyrazoline derivatives: structural elucidation through single crystal XRD and DFT calculations.

    PubMed

    Chinnaraja, D; Rajalakshmi, R; Srinivasan, T; Velmurugan, D; Jayabharathi, J

    2014-04-24

    A series of biologically active N-thiocarbamoyl pyrazoline derivatives have been synthesized using anhydrous potassium carbonate as the catalyst. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR spectral studies, LCMS, CHN Analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis (compound 7). In order to supplement the XRD parameters, molecular modelling was carried out by Gaussian 03W. From the optimized structure, the energy, dipolemoment and HOMO-LUMO energies of all the systems were calculated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Crystallography of Magnetite Plaquettes and their Significance as Asymmetric Catalysts for the Synthesis of Chiral Organics in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chan, Q. H. S.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2015-01-01

    We have previously observed the magnetite plaquettes in carbonaceous chondrites using scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, examined the crystal orientation of the polished surfaces of magnetite plaquettes in CI Orgueil using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, and concluded that these magnetite plaquettes are likely naturally asymmetric materials. In this study, we expanded our EBSD observation to other magnetite plaquettes in Orgueil, and further examined the internal structure of these remarkable crystals with the use of X-ray computed microtomography.

  5. Interfacial Cu + promoted surface reactivity: Carbon monoxide oxidation reaction over polycrystalline copper-titania catalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Senanayake, S. D.; Pappoe, N. A.; Nguyen-Phan, T. -D.; ...

    2016-10-01

    We have studied the catalytic carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation (CO+0.5O2 → CO2) reaction using a powder catalyst composed of both copper (5wt% loading) and titania (CuOx-TiO2). Our study was focused on revealing the role of Cu, and the interaction between Cu and TiO2, by systematic comparison between two nanocatalysts, CuOx-TiO2 and pure CuOx. We interrogated these catalysts under in situ conditions using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to probe the structure and electronic properties of the catalyst at all stages of the reaction and simultaneously probe the surface statesmore » or intermediates of this reaction. With the aid of several ex situ characterization techniques including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), the local catalyst morphology and structure was also studied. Our results show that a CuOx-TiO2 system is more active than bulk CuOx for the CO oxidation reaction due to its lower onset temperature and better stability at higher temperatures. Our results also suggests that a surface Cu+ species observed in the CuOx-TiO2 interface are likely to be a key player in the CO oxidation mechanism, while implicating that the stabilization of this species is probably associated with the oxide-oxide interface. Both in situ DRIFTS and XAFS measurements reveal that there is likely to be a Cu(Ti)-O mixed oxide at this interface. We discuss the nature of this Cu(Ti)-O interface and interpret its role on the CO oxidation reaction.« less

  6. Enhanced room-temperature catalytic decomposition of formaldehyde on magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcite/boehmite supported platinum nanoparticles catalyst.

    PubMed

    Yan, Zhaoxiong; Yang, Zhihua; Xu, Zhihua; An, Liang; Xie, Fang; Liu, Jiyan

    2018-08-15

    Magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcite (Mg-Al HT)/boehmite (AlOOH) composite supported Pt catalysts were obtained via one-pot microemulsion synthesis of Mg-Al HT/AlOOH composite and NaBH 4 -reduction of Pt precursor processes. The catalytic performances of the catalysts were evaluated for formaldehyde (HCHO) removal at room temperature. The performance tests showed that the catalyst obtained by immobilizing Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on Mg-Al HT/AlOOH support with Al/Mg molar ratio equivalent to 9:1 (Pt/Al 9 Mg 1 ) displayed a superior catalytic activity and stability for HCHO removal. In order to find out the causes of its higher activity, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N 2 adsorption/desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption of CO 2 and reduction of H 2 were used to analyze the physicochemical properties of Pt/Al 9 Mg 1 and Pt/AlOOH. The remarkable catalytic performance of Pt/Al 9 Mg 1 is mainly attributed to the relatively larger amount of surface oxygen species, and more reactive oxygen species led by the interaction of Mg-Al HT and AlOOH/Pt, and relatively larger number of weak base sites caused by Mg-Al HT. The formate species are the main reaction intermediate over Pt/Al 9 Mg 1 during HCHO oxidation at room temperature, which could be further oxidized into CO 2 and H 2 O in the presence of O 2 . This study might shed some light on further improving the catalytic performance of the catalyst for indoor air purification at room temperature. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. H3PW12O40 Encapsulation by Nanoporous Metal Organic Framework HKUST-1: Synthesis, Characterization, Activity and Stability.

    PubMed

    Rafiee, Ezzat; Nobakht, Narges

    2016-01-01

    Hybrid composite material was obtained through encapsulation of H3PW12O40 (PW) into HKUST-1 (Cu3(BTC)2, BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid), in molar composition of 5 Cu(NO3)2 · 3H2O/2.8 BTC/0.3 PW/0.6 CTAB by adding solutions of PW and copper salts to mixture of BTC and surfactant. The catalyst was characterized by various techniques including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), laser particle size analyzer, Brunauer Emmett-Teller (BET). The acidity of the catalyst was measured by a potentiometric titration with n-butylamine and PW/HKUST-1 presented very strong acidic sites with Ei > 100 mV. This nano catalyst was successfully used for the synthesis of various β-keto enol ethers at 45 °C with 51-98% yield after 5-75 min. The catalyst was easily recycled and reused at least four times without significant loss of its activity (94% yield after forth run). The presence of the PW in PW/HKUST-1 and reused PW/HKUST-1 structure, eliminating any doubt about collapse of the HKUST-1 after catalytic reaction and can be followed by FT-IR, XRD and SEM techniques. Brönsted and Lewis acidity of the PW/HKUST-1 catalyst was distinguished by studying the FT-IR and determined by chemisorption of pyridine. The strength and dispersion of the protons on PW/HKUST-1 was considerably high and active surface protons became more available for reactant.

  8. Philip A. Parilla | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    atomic layer deposition for applications. He also manages the majority of X-ray characterization equipment at NREL, specifically X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrumentation. Additionally, he for EERE's Hydrogen Storage program. He is also an expert in X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence

  9. Stability of Catalyzed Magnesium Hydride Nanocrystalline During Hydrogen Cycling. Part II: Microstructure Evolution

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhou, Chengshang; Fang, Zhigang Zak; Bowman, Robert C.

    2015-10-01

    In Part I, the cyclic stabilities of the kinetics of catalyzed MgH2 systems including MgH2–TiH2, MgH2–TiMn2, and MgH2–VTiCr were investigated, showing stable kinetics at 300 °C but deteriorations of the hydrogenation kinetics at temperatures below 150 °C. The present Part II describes the characterization of uncycled and cycled catalyzed MgH2 by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. XRD analysis shows the crystallite sizes of the Mg and MgH2 significantly increased after the cycling. The mean crystallite sizes of the catalysts (TiH2 and VTiCr) increased moderately after the cycling. SEMmore » and TEM imaging were used to compare the microstructures of uncycled (as-milled) and cycled materials, revealing a drastic change of the microstructure after 100 cycles. In particular, results from energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping show that a change of distribution of the catalyst particles in the Mg and MgH2 phase occurred during the cycling.« less

  10. Synthesis and characterization of TiO2 loaded cashew nut shell activated carbon and photocatalytic activity on BG and MB dyes under sunlight radiation.

    PubMed

    Ragupathy, S; Raghu, K; Prabu, P

    2015-03-05

    Synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and TiO2 loaded cashew nut shell activated carbon (TiO2/CNSAC) had been undertaken using sol-gel method and their application in BG and MB dyes removal under sunlight radiation has been investigated. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Vis-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The various experimental parameters like amount of catalyst, contact time for efficient dyes degradation of BG and MB were concerned in this study. Activity measurements performed under solar irradiation has shown good results for the photodegradation of BG and MB in aqueous solution. It was concluded that the higher photocatalytic activity in TiO2/CNSAC was due to parameters like band-gap, number of hydroxyl groups, surface area and porosity of the catalyst. The kinetic data were also described by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Synthesis and characterization of gold graphene composite with dyes as model substrates for decolorization: A surfactant free laser ablation approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sai Siddhardha, R. S.; Lakshman Kumar, V.; Kaniyoor, Adarsh; Sai Muthukumar, V.; Ramaprabhu, S.; Podila, Ramakrishna; Rao, A. M.; Ramamurthy, Sai Sathish

    2014-12-01

    A facile surfactant free laser ablation mediated synthesis (LAMS) of gold-graphene composite is reported here. The material was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, powdered X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Zeta potential measurements and UV-Visible spectroscopic techniques. The as-synthesized gold-graphene composite was effectively utilized as catalyst for decolorization of 4 important textile and laser dyes. The integration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with high surface area graphene has enhanced the catalytic activity of AuNPs. This enhanced activity is attributed to the synergistic interplay of pristine gold's electronic relay and π-π stacking of graphene with the dyes. This is evident when the Rhodamine B (RB) reduction rate of the composite is nearly twice faster than that of commercial citrate capped AuNPs of similar size. In case of Methylene blue (MB) the rate of reduction is 17,000 times faster than uncatalyzed reaction. This synthetic method opens door to laser ablation based fabrication of metal catalysts on graphene for improved performance without the aid of linkers and surfactants.

  12. Facile synthesis of graphene by pyrolysis of poly(methyl methacrylate) on nickel particles in the confined microzones

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hong, Ningning; Yang, Wei; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute of University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123

    2012-12-15

    Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: ► The GNWs with few defects were synthesized by pyrolyzing PMMA on nickel particles. ► PMMA as carbon source was easily prepared and safe to handle. ► Nickel microparticles were directly used as catalysts without any pre-treatment. ► The method can be used for the low cost and bulk production of graphene. -- Abstract: In this work, multi-layer graphene has been prepared by pyrolyzing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on nickel microparticles in the confined microzones formed by organophilic montmorillonite (OMT). Gram-scale of product can be obtained per day by using this method. The obtained graphene wasmore » evaluated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Pyrolytic conditions such as the system composition of the composites, reaction temperature and the size of catalyst are important parameters affecting the morphology and yield of the final product. Based on the experimental observations and reported literatures, a possible formation process is discussed. The synthesis method of graphene is simple, low-cost, and scalable, which is promising for the application in many fields.« less

  13. MOF-derived Cu-Pd/nanoporous carbon composite as an efficient catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction: A comparison between hydrothermal and electrochemical synthesis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mandegarzad, Sakineh; Raoof, Jahan Bakhsh; Hosseini, Sayed Reza; Ojani, Reza

    2018-04-01

    In this study, a novel catalyst based on Cu-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles supported on nanoporous carbon composite (NPCC) is successfully fabricated through three-step process and used as an electrocatalyst towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At the first step, MOF-199 is synthesized via two distinct strategies; (1) hydrothermal (HT) and (2) electrochemical (EC). Next, the synthesized MOF-199 is used as a template in order to prepare Cu/NPCC by direct carbonization under N2 atmosphere followed by galvanic replacement reaction of Cu metals by PdII ions. All the prepared materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements. The effect of synthesis method of MOF-199 on the electrocatalytic activity of the final product towards HER is investigated. The electrochemical measurements indicate that Cu-Pd/NPCC derived from the MOF prepared by EC method (Cu-Pd/NPCC/EC) exhibits an enhanced catalytic activity towards HER in H2SO4 solution than the Cu-Pd/NPCC/HT. This improvement may be attributed to using of supporting electrolyte in the preparation of Cu-Pd/NPCC/EC.

  14. Gram-Scale Synthesized Pd2Co-Supported PtMonolayers Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhou, W.P.; Sasaki, K.; Su, D.

    2010-04-21

    Gram-scale synthesis of Pt{sub ML} electrocatalysts with a well-defined core-shell structure has been carried out using method involving galvanic displacement of an underpotential deposition Cu layer. The Pt shell thickness can be controlled by stepwise deposition. The Pt{at}Pd{sub 2}Co/C nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution energy-loss spectrometry, and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A complete Pt shell of 0.6 nm on a Pd{sub 2}Co core has been confirmed. The Pt{at}Pd{sub 2}Co/C core-shell electrocatalysts showed a very high activity for the oxygen reduction reaction; the Pt mass and specific activity were 0.72 A mg{supmore » -1}{sub Pt} and 0.5 mA cm{sup -2}, respectively (3.5 and 2.5 times higher than the corresponding values for commercial Pt catalysts), at 0.9 V in 0.1 M HClO{sub 4} at room temperature. In an accelerated potential cycling test, a loss in active surface area and a decrease in catalytic activity for gram-scale-synthesized Pt{sub ML} catalysts were also determined.« less

  15. Simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with synchrotron undulator sources.

    PubMed

    Tang, M X; Zhang, Y Y; E, J C; Luo, S N

    2018-05-01

    Polychromatic synchrotron undulator X-ray sources are useful for ultrafast single-crystal diffraction under shock compression. Here, simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with realistic undulator sources are reported, based on large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. Purely elastic deformation, elastic-plastic two-wave structure, and severe plastic deformation under different impact velocities are explored, as well as an edge release case. Transmission-mode diffraction simulations consider crystallographic orientation, loading direction, incident beam direction, X-ray spectrum bandwidth and realistic detector size. Diffraction patterns and reciprocal space nodes are obtained from atomic configurations for different loading (elastic and plastic) and detection conditions, and interpretation of the diffraction patterns is discussed.

  16. Simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with synchrotron undulator sources

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tang, M. X.; Zhang, Y. Y.; E, J. C.

    Polychromatic synchrotron undulator X-ray sources are useful for ultrafast single-crystal diffraction under shock compression. Here, simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with realistic undulator sources are reported, based on large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. Purely elastic deformation, elastic–plastic two-wave structure, and severe plastic deformation under different impact velocities are explored, as well as an edge release case. Transmission-mode diffraction simulations consider crystallographic orientation, loading direction, incident beam direction, X-ray spectrum bandwidth and realistic detector size. Diffraction patterns and reciprocal space nodes are obtained from atomic configurations for different loading (elastic and plastic) and detection conditions, and interpretation of themore » diffraction patterns is discussed.« less

  17. Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of nanoengineered polymeric capsules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Erokhina, S.; Pastorino, L.; Di Lisa, D.; Kiiamov, A. G.; Faizullina, A. R.; Tayurskii, D. A.; Iannotta, S.; Erokhin, V.

    2017-10-01

    For the first time, nanoengineered polymeric capsules and their architecture have been studied with coherent X-ray diffraction imaging technique. The use of coherent X-ray diffraction imaging technique allowed us to analyze the samples immersed in a liquid. We report about the significant difference between polymeric capsule architectures under dry and liquid conditions.

  18. Controlling interfacial properties in supported metal oxide catalysts through metal–organic framework templating

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Abney, Carter W.; Patterson, Jacob T.; Gilhula, James C.

    Precise control over the chemical structure of hard-matter materials is a grand challenge of basic science and a prerequisite for the development of advanced catalyst systems. In this work we report the application of a sacrificial metal-organic framework (MOF) template for the synthesis of a porous supported metal oxide catalyst, demonstrating proof-of-concept for a highly generalizable approach to the preparation new catalyst materials. Application of 2,2’-bipyridine-5,5’-dicarboxylic acid as the organic strut in the Ce MOF precursor results in chelation of Cu 2+ and affords isolation of the metal oxide precursor. Following pyrolysis of the template, homogeneously dispersed CuO nanoparticles aremore » formed in the resulting porous CeO 2 support. By partially substituting non-chelating 1,1’-biphenyl-4,4’-dicarboxylic acid, the Cu 2+ loading and dispersion can be finely tuned, allowing precise control over the CuO/CeO 2 interface in the final catalyst system. Characterization by x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and in situ IR spectroscopy/mass spectrometry confirm control over interface formation to be a function of template composition, constituting the first report of a MOF template being used to control interfacial properties in a supported metal oxide. Using CO oxidation as a model reaction, the system with the greatest number of interfaces possessed the lowest activation energy and better activity under differential conditions, but required higher temperature for catalytic onset and displayed inferior efficiency at 100 °C than systems with higher Cu-loading. This finding is attributable to greater CO adsorption in the more heavily-loaded systems, and indicates catalyst performance for these supported oxide systems to be a function of at least two parameters: size of adsorption site and extent of interface. In conclusion, optimization of catalyst materials thus requires precise control over synthesis parameters, such as is demonstrated by this MOF-templating method.« less

  19. A high-transparency, micro-patternable chip for X-ray diffraction analysis of microcrystals under native growth conditions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Murray, Thomas D.; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205; Lyubimov, Artem Y.

    A highly X-ray-transparent, silicon nitride-based device has been designed and fabricated to harvest protein microcrystals for high-resolution X-ray diffraction data collection using microfocus beamlines and XFELs. Microcrystals present a significant impediment to the determination of macromolecular structures by X-ray diffraction methods. Although microfocus synchrotron beamlines and X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) can enable the collection of interpretable diffraction data from microcrystals, there is a need for efficient methods of harvesting small volumes (<2 µl) of microcrystals grown under common laboratory formats and delivering them to an X-ray beam source under native growth conditions. One approach that shows promise in overcoming themore » challenges intrinsic to microcrystal analysis is to pair so-called ‘fixed-target’ sample-delivery devices with microbeam-based X-ray diffraction methods. However, to record weak diffraction patterns it is necessary to fabricate devices from X-ray-transparent materials that minimize background scattering. Presented here is the design of a new micro-diffraction device consisting of three layers fabricated from silicon nitride, photoresist and polyimide film. The chip features low X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption properties, and uses a customizable blend of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surface patterns to help localize microcrystals to defined regions. Microcrystals in their native growth conditions can be loaded into the chips with a standard pipette, allowing data collection at room temperature. Diffraction data collected from hen egg-white lysozyme microcrystals (10–15 µm) loaded into the chips yielded a complete, high-resolution (<1.6 Å) data set sufficient to determine a high-quality structure by molecular replacement. The features of the chip allow the rapid and user-friendly analysis of microcrystals grown under virtually any laboratory format at microfocus synchrotron beamlines and XFELs.« less

  20. Critical Surface Parameters for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane over the Mn-Na-W/SiO2 Catalyst.

    PubMed

    Hayek, Naseem S; Lucas, Nishita S; Warwar Damouny, Christine; Gazit, Oz M

    2017-11-22

    The work here presents a thorough evaluation of the effect of Mn-Na-W/SiO 2 catalyst surface parameters on its performance in the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). To do so, we used microporous dealuminated β-zeolite (Zeo), or mesoporous SBA-15 (SBA), or macroporous fumed silica (Fum) as precursors for catalyst preparation, together with Mn nitrate, Mn acetate and Na 2 WO 4 . Characterizing the catalysts by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, N 2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and catalytic testing enabled us to identify critical surface parameters that govern the activity and C 2 selectivity of the Mn-Na-W/SiO 2 catalyst. Although the current paradigm views the phase transition of silica to α-cristobalite as the critical step in obtaining dispersed and stable metal sites, we show that the choice of precursors is equally or even more important with respect to tailoring the right surface properties. Specifically, the SBA-based catalyst, characterized by relatively closed surface porosity, demonstrated low activity and low C 2 selectivity. By contrast, for the same composition, the Zeo-based catalyst showed an open surface pore structure, which translated up to fourfold higher activity and enhanced selectivity. By varying the overall composition of the Zeo catalysts, we show that reducing the overall W concentration reduces the size of the Na 2 WO 4 species and increases the catalytic activity linearly as much as fivefold higher than the SBA catalyst. This linear dependence correlates well to the number of interfaces between the Na 2 WO 4 and Mn 2 O 3 species. Our results combined with prior studies lead us to single out the interface between Na 2 WO 4 and Mn 2 O 3 as the most probable active site for OCM using this catalyst. Synergistic interactions between the various precursors used and the phase transition are discussed in detail, and the conclusions are correlated to surface properties and catalysis.

  1. X-Ray Structure determination of the Glycine Cleavage System Protein H of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using An Inverse Compton Synchrotron X-Ray Source

    PubMed Central

    Abendroth, Jan; McCormick, Michael S.; Edwards, Thomas E.; Staker, Bart; Loewen, Roderick; Gifford, Martin; Rifkin, Jeff; Mayer, Chad; Guo, Wenjin; Zhang, Yang; Myler, Peter; Kelley, Angela; Analau, Erwin; Hewitt, Stephen Nakazawa; Napuli, Alberto J.; Kuhn, Peter; Ruth, Ronald D.; Stewart, Lance J.

    2010-01-01

    Structural genomics discovery projects require ready access to both X-ray and NMR instrumentation which support the collection of experimental data needed to solve large numbers of novel protein structures. The most productive X-ray crystal structure determination laboratories make extensive frequent use of tunable synchrotron X-ray light to solve novel structures by anomalous diffraction methods. This requires that frozen cryo-protected crystals be shipped to large government-run synchrotron facilities for data collection. In an effort to eliminate the need to ship crystals for data collection, we have developed the first laboratory-scale synchrotron light source capable of performing many of the state-of-the-art synchrotron applications in X-ray science. This Compact Light Source is a first-in-class device that uses inverse Compton scattering to generate X-rays of sufficient flux, tunable wavelength and beam size to allow high-resolution X-ray diffraction data collection from protein crystals. We report on benchmarking tests of X-ray diffraction data collection with hen egg white lysozyme, and the successful high-resolution X-ray structure determination of the Glycine cleavage system protein H from Mycobacterium tuberculosis using diffraction data collected with the Compact Light Source X-ray beam. PMID:20364333

  2. Development of Ternary and Quaternary Catalysts for the Electrooxidation of Glycerol

    PubMed Central

    Artem, L. M.; Santos, D. M.; De Andrade, A. R.; Kokoh, K. B.; Ribeiro, J.

    2012-01-01

    This work consisted in the preparation of platinum-based catalysts supported on carbon (Vulcan XC-72) and investigation of their physicochemical and electrochemical properties. Catalysts of the C/Pt-Ni-Sn-Me (Me = Ru or Ir) type were prepared by the Pechini method at temperature of 350°C. Four different compositions were homemade: C/Pt60Sn10Ni30, C/Pt60Sn10Ni20Ru10, C/Pt60Sn10Ni10Ru20, and C/Pt60Sn10Ni10Ir20. These catalysts were electrochemically and physically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) in the presence of glycerol 1.0 mol dm−3, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). XRD results showed the main peaks of face-centered cubic Pt. The particle sizes obtained from XRD and HRTEM experiments were close to values ranging from 3 to 8.5 nm. The CV results indicate behavior typical of Pt-based catalysts in acid medium. The CV and CA data reveal that quaternary catalysts present the highest current density for the electrooxidation of glycerol. PMID:22623905

  3. Enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction on hybrids of cobalt phosphide and molybdenum phosphide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fang, Si-Ling; Chou, Tsu-Chin; Samireddi, Satyanarayana; Chen, Kuei-Hsien; Chen, Li-Chyong; Chen, Wei-Fu

    2017-03-01

    Production of hydrogen from water electrolysis has stimulated the search of sustainable electrocatalysts as possible alternatives. Recently, cobalt phosphide (CoP) and molybdenum phosphide (MoP) received great attention owing to their superior catalytic activity and stability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) which rivals platinum catalysts. In this study, we synthesize and study a series of catalysts based on hybrids of CoP and MoP with different Co/Mo ratio. The HER activity shows a volcano shape and reaches a maximum for Co/Mo = 1. Tafel analysis indicates a change in the dominating step of Volmer-Hyrovský mechanism. Interestingly, X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed a major ternary interstitial hexagonal CoMoP2 crystal phase is formed which enhances the electrochemical activity.

  4. Catalyst-free growth of ZnO nanowires on ITO seed/glass by thermal evaporation method: Effects of ITO seed layer thickness

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Alsultany, Forat H., E-mail: foratusm@gmail.com; Ahmed, Naser M.; Hassan, Z.

    A seed/catalyst-free growth of ZnO nanowires (ZnO-NWs) on a glass substrate were successfully fabricated using thermal evaporation technique. These nanowires were grown on ITO seed layers of different thicknesses of 25 and 75 nm, which were deposited on glass substrates by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. Prior to synthesized ITO nanowires, the sputtered ITO seeds were annealed using the continuous wave (CW) CO2 laser at 450 °C in air for 15 min. The effect of seed layer thickness on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of ZnO-NWs were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM),more » and UV-Vis spectrophotometer.« less

  5. Anti-contamination device for cryogenic soft X-ray diffraction microscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Huang, Xiaojing; Miao, Huijie; Nelson, Johanna; ...

    2011-05-01

    Cryogenic microscopy allows one to view frozen hydrated biological and soft matter specimens with good structural preservation and a high degree of stability against radiation damage. We describe a liquid nitrogen-cooled anti-contamination device for cryogenic X-ray diffraction microscopy. The anti-contaminator greatly reduces the buildup of ice layers on the specimen due to condensation of residual water vapor in the experimental vacuum chamber. We show by coherent X-ray diffraction measurements that this leads to fivefold reduction of background scattering, which is important for far-field X-ray diffraction microscopy of biological specimens.

  6. Efficient solar light-driven degradation of Congo red with novel Cu-loaded Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Arora, Priya; Fermah, Alisha; Rajput, Jaspreet Kaur; Singh, Harminder; Badhan, Jigyasa

    2017-08-01

    In this work, Cu-loaded Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 core shell nanoparticles were prepared in a single pot by coating of TiO 2 on Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles followed by Cu loading. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB XPS) techniques were used for characterization of as prepared nanoparticles. Synergism between copper and titania was evaluated by studying the solar light-driven photodegradation of Congo red dye solution in the presence of Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 nanoparticles on one side and Cu-loaded Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 nanoparticles on the other side. The latter performed better than the former catalyst, indicating the enhanced activity of copper-loaded catalyst. Further photodegradation was studied by three means, i.e., under ultraviolet (UV), refluxing, and solar radiations. Cu-loaded Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 enhanced the degradation efficiency of Congo red dye. Thus, Cu act possibly by reducing the band gap of TiO 2 and widening the optical response of semiconductor, as a result of which solar light could be used to carry out photocatalysis. Graphical abstract Photodegradation of congo red over Cu-loaded Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 nanoparticles.

  7. Synthesis and characterization of novel Cu(II) complex coated Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles for catalytic performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nasrollahzadeh, Mahmoud; Sajjadi, Mohaddeseh; Khonakdar, Hossein Ali

    2018-06-01

    In this study, a convenient method for the synthesis of arylaminotetrazoles has been developed using a copper (II)-aminotetrazole complex immobilized on silica-coated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@SiO2) nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-aminotet-Cu(II)) as a novel and efficient magnetically catalyst. The constructed superparamagnetic core-shell nanoparticles were successfully prepared, as proven using different spectroscopic techniques such as fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry (TG-DTG) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The applicability of Fe3O4@SiO2-aminotet-Cu(II) magnetic catalyst allows the efficient synthesis of a variety of arylaminotetrazoles from the reaction between various arylcyanamides with sodium azide in high yields. The effect of catalyst loading was investigated. In addition, the reaction mechanism for the synthesis of arylaminotetrazoles was reasonably proposed. Results show that the 1-aryl-5-amino-1H-tetrazole (B isomer) and 5-arylamino-1H-tetrazole (A isomer) can be obtained from the arylcyanamides carrying electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, respectively. This procedure offers a simple methodology, relatively short reaction times, easy work-up, high yields of the products and a cleaner reaction with elimination of hydrazoic acid (HN3). Moreover, catalyst can be conveniently recovered through the use of external magnet and reused for at least 6 times without any significant loss of its activity.

  8. Observation of electromigration in a Cu thin line by in situ coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takahashi, Yukio; Nishino, Yoshinori; Furukawa, Hayato; Kubo, Hideto; Yamauchi, Kazuto; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Matsubara, Eiichiro

    2009-06-01

    Electromigration (EM) in a 1-μm-thick Cu thin line was investigated by in situ coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy (CXDM). Characteristic x-ray speckle patterns due to both EM-induced voids and thermal deformation in the thin line were observed in the coherent x-ray diffraction patterns. Both parts of the voids and the deformation were successfully visualized in the images reconstructed from the diffraction patterns. This result not only represents the first demonstration of the visualization of structural changes in metallic materials by in situ CXDM but is also an important step toward studying the structural dynamics of nanomaterials using x-ray free-electron lasers in the near future.

  9. Effect of the Mn oxidation state and lattice oxygen in Mn-based TiO2 catalysts on the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sang Moon; Park, Kwang Hee; Kim, Sung Su; Kwon, Dong Wook; Hong, Sung Chang

    2012-09-01

    TiO2-supported manganese oxide catalysts formed using different calcination temperatures were prepared by using the wet-impregnation method and were investigated for their activity in the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH3 with respect to the Mn valence and lattice oxygen behavior. The surface and bulk properties of these catalysts were examined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Catalysts prepared using lower calcination temperatures, which contained Mn4+ displayed high SCR activity at low temperatures and possessed several acid sites and active oxygen. The TPD analysis determined that the Brönsted and Lewis acid sites in the Mn/TiO2 catalysts were important for the low-temperature SCR at 80-160 and 200-350 degrees C, respectively. In addition, the available lattice oxygen was important for attaining high NO to NO2 oxidation at low temperatures. Recently, various Mn catalysts have been evaluated as SCR catalysts. However, there have been no studies on the relationship of adsorption and desorption properties and behavior of lattice oxygen according to the valence state for manganese oxides (MnO(x)). Therefore, in this study, the catalysts were prepared by the wet-impregnation method at different calcination temperatures in order to show the difference of manganese oxidation state. These catalysts were then characterized using various physicochemical techniques, including BET, XRD, TPR, and TPD, to understand the structure, oxidation state, redox properties, and adsorption and desorption properties of the Mn/TiO2 catalysts.

  10. Nano Catalysts for Diesel Engine Emission Remediation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Narula, Chaitanya Kumar; Yang, Xiaofan; Debusk, Melanie Moses

    2012-06-01

    The objective of this project was to develop durable zeolite nanocatalysts with broader operating temperature windows to treat diesel engine emissions to enable diesel engine based equipment and vehicles to meet future regulatory requirements. A second objective was to improve hydrothermal durability of zeolite catalysts to at least 675 C. The results presented in this report show that we have successfully achieved both objectives. Since it is accepted that the first step in NO{sub x} conversion under SCR (selective catalytic reduction) conditions involves NO oxidation to NO{sub 2}, we reasoned that catalyst modification that can enhance NO oxidation at low-temperaturesmore » should facilitate NO{sub x} reduction at low temperatures. Considering that Cu-ZSM-5 is a more efficient catalyst than Fe-ZSM-5 at low-temperature, we chose to modify Cu-ZSM-5. It is important to point out that the poor low-temperature efficiency of Fe-ZSM-5 has been shown to be due to selective absorption of NH{sub 3} at low-temperatures rather than poor NO oxidation activity. In view of this, we also reasoned that an increased electron density on copper in Cu-ZSM-5 would inhibit any bonding with NH{sub 3} at low-temperatures. In addition to modified Cu-ZSM-5, we synthesized a series of new heterobimetallic zeolites, by incorporating a secondary metal cation M (Sc{sup 3+}, Fe{sup 3+}, In{sup 3+}, and La{sup 3+}) in Cu exchanged ZSM-5, zeolite-beta, and SSZ-13 zeolites under carefully controlled experimental conditions. Characterization by diffuse-reflectance ultra-violet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) does not permit conclusive structural determination but supports the proposal that M{sup 3+} has been incorporated in the vicinity of Cu(II). The protocols for degreening catalysts, testing under various operating conditions, and accelerated aging conditions were provided by our collaborators at John Deere Power Systems. Among various zeolites reported here, CuFe-SSZ-13 offers the best NO{sub x} conversion activity in 150-650 C range and is hydrothermally stable when tested under accelerated aging conditions. It is important to note that Cu-SSZ-13 is now a commercial catalyst for NO{sub x} treatment on diesel passenger vehicles. Thus, our catalyst performs better than the commercial catalyst under fast SCR conditions. We initially focused on fast SCR tests to enable us to screen catalysts rapidly. Only the catalysts that exhibit high NO{sub x} conversion at low temperatures are selected for screening under varying NO{sub 2}:NO{sub x} ratio. The detailed tests of CuFe-SSZ-13 show that CuFe-SSZ-13 is more effective than commercial Cu-SSZ-13 even at NO{sub 2}:NO{sub x} ratio of 0.1. The mechanistic studies, employing stop-flow diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy (DRIFTS), suggest that high concentration of NO{sup +}, generated by heterobimetallic zeolites, is probably responsible for their superior low temperature NO{sub x} activity. The results described in this report clearly show that we have successfully completed the first step in a new emission treatment catalyst which is synthesis and laboratory testing employing simulated exhaust. The next step in the catalyst development is engine testing. Efforts are in progress to obtain follow-on funding to carry out scale-up and engine testing to facilitate commercialization of this technology.« less

  11. Note: application of a pixel-array area detector to simultaneous single crystal X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements.

    PubMed

    Sun, Cheng-Jun; Zhang, Bangmin; Brewe, Dale L; Chen, Jing-Sheng; Chow, G M; Venkatesan, T; Heald, Steve M

    2014-04-01

    X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) are two main x-ray techniques in synchrotron radiation facilities. In this Note, we present an experimental setup capable of performing simultaneous XRD and XAS measurements by the application of a pixel-array area detector. For XRD, the momentum transfer in specular diffraction was measured by scanning the X-ray energy with fixed incoming and outgoing x-ray angles. By selecting a small fixed region of the detector to collect the XRD signal, the rest of the area was available for collecting the x-ray fluorescence for XAS measurements. The simultaneous measurement of XRD and X-ray absorption near edge structure for Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 film was demonstrated as a proof of principle for future time-resolved pump-probe measurements. A static sample makes it easy to maintain an accurate overlap of the X-ray spot and laser pump beam.

  12. Degradation of bisphenol A in water by the heterogeneous photo-Fenton.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Chuanrui; Xu, Zhencheng; Guo, Qingwei; Zhuo, Qiongfang

    2014-01-01

    Bisphenol A (BPA) is a kind of a controversial endocrine disruptor, and is ubiquitous in environment. The degradation of BPA with the heterogeneous photo-Fenton system was demonstrated in this study. The Fe-Y molecular sieve catalyst was prepared with the ion exchange method, and it was characterized by X-ray radiation diffraction (XRD). The effects ofpH, initial concentration of H2O2, initial BPA concentration, and irradiation intensity on the degradation of BPA were investigated. The service life and iron solubility of catalyst were also tested. XRD test shows that the major phase of the Fe-Y catalyst was Fe2O3. The method of heterogeneous photo-Fenton with Fe-Y catalyst was superior to photolysis, photo-oxidation with only hydrogen, heterogeneous Fenton, and homogeneous photo-Fenton approaches. pH value had no obvious effects on BPA degradation over the range of 2.2-7.2. The initial concentration of H2O2 had an optimal value of 20 x 10(-4) mol/L. The decrease in initial concentration of BPA was favourable for degradation. The intensity of ultraviolet irradiation has no obvious effect on the BPA removal. The stability tests indicated that the Fe-Y catalyst can be reused and iron solubility concentration ranged from NA to 0.0062 mg/L. Based on the results, the heterogeneous photo-Fenton treatment is the available method for the degradation of BPA.

  13. The effect of Fe-Rh alloying on CO hydrogenation to C 2+ oxygenates

    DOE PAGES

    Palomino, Robert; Magee, Joseph W.; Llorca, Jordi; ...

    2015-05-20

    A combination of reactivity and structural studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), pair distribution function (PDF), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to identify the active phases of Fe-modified Rh/TiO 2 catalysts for the synthesis of ethanol and other C 2+ oxygenates from CO hydrogenation. XRD and TEM confirm the existence of Fe–Rh alloys for catalyst with 1–7 wt% Fe and ~2 wt% Rh. Rietveld refinements show that FeRh alloy content increases with Fe loading up to ~4 wt%, beyond which segregation to metallic Fe becomes favored over alloy formation. Catalysts that contain Fe metal after reduction exhibit some carburizationmore » as evidenced by the formation of small amounts of Fe 3C during CO hydrogenation. Analysis of the total Fe content of the catalysts also suggests the presence of FeO x also increased under reaction conditions. Reactivity studies show that enhancement of ethanol selectivity with Fe loading is accompanied by a significant drop in CO conversion. Comparison of the XRD phase analyses with selectivity suggests that higher ethanol selectivity is correlated with the presence of Fe–Rh alloy phases. As a result, the interface between Fe and Rh serves to enhance the selectivity of ethanol, but suppresses the activity of the catalyst which is attributed to the blocking or modifying of Rh active sites.« less

  14. X-Ray Diffraction Wafer Mapping Method for Rhombohedral Super-Hetero-Epitaxy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Park, Yoonjoon; Choi, Sang Hyouk; King, Glen C.; Elliott, James R.; Dimarcantonio, Albert L.

    2010-01-01

    A new X-ray diffraction (XRD) method is provided to acquire XY mapping of the distribution of single crystals, poly-crystals, and twin defects across an entire wafer of rhombohedral super-hetero-epitaxial semiconductor material. In one embodiment, the method is performed with a point or line X-ray source with an X-ray incidence angle approximating a normal angle close to 90 deg, and in which the beam mask is preferably replaced with a crossed slit. While the wafer moves in the X and Y direction, a narrowly defined X-ray source illuminates the sample and the diffracted X-ray beam is monitored by the detector at a predefined angle. Preferably, the untilted, asymmetric scans are of {440} peaks, for twin defect characterization.

  15. Diffraction based method to reconstruct the spectrum of the Thomson scattering x-ray source

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chi, Zhijun; Yan, Lixin; Zhang, Zhen; Zhou, Zheng; Zheng, Lianmin; Wang, Dong; Tian, Qili; Wang, Wei; Nie, Zan; Zhang, Jie; Du, Yingchao; Hua, Jianfei; Shi, Jiaru; Pai, Chihao; Lu, Wei; Huang, Wenhui; Chen, Huaibi; Tang, Chuanxiang

    2017-04-01

    As Thomson scattering x-ray sources based on the collision of intense laser and relativistic electrons have drawn much attention in various scientific fields, there is an increasing demand for the effective methods to reconstruct the spectrum information of the ultra-short and high-intensity x-ray pulses. In this paper, a precise spectrum measurement method for the Thomson scattering x-ray sources was proposed with the diffraction of a Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) crystal and was demonstrated at the Tsinghua Thomson scattering X-ray source. The x-ray pulse is diffracted by a 15 mm (L) ×15 mm (H)× 1 mm (D) HOPG crystal with 1° mosaic spread. By analyzing the diffraction pattern, both x-ray peak energies and energy spectral bandwidths at different polar angles can be reconstructed, which agree well with the theoretical value and simulation. The higher integral reflectivity of the HOPG crystal makes this method possible for single-shot measurement.

  16. Diffraction based method to reconstruct the spectrum of the Thomson scattering x-ray source.

    PubMed

    Chi, Zhijun; Yan, Lixin; Zhang, Zhen; Zhou, Zheng; Zheng, Lianmin; Wang, Dong; Tian, Qili; Wang, Wei; Nie, Zan; Zhang, Jie; Du, Yingchao; Hua, Jianfei; Shi, Jiaru; Pai, Chihao; Lu, Wei; Huang, Wenhui; Chen, Huaibi; Tang, Chuanxiang

    2017-04-01

    As Thomson scattering x-ray sources based on the collision of intense laser and relativistic electrons have drawn much attention in various scientific fields, there is an increasing demand for the effective methods to reconstruct the spectrum information of the ultra-short and high-intensity x-ray pulses. In this paper, a precise spectrum measurement method for the Thomson scattering x-ray sources was proposed with the diffraction of a Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) crystal and was demonstrated at the Tsinghua Thomson scattering X-ray source. The x-ray pulse is diffracted by a 15 mm (L) ×15 mm (H)× 1 mm (D) HOPG crystal with 1° mosaic spread. By analyzing the diffraction pattern, both x-ray peak energies and energy spectral bandwidths at different polar angles can be reconstructed, which agree well with the theoretical value and simulation. The higher integral reflectivity of the HOPG crystal makes this method possible for single-shot measurement.

  17. Gas gun shock experiments with single-pulse x-ray phase contrast imaging and diffraction at the Advanced Photon Source

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, S. N.; Jensen, B. J.; Hooks, D. E.; Fezzaa, K.; Ramos, K. J.; Yeager, J. D.; Kwiatkowski, K.; Shimada, T.

    2012-07-01

    The highly transient nature of shock loading and pronounced microstructure effects on dynamic materials response call for in situ, temporally and spatially resolved, x-ray-based diagnostics. Third-generation synchrotron x-ray sources are advantageous for x-ray phase contrast imaging (PCI) and diffraction under dynamic loading, due to their high photon fluxes, high coherency, and high pulse repetition rates. The feasibility of bulk-scale gas gun shock experiments with dynamic x-ray PCI and diffraction measurements was investigated at the beamline 32ID-B of the Advanced Photon Source. The x-ray beam characteristics, experimental setup, x-ray diagnostics, and static and dynamic test results are described. We demonstrate ultrafast, multiframe, single-pulse PCI measurements with unprecedented temporal (<100 ps) and spatial (˜2 μm) resolutions for bulk-scale shock experiments, as well as single-pulse dynamic Laue diffraction. The results not only substantiate the potential of synchrotron-based experiments for addressing a variety of shock physics problems, but also allow us to identify the technical challenges related to image detection, x-ray source, and dynamic loading.

  18. Simple solution-combustion synthesis of Ni-NiO@C nanocomposites with highly electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Jie; Ni, Yonghong; Zhai, Muheng

    2018-01-01

    Transition metal and its oxide composite nanomaterials are attracting increasing research interest due to their superior properties and extensive applications in many fields. In this paper, Ni-NiO@C nanocomposites were successfully synthesized in one step via a simple solution-combustion route, employing NiCl2 as the Ni source, oxygen in the atmosphere as the oxygen source, and ethanol as the solvent. The final product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), (high resolution) transmission electron microscopy (TEM/HRTEM), and Raman spectra. N2 gas sorption-desorption experiments uncovered that the BET surface area of Ni-NiO@C nanocomposites reached 161.9 m2 g-1, far higher than 34.2 m2 g-1 of Ni-NiO. The electrochemical measurement showed that the as-produced Ni-NiO@C nanocomposites presented better catalytic activity for the electro-oxidation of methanol than Ni-NiO and NiO, which provides a new catalyst selection for the electro-oxidation of methanol.

  19. Room temperature synthesis of ReS2 through aqueous perrhenate sulfidation.

    PubMed

    Borowiec, Joanna; Gillin, William P; Willis, Maureen; Boi, Filippo; He, Yi; Wen, Jiqiu; Wang, Shanling; Schulz, Leander

    2017-12-29

    In this study, a direct sulfidation reaction of ammonium perrhenate (NH<sub>4</sub>ReO<sub>4</sub>) leading to a synthesis of rhenium disulfide (ReS<sub>2</sub>) is demonstrated. These finding reveal the first example of a simplistic bottom-up approach to the chemical synthesis of crystalline ReS<sub>2</sub>. The reaction presented here takes place at room temperature, in an ambient and solvent-free environment and without the necessity of a catalyst. The atomic composition and structure of the as-synthesized product were characterized using several analysis techniques including energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scannig calorimetry (DSC). The results indicated the formation of a lower symmetry (1T<sub>d</sub>) ReS<sub>2</sub> with a low degree of layer stacking. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.

  20. Visible-light-assisted photocatalytic activity of bismuth-TiO2 nanotube composites for chromium reduction and dye degradation.

    PubMed

    Ali, Imran; Kim, Jong-Oh

    2018-09-01

    TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized on a Ti sheet using the electrochemical anodization method. Bismuth (Bi) was coupled on the anodized TNTs via hydrothermal process. We verified the effect of different Bi concentrations on the photocatalytic properties of Bi-TNT composites. The obtained samples were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and photoluminescence spectra. The Bi-TNT photocatalysts exhibited higher activities by factors of 6.6 and 3.6 toward chromium reduction and methylene blue degradation, respectively, under visible light than the pure TNTs. The Bi-TNT material was recycled to examine the stability of the catalyst. The quantum efficiency of the photocatalytic system was calculated, and the synergistic effects of bismuth modification were discussed. The Bi-TNT composites were observed to be promising for separation of photoinduced e - and h + by decreasing charge recombination, and helped the formation of the hydroxyl radicals, h + , and superoxides used in the photocatalytic process. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Rotating Disk Slurry Au Electrodeposition at Unsupported Carbon Vulcan XC-72 and Ce 3+ Impregnation for Ethanol Oxidation in Alkaline Media

    DOE PAGES

    Betancourt, Luis E.; Guzman-Blas, Rolando; Luo, Si; ...

    2016-11-19

    A robust electrodeposition method consisting of the rotating disk slurry electrode (RoDSE) technique to obtain Au nanoparticles highly dispersed on a conductive carbonaceous support, i.e., Vulcan XC-72R, for ethanol electrooxidation reaction in alkaline media was developed. Ceria was used as a cocatalyst using a Ce(III)-EDTA impregnation method in order to enhance the catalytic activity and improve the catalyst’s overall stability. Furthermore, the RoDSE method used to obtain highly dispersed Au nanoparticles does not require the use of a reducing agent or stabilizing agent, and the noble-metal loading was controlled by the addition and tuning of the metal precursor concentration. Inductivelymore » coupled plasma and thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the Au loading in the catalyst was 9 %. We determined the particle size and characteristic Au fcc crystal facets by X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the catalyst was also investigated using electron microscopy techniques. In addition, X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to corroborate the presence and identify the oxidation state of Ce in the system and to observe if there are any electronic interactions within the 8 % Au/CeO x/C system. Cyclic voltammetry of electrodeposited 9 % Au/C and Ce-promoted 8 % Au/C showed a higher catalytic current density for ethanol oxidation when compared with commercially available catalysts (20 % Au/C) of a higher precious metal loading. Additionally, we report a higher stability toward the ethanol electrooxidation process, which was corroborated by 1 mV/s linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometric studies.« less

  2. X-ray and neutron diffraction studies of crystallinity in hydroxyapatite coatings.

    PubMed

    Girardin, E; Millet, P; Lodini, A

    2000-02-01

    To standardize industrial implant production and make comparisons between different experimental results, we have to be able to quantify the crystallinity of hydroxyapatite. Methods of measuring crystallinity ratio were developed for various HA samples before and after plasma spraying. The first series of methods uses X-ray diffraction. The advantage of these methods is that X-ray diffraction equipment is used widely in science and industry. In the second series, a neutron diffraction method is developed and the results recorded are similar to those obtained by the modified X-ray diffraction methods. The advantage of neutron diffraction is the ability to obtain measurements deep inside a component. It is a nondestructive method, owing to the very low absorption of neutrons in most materials. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  3. X-ray Diffraction Gratings for Astrophysics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paerels, Frits

    2010-12-01

    Over the past year, we have celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observatories. Both carry powerful, novel diffraction grating spectrometers, which have opened true X-ray spectroscopy for astrophysics. I will describe the design and operation of these instruments, as the background to some of the beautiful results they have produced. But these designs do not exhaust the versatility and essential simplicity of diffraction grating spectrometers, and I will discuss applications for the International X-ray Observatory IXO.

  4. Amorphous boron gasket in diamond anvil cell research

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Jung-Fu; Shu, Jinfu; Mao, Ho-kwang; Hemley, Russell J.; Shen, Guoyin

    2003-11-01

    Recent advances in high-pressure diamond anvil cell experiments include high-energy synchrotron x-ray techniques as well as new cell designs and gasketing procedures. The success of high-pressure experiments usually depends on a well-prepared sample, in which the gasket plays an important role. Various gasket materials such as diamond, beryllium, rhenium, and stainless steel have been used. Here we introduce amorphous boron as another gasket material in high-pressure diamond anvil cell experiments. We have applied the boron gasket for laser-heating x-ray diffraction, radial x-ray diffraction, nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, and inelastic x-ray scattering. The high shear strength of the amorphous boron maximizes the thickness of the sample chamber and increases the pressure homogeneity, improving the quality of high-pressure data. Use of amorphous boron avoids unwanted x-ray diffraction peaks and reduces the absorption of incident and x rays exiting the gasket material. The high quality of the diffraction patterns makes it possible to refine the cell parameters with powder x-ray diffraction data under high pressure and high temperature. The reactivity of boron prevents its use at high temperatures, however. When heated, boron may also react with the specimen to produce unwanted phases. The relatively porous boron starting material at ambient conditions also poses some challenges for sample preparation.

  5. X-Ray Sum Frequency Diffraction for Direct Imaging of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rouxel, Jérémy R.; Kowalewski, Markus; Bennett, Kochise; Mukamel, Shaul

    2018-06-01

    X-ray diffraction from molecules in the ground state produces an image of their charge density, and time-resolved x-ray diffraction can thus monitor the motion of the nuclei. However, the density change of excited valence electrons upon optical excitation can barely be monitored with regular diffraction techniques due to the overwhelming background contribution of the core electrons. We present a nonlinear x-ray technique made possible by novel free electron laser sources, which provides a spatial electron density image of valence electron excitations. The technique, sum frequency generation carried out with a visible pump and a broadband x-ray diffraction pulse, yields snapshots of the transition charge densities, which represent the electron density variations upon optical excitation. The technique is illustrated by ab initio simulations of transition charge density imaging for the optically induced electronic dynamics in a donor or acceptor substituted stilbene.

  6. Application of GeO2 nanoparticle as electrically erasable memory and its photo catalytic behaviour

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seal, M.; Bose, N.; Mukherjee, S.

    2018-06-01

    Germanium oxide nanoparticle is synthesized from bulk GeO2 powder through hydrothermal technique. The structural characterization of the prepared sample is performed with x-ray Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscope. From the PL emission spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectra, the existence of oxygen defects inside the sample is confirmed. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of the sample shows that there is no weight loss with increase in temperature instead of a very little weight gain. An estimation of Oxygen vacancy concentration is made from the amount of weight gain as measured during TG analysis. The sample is also characterized with PE loop tracer, which indicates that GeO2 nanoparticle is able to show hysteresis loop regarding variation of Polarization with electric field. Such phenomenon implies that the sample can be used as electrically erasable memory device. Further, GeO2 nanoparticle is also exploited as photo catalyst to degrade Methylene Blue (MB) solution in the presence of ultraviolet ray. This phenomenon is also explained with oxygen vacancy.

  7. Synthesis and photocatalytic degradation study of methylene blue dye under visible light irradiation by Fe1-xBixVO4 solid solutions (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bera, Ganesh; Reddy, V. R.; Mal, Priyanath; Das, Pradip; Turpu, G. R.

    2018-05-01

    The novel hetero-structures Fe1-xBixVO4 solid solutions (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) with the two dissimilar end member of FeVO4 - BiVO4, were successfully synthesized by the standard solid state reaction method. The structural and chemical properties of as prepared photo-catalyst samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy techniques. It is confirmed from the results of XRD, Raman and FT-IR that FeVO4 and BiVO4 are in triclinic (space group P-1 (2)) and monoclinic (space group I2/b (15)) phases respectively. The Bi incorporation into Fe site of FeVO4 emerges as hetero-structures of both the end members of the solid solutions. In addition, the photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation was carried out through UV-visible spectroscopy measurement of photo-catalysts FeVO4, BiVO4 and mixed phases of both photo-catalyst. The results indicate that under visible light irradiation the photocatalytic activity of mixed phases were very effective and higher than the both single phases of the solid solutions. The composition x= 0.25 exhibits an excellent photocatalytic property for the degradation of MB solution under visible light irradiation rather than other.

  8. Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic performance of self-assembled mesoporous TiO₂ nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Lin, Yuan-Chung; Liu, Shou-Heng; Syu, Han-Ren; Ho, Tsung-Han

    2012-09-01

    A facile synthesis route is reported for preparation of mesoporous TiO(2) nanoparticles (MT-x) through evaporation induced self-assembly by using Pluronic F127, titanium isopropoxide, and various amounts of ethanol as templating agents, titanium sources and solvents, respectively. A variety of different spectroscopic and analytical techniques, such as small- and large-angle powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of various MT-x catalysts. Among the catalysts, MT-20 was found to have better mesostructures formed by the arrangement of anatase TiO(2) nanoparticles of ca. 17.3 nm with broad interparticle pore size distribution. Hydrogen generation from water splitting on MT-20 using visible light was enhanced by at least 8.7 times if compared with the conventional TiO(2) photocatalyst. The superior photocatalytic performances observed for the synthesized MT-20 may be attributed to the presence of unique nanostructures in the TiO(2) photocatalysts. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Novel band gap-tunable K-Na co-doped graphitic carbon nitride prepared by molten salt method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Jiannan; Ma, Lin; Wang, Haoying; Zhao, Yanfeng; Zhang, Jian; Hu, Shaozheng

    2015-03-01

    Novel band gap-tunable K-Na co-doped graphitic carbon nitride was prepared by molten salt method using melamine, KCl, and NaCl as precursor. X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the prepared catalysts. The CB and VB potentials of graphitic carbon nitride could be tuned from -1.09 and +1.55 eV to -0.29 and +2.25 eV by controlling the weight ratio of eutectic salts to melamine. Besides, ions doping inhibited the crystal growth of graphitic carbon nitride, enhanced the surface area, and increased the separation rate of photogenerated electrons and holes. The visible-light-driven Rhodamine B (RhB) photodegradation and mineralization performances were significantly improved after K-Na co-doping.

  10. Effect of counterpart metals in carbon-supported Pt-based catalysts prepared using radiation chemical method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Okazaki, Tomohisa; Seino, Satoshi; Matsuura, Yoshiyuki; Otake, Hiroaki; Kugai, Junichiro; Ohkubo, Yuji; Nitani, Hiroaki; Nakagawa, Takashi; Yamamoto, Takao A.

    2017-04-01

    The process of nanoparticle formation by radiation chemical synthesis in a heterogeneous system has been investigated. Carbon-supported Pt-based bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized using a high-energy electron beam. Rh, Cu, Ru, and Sn were used as counterpart metals. The nanoparticles were characterized by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. PtRh formed a uniform random alloy nanoparticle, while Cu partially formed an alloy with Pt and the remaining Cu existed as CuO. PtRu formed an alloy structure with a composition distribution of a Pt-rich core and Ru-rich shell. No alloying was observed in PtSn, which had a Pt-SnO2 structure. The alloy and oxide formation mechanisms are discussed considering the redox potentials, the standard enthalpy of oxide formation, and the solid solubilities of Pt and the counterpart metals.

  11. Well-dispersed NiO nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation in alkaline media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Pengcheng; Zhou, Yingke; Hu, Min; Chen, Jian

    2017-01-01

    Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube supporting NiO nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical precipitation process coupled with subsequent calcination. The morphology and structure of the composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the electrochemical performance was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric technique. The effects of nitrogen doping, calcination temperature and content of NiO nanoparticles on the electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation were systematically studied. The results show that the uniformly dispersed ultrafine NiO nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube are obtained after calcination at 400 °C. The optimized composite catalysts present high electrocatalytic activity, fast charge-transfer process, excellent accessibility and stability for methanol oxidation reaction, which are promising for application in the alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.

  12. Deposition of platinum nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes by supercritical fluid method.

    PubMed

    Yen, Clive H; Cui, Xiaoli; Pan, Horng-Bin; Wang, Shaofen; Lin, Yuehe; Wai, Chien M

    2005-11-01

    Carbon nanotube-supported platinum nanoparticles with a 5-15 nm diameter size range can be synthesized by hydrogen reduction of platinum(ll) acetylacetonate in methanol modified supercritical carbon dioxide. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectra indicate that the carbon nanotubes contain zero-valent platinum metal and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images show that the visible lattice fringes of platinum nanoparticles are crystallites. Carbon nanotubes synthesized with 25% by weight of platinum nanoparticles exhibit a higher activity for hydrogenation of benzene compared with a commercial carbon black platinum catalyst. The carbon nanotube-supported platinum nanocatalyst can be reused at least six times for the hydrogenation reaction without losing activity. The carbon nanotube-supported platinum nanoparticles are also highly active for electrochemical oxidation of methanol and for reduction of oxygen suggesting their potential use as a new electrocatalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications.

  13. Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic behavior of WO3-fullerene/TiO2 catalysts under visible light

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    WO3-treated fullerene/TiO2 composites (WO3-fullerene/TiO2) were prepared using a sol-gel method. The composite obtained was characterized by BET surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis analysis. A methyl orange (MO) solution under visible light irradiation was used to determine the photocatalytic activity. Excellent photocatalytic degradation of a MO solution was observed using the WO3-fullerene, fullerene-TiO2, and WO3-fullerene/TiO2 composites under visible light. An increase in photocatalytic activity was observed, and WO3-fullerene/TiO2 has the best photocatalytic activity; it may attribute to the increase of the photo-absorption effect by the fullerene and the cooperative effect of the WO3. PMID:21774800

  14. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Takanabe, Kazuhiro; Khan, Abdulaziz M.; Tang, Yu

    Sodium-based catalysts (such as Na 2 WO 4) were proposed to selectively catalyze OH radical formation from H 2O and O 2 at high temperatures. This reaction may proceed on molten salt state surfaces owing to the lower melting point of the used Na salts compared to the reaction temperature. This study provides direct evidence of the molten salt state of Na 2WO 4, which can form OH radicals, using in situ techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrometry, and ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). As a result, Na 2O 2 species,more » which were hypothesized to be responsible for the formation of OH radicals, have been identified on the outer surfaces at temperatures of ≥800°C, and these species are useful for various gasphase hydrocarbon reactions, including the selective transformation of methane to ethane.« less

  15. Core Perylene Diimide Designs via Direct Bay- and ortho-(Poly)trifluoromethylation: Synthesis, Isolation, X-Ray Structures, Optical and Electronic Properties

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Clikeman, Tyler T.; Bukovsky, Eric V.; Wang, Xue-Bin

    2015-09-22

    We developed an efficient solvent- and catalyst-free direct polytrifluoromethylation of solid perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride that produced a new family of (poly)perfluoroalkyl bay- and ortho-substituted PDIs with two different imide substituents. Direct hydrogen substitution with CN group led to the synthesis of a cyanated perfluoroalkyl PDI derivative for the first time. Absorption, steady-state and time-resolved emission, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical, and gas-phase electron affinity data allowed for systematic studies of substitution effects at bay, ortho, and imide positions in the new PDIs. Solid-state packing showed remarkable variations in the intermolecular interactions that are important for charge transport and photophysical properties. Moreover, analysis ofmore » the electrochemical data for 143 electron poor PDIs, including newly reported compounds, revealed some general trends and peculiar effects from substituting electron-withdrawing groups at all three positions.« less

  16. Core Perylene Diimide Designs via Direct Bay and Ortho (Poly)trifluoromethylation: Synthesis, Isolation, X-ray Structures, Optical and Electronic Properties

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Clikeman, Tyler T.; Bukovsky, Eric V.; Wang, Xue B.

    2015-09-22

    We developed an efficient solvent- and catalyst-free direct polytrifluoromethylation of solid perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride that produced a new family of (poly)perfluoroalkyl bay and ortho substituted PDIs with two different imide substituents. Direct hydrogen substitution with CN group led to the synthesis of a cyanated perfluoroalkyl PDI derivative for the first time. Absorption, steady-state and time-resolved emission, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical, and gas-phase electron affinity data allowed for systematic studies of substitution effects at bay, ortho, and imide positions in the new PDIs. Solid-state packing showed remarkable variations in the intermolecular interactions that are important for charge transport and photophysical properties. Analysis ofmore » the electrochemical data for 143 electron poor PDIs, including newly reported compounds, revealed some general trends and peculiar effects of electron withdrawing group substitution at all three positions.« less

  17. Development of an adaptable coherent x-ray diffraction microscope with the emphasis on imaging hydrated specimens.

    PubMed

    Nam, Daewoong; Park, Jaehyun; Gallagher-Jones, Marcus; Shimada, Hiroki; Kim, Sangsoo; Kim, Sunam; Kohmura, Yoshiki; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Song, Changyong

    2013-11-01

    This paper describes the development of a versatile coherent x-ray diffraction microscope capable of imaging biological specimens in solution. The microscope is a flexible platform accommodating various conditions, from low vacuum (10(-2) Pa) to helium gas filled ambient pressure. This flexibility greatly expands the application area, from in situ materials science to biology systems in their native state, by significantly relaxing restrictions to the sample environment. The coherent diffraction microscope has been used successfully to image a yeast cell immersed in buffer solution. We believe that the design of this coherent diffraction microscope can be directly adapted to various platforms such as table top soft x-ray laser, synchrotron x-ray sources, and x-ray free electron laser with minor relevant adjustments.

  18. Development of an adaptable coherent x-ray diffraction microscope with the emphasis on imaging hydrated specimens

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nam, Daewoong; Park, Jaehyun; Gallagher-Jones, Marcus; Shimada, Hiroki; Kim, Sangsoo; Kim, Sunam; Kohmura, Yoshiki; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Song, Changyong

    2013-11-01

    This paper describes the development of a versatile coherent x-ray diffraction microscope capable of imaging biological specimens in solution. The microscope is a flexible platform accommodating various conditions, from low vacuum (10-2 Pa) to helium gas filled ambient pressure. This flexibility greatly expands the application area, from in situ materials science to biology systems in their native state, by significantly relaxing restrictions to the sample environment. The coherent diffraction microscope has been used successfully to image a yeast cell immersed in buffer solution. We believe that the design of this coherent diffraction microscope can be directly adapted to various platforms such as table top soft x-ray laser, synchrotron x-ray sources, and x-ray free electron laser with minor relevant adjustments.

  19. Thin Film Research. Volume 1

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-05-30

    Order (FECO) ......... 23 3. X -Ray Diffraction ............................... 26 4. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) ............... 26 5...remained amorphous after bombardment, as evidenced by X - ray diffraction, and showed no other changes. 0 (2) For Sb203, the crystallite size was reduced...main effect on MgF2 was the reduction in crystallite size. The films were too thir. for meaningful x - ray diffraction analysis. Durability and

  20. X-Ray Diffraction and the Discovery of the Structure of DNA

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crouse, David T.

    2007-01-01

    A method is described for teaching the analysis of X-ray diffraction of DNA through a series of steps utilizing the original methods used by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin. The X-ray diffraction pattern led to the conclusion of the basic helical structure of DNA and its dimensions while basic chemical principles…

  1. High Resolution X-Ray Diffraction of Macromolecules with Synchrotron Radiation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stojanoff, Vivian; Boggon, Titus; Helliwell, John R.; Judge, Russell; Olczak, Alex; Snell, Edward H.; Siddons, D. Peter; Rose, M. Franklin (Technical Monitor)

    2000-01-01

    We recently combined synchrotron-based monochromatic X-ray diffraction topography methods with triple axis diffractometry and rocking curve measurements: high resolution X-ray diffraction imaging techniques, to better understand the quality of protein crystals. We discuss these methods in the light of results obtained on crystals grown under different conditions. These non destructive techniques are powerful tools in the characterization of the protein crystals and ultimately will allow to improve, develop, and understand protein crystal growth. High resolution X-ray diffraction imaging methods will be discussed in detail in light of recent results obtained on Hen Egg White Lysozyme crystals and other proteins.

  2. Hard X-ray polarizer to enable simultaneous three-dimensional nanoscale imaging of magnetic structure and lattice strain

    DOE PAGES

    Logan, Jonathan; Harder, Ross; Li, Luxi; ...

    2016-01-01

    Recent progress in the development of dichroic Bragg coherent diffractive imaging, a new technique for simultaneous three-dimensional imaging of strain and magnetization at the nanoscale, is reported. This progress includes the installation of a diamond X-ray phase retarder at beamline 34-ID-C of the Advanced Photon Source. Here, the performance of the phase retarder for tuning X-ray polarization is demonstrated with temperature-dependent X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements on a gadolinium foil in transmission and on a Gd 5Si 2Ge 2crystal in diffraction geometry with a partially coherent, focused X-ray beam. Feasibility tests for dichroic Bragg coherent diffractive imaging are presented. Thesemore » tests include (1) using conventional Bragg coherent diffractive imaging to determine whether the phase retarder introduces aberrations using a nonmagnetic gold nanocrystal as a control sample, and (2) collecting coherent diffraction patterns of a magnetic Gd 5Si 2Ge 2nanocrystal with left- and right-circularly polarized X-rays. Future applications of dichroic Bragg coherent diffractive imaging for the correlation of strain and lattice defects with magnetic ordering and inhomogeneities are considered.« less

  3. Flexible graphene composites for removal of methylene blue dye-contaminant from water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oliva, J.; Martinez, A. I.; Oliva, A. I.; Garcia, C. R.; Martinez-Luevanos, A.; Garcia-Lobato, M.; Ochoa-Valiente, R.; Berlanga, A.

    2018-04-01

    This work presents the use of flexible graphene composites (FGCs) fabricated by a casting method for the removal of Methylene blue (MB) dye from water. Those FGCs with elastic modulus of 15 MPa had enough mechanical resistance to support the Al2O3:Eu3+ and SrAl2O4:Bi3+ photocatalytic powders. After the incorporation of those powders in the FGCs, their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of MB dye under solar irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrate that the surface of FGCs with catalysts powders presents pores with sizes in the range of 15-40 μm, which favored the sunlight absorption by scattering effects. Moreover, X-Ray diffraction measurements confirmed the formation of the composites by displacements of their diffraction peaks. The MB dye was completely removed (by photocatalysis and by physical adsorption) from the water after 180 min and 270 min by using the FGCs with Al2O3:Eu3+ and SrAl2O4:Bi3+ catalysts respectively. Hence, the results of photocatalytic activity suggest that our FGCs could be used as an effective support of catalyst powders for the easy removal of dye contaminants in wastewater treatment plants.

  4. Three Dimensional Variable-Wavelength X-Ray Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging

    DOE PAGES

    Cha, W.; Ulvestad, A.; Allain, M.; ...

    2016-11-23

    Here, we present and demonstrate a formalism by which three-dimensional (3D) Bragg x-ray coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) can be implemented without moving the sample by scanning the energy of the incident x-ray beam. This capability is made possible by introducing a 3D Fourier transform that accounts for x-ray wavelength variability. We also demonstrate the approach by inverting coherent Bragg diffraction patterns from a gold nanocrystal measured with an x-ray energy scan. Furthermore, variable-wavelength BCDI will expand the breadth of feasible in situ 3D strain imaging experiments towards more diverse materials environments, especially where sample manipulation is difficult.

  5. Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Meteorites in Thin Section: Preliminary Results

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Treiman, A. H.; Lanzirotti, A.; Xirouchakis, D.

    2004-01-01

    X-ray diffraction is the pre-eminent technique for mineral identification and structure determination, but is difficult to apply to grains in thin section, the standard meteorite preparation. Bright focused X-ray beams from synchrotrons have been used extensively in mineralogy and have been applied to extraterrestrial particles. The intensity and small spot size achievable in synchrotron X-ray beams makes them useful for study of materials in thin sections. Here, we describe Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (SXRD) in thin section as done at the National Synchrotron Light Source, and cite examples of its value for studies of meteorites in thin section.

  6. Three Dimensional Variable-Wavelength X-Ray Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cha, W.; Ulvestad, A.; Allain, M.; Chamard, V.; Harder, R.; Leake, S. J.; Maser, J.; Fuoss, P. H.; Hruszkewycz, S. O.

    2016-11-01

    We present and demonstrate a formalism by which three-dimensional (3D) Bragg x-ray coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) can be implemented without moving the sample by scanning the energy of the incident x-ray beam. This capability is made possible by introducing a 3D Fourier transform that accounts for x-ray wavelength variability. We demonstrate the approach by inverting coherent Bragg diffraction patterns from a gold nanocrystal measured with an x-ray energy scan. Variable-wavelength BCDI will expand the breadth of feasible in situ 3D strain imaging experiments towards more diverse materials environments, especially where sample manipulation is difficult.

  7. Three Dimensional Variable-Wavelength X-Ray Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging.

    PubMed

    Cha, W; Ulvestad, A; Allain, M; Chamard, V; Harder, R; Leake, S J; Maser, J; Fuoss, P H; Hruszkewycz, S O

    2016-11-25

    We present and demonstrate a formalism by which three-dimensional (3D) Bragg x-ray coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) can be implemented without moving the sample by scanning the energy of the incident x-ray beam. This capability is made possible by introducing a 3D Fourier transform that accounts for x-ray wavelength variability. We demonstrate the approach by inverting coherent Bragg diffraction patterns from a gold nanocrystal measured with an x-ray energy scan. Variable-wavelength BCDI will expand the breadth of feasible in situ 3D strain imaging experiments towards more diverse materials environments, especially where sample manipulation is difficult.

  8. In-situ X-ray diffraction system using sources and detectors at fixed angular positions

    DOEpatents

    Gibson, David M [Voorheesville, NY; Gibson, Walter M [Voorheesville, NY; Huang, Huapeng [Latham, NY

    2007-06-26

    An x-ray diffraction technique for measuring a known characteristic of a sample of a material in an in-situ state. The technique includes using an x-ray source for emitting substantially divergent x-ray radiation--with a collimating optic disposed with respect to the fixed source for producing a substantially parallel beam of x-ray radiation by receiving and redirecting the divergent paths of the divergent x-ray radiation. A first x-ray detector collects radiation diffracted from the sample; wherein the source and detector are fixed, during operation thereof, in position relative to each other and in at least one dimension relative to the sample according to a-priori knowledge about the known characteristic of the sample. A second x-ray detector may be fixed relative to the first x-ray detector according to the a-priori knowledge about the known characteristic of the sample, especially in a phase monitoring embodiment of the present invention.

  9. Extracellular synthesis of mycogenic silver nanoparticles by Cylindrocladium floridanum and its homogeneous catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol.

    PubMed

    Narayanan, Kannan Badri; Park, Hyun Ho; Sakthivel, Natarajan

    2013-12-01

    Green synthesis of extracellular mycogenic silver nanoparticles using the fungus, Cylindrocladium floridanum is reported. The synthesized mycogenic silver nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The nanoparticles exhibit fcc structure with Bragg's reflections of (111), (200), (220) and (311) was evidenced by XRD pattern, high-resolution TEM lattice fringes and circular rings in selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern. The morphology of nanoparticles was roughly spherical in shape with an average size of ca. 25 nm. From FTIR spectrum, it was found that the biomolecules with amide I and II band were involved in the stabilization of nanoparticles. These mycogenic silver nanoparticles exhibited the homogeneous catalytic potential in the reduction of pollutant, 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) using sodium borohydride, which followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Thus, the synthesis of metal nanoparticles using sustainable microbial approach opens up possibilities in the usage of mycogenic metal nanoparticles as catalysts in various chemical reactions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. A Robust Open Framework Formed by Decavanadate Clusters and Copper(II) Complexes of Macrocyclic Polyamines: Permanent Microporosity and Catalytic Oxidation of Cycloalkanes.

    PubMed

    Martín-Caballero, Jagoba; San José Wéry, Ana; Reinoso, Santiago; Artetxe, Beñat; San Felices, Leire; El Bakkali, Bouchra; Trautwein, Guido; Alcañiz-Monge, Juan; Vilas, José Luis; Gutiérrez-Zorrilla, Juan M

    2016-05-16

    The first decavanadate-based microporous hybrid, namely, [Cu(cyclam)][{Cu(cyclam)}2(V10O28)]·10H2O (1, cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) was prepared by reaction of (VO3)(-) anions and {Cu(cyclam)}(2+) complexes in NaCl (aq) at pH 4.6-4.7 and characterized by elemental analyses, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction (powder, single-crystal) techniques. Compound 1 exhibits a POMOF-like supramolecular open-framework built of covalent decavanadate/metalorganic layers with square-like voids, the stacking of which is aided by interlamellar cementing complexes and generates water-filled channels with approximate cross sections of 10.4 × 8.8 Å(2). The framework is robust enough to remain virtually unaltered upon thermal evacuation of all water molecules of hydration, as demonstrated through single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on the anhydrous phase 1a. This permanent microporosity renders interesting functionality to 1, such as selective adsorption of CO2 over N2 and remarkable activity as heterogeneous catalyst toward the H2O2-based oxidation of the highly-stable, tricyclic alkane adamantane.

  11. Room temperature synthesis of a Zn(II) metal-organic coordination polymer for dye removal

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Abbasi, Alireza, E-mail: aabbasi@khayam.ut.ac.ir; Gharib, Maniya; Najafi, Mahnaz

    2016-03-15

    A new one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer, [Zn(4,4′-bpy)(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}](ADC)·4H{sub 2}O (1) (4,4′-bpy=4,4′-bipyridine and H{sub 2}ADC=acetylenedicarboxylic acid), was synthesized at room temperature. The crystal structure of the coordination polymer was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 was also characterized by FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The catalytic activity of 1 was evaluated in the color removal of Bismarck brown as a representative of dye pollutant in water under mild conditions. Coordination polymer 1 exhibited good catalytic activity and stability in the decolorization of Bismarck brown and could be easily recovered and reused for at leastmore » three cycles. - Graphical abstract: A new 1D coordination polymer as catalyst for the degradation of Bismarck brown aqueous solution. - Highlights: • A 1D coordination polymer has been synthesized at room temperature. • The prepared compound was utilized for color removal of Bismarck brown dye. • Good catalytic activity and stability in the dye decolorization has been found.« less

  12. The effect of exit beam phase aberrations on parallel beam coherent x-ray reconstructions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hruszkewycz, S. O.; Harder, R.; Xiao, X.; Fuoss, P. H.

    2010-12-01

    Diffraction artifacts from imperfect x-ray windows near the sample are an important consideration in the design of coherent x-ray diffraction measurements. In this study, we used simulated and experimental diffraction patterns in two and three dimensions to explore the effect of phase imperfections in a beryllium window (such as a void or inclusion) on the convergence behavior of phasing algorithms and on the ultimate reconstruction. A predictive relationship between beam wavelength, sample size, and window position was derived to explain the dependence of reconstruction quality on beryllium defect size. Defects corresponding to this prediction cause the most damage to the sample exit wave and induce signature error oscillations during phasing that can be used as a fingerprint of experimental x-ray window artifacts. The relationship between x-ray window imperfection size and coherent x-ray diffractive imaging reconstruction quality explored in this work can play an important role in designing high-resolution in situ coherent imaging instrumentation and will help interpret the phasing behavior of coherent diffraction measured in these in situ environments.

  13. The effect of exit beam phase aberrations on parallel beam coherent x-ray reconstructions.

    PubMed

    Hruszkewycz, S O; Harder, R; Xiao, X; Fuoss, P H

    2010-12-01

    Diffraction artifacts from imperfect x-ray windows near the sample are an important consideration in the design of coherent x-ray diffraction measurements. In this study, we used simulated and experimental diffraction patterns in two and three dimensions to explore the effect of phase imperfections in a beryllium window (such as a void or inclusion) on the convergence behavior of phasing algorithms and on the ultimate reconstruction. A predictive relationship between beam wavelength, sample size, and window position was derived to explain the dependence of reconstruction quality on beryllium defect size. Defects corresponding to this prediction cause the most damage to the sample exit wave and induce signature error oscillations during phasing that can be used as a fingerprint of experimental x-ray window artifacts. The relationship between x-ray window imperfection size and coherent x-ray diffractive imaging reconstruction quality explored in this work can play an important role in designing high-resolution in situ coherent imaging instrumentation and will help interpret the phasing behavior of coherent diffraction measured in these in situ environments.

  14. Femtosecond X-ray Diffraction From Two-Dimensional Protein Crystals

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Frank, Matthias; Carlson, David B.; Hunter, Mark

    2014-02-28

    Here we present femtosecond x-ray diffraction patterns from two-dimensional (2-D) protein crystals using an x-ray free electron laser (XFEL). To date it has not been possible to acquire x-ray diffraction from individual 2-D protein crystals due to radiation damage. However, the intense and ultrafast pulses generated by an XFEL permits a new method of collecting diffraction data before the sample is destroyed. Utilizing a diffract-before-destroy methodology at the Linac Coherent Light Source, we observed Bragg diffraction to better than 8.5 Å resolution for two different 2-D protein crystal samples that were maintained at room temperature. These proof-of-principle results show promisemore » for structural analysis of both soluble and membrane proteins arranged as 2-D crystals without requiring cryogenic conditions or the formation of three-dimensional crystals.« less

  15. Influence of gamma ray irradiation on stoichiometry of hydrothermally synthesized bismuth telluride nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abishek, N. S.; Naik, K. Gopalakrishna

    2018-05-01

    Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method at 200 °C for 24 h. The synthesized Bi2Te3 nanoparticles were irradiated with gamma rays at doses of 50 kGy and 100 kGy. The structural characterization of the pre-irradiated and post-irradiated samples was carried out by X-ray diffraction technique and was found to have rhombohedral phase having R3 ¯m (166) space group. The X-ray diffraction peaks were found to shift towards lower diffraction angle with gamma ray irradiation. The morphologies and compositions of the grown Bi2Te3 nanoparticles were studied using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray energy dispersive analysis, respectively. The possible cause for the shift in the X-ray diffraction peaks with gamma ray irradiation has been discussed in the present work.

  16. High Power Optical Coatings by Atomic Layer Deposition and Signatures of Laser-Induced Damage

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-08-28

    diffraction angle 0 into crystal lattice spacing d by the Bragg condition, mX = 2d sin 0. Here X is the x - ray wavelength... angle x - ray diffraction (GAXRD) measurements, which were made at a fixed shallow incidence angle of 0.5°. Detector scans were done to measure the...was finished with 200 hafnia cycles m the fmal half period rather than 400. Crystallinity was measured by x - ray diffraction (XRD) with

  17. Materials identification using a small-scale pixellated x-ray diffraction system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    O'Flynn, D.; Crews, C.; Drakos, I.; Christodoulou, C.; Wilson, M. D.; Veale, M. C.; Seller, P.; Speller, R. D.

    2016-05-01

    A transmission x-ray diffraction system has been developed using a pixellated, energy-resolving detector (HEXITEC) and a small-scale, mains operated x-ray source (Amptek Mini-X). HEXITEC enables diffraction to be measured without the requirement of incident spectrum filtration, or collimation of the scatter from the sample, preserving a large proportion of the useful signal compared with other diffraction techniques. Due to this efficiency, sufficient molecular information for material identification can be obtained within 5 s despite the relatively low x-ray source power. Diffraction data are presented from caffeine, hexamine, paracetamol, plastic explosives and narcotics. The capability to determine molecular information from aspirin tablets inside their packaging is demonstrated. Material selectivity and the potential for a sample classification model is shown with principal component analysis, through which each different material can be clearly resolved.

  18. Dynamic X-ray diffraction sampling for protein crystal positioning

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Scarborough, Nicole M.; Godaliyadda, G. M. Dilshan P.; Ye, Dong Hye

    A sparse supervised learning approach for dynamic sampling (SLADS) is described for dose reduction in diffraction-based protein crystal positioning. Crystal centering is typically a prerequisite for macromolecular diffraction at synchrotron facilities, with X-ray diffraction mapping growing in popularity as a mechanism for localization. In X-ray raster scanning, diffraction is used to identify the crystal positions based on the detection of Bragg-like peaks in the scattering patterns; however, this additional X-ray exposure may result in detectable damage to the crystal prior to data collection. Dynamic sampling, in which preceding measurements inform the next most information-rich location to probe for image reconstruction,more » significantly reduced the X-ray dose experienced by protein crystals during positioning by diffraction raster scanning. The SLADS algorithm implemented herein is designed for single-pixel measurements and can select a new location to measure. In each step of SLADS, the algorithm selects the pixel, which, when measured, maximizes the expected reduction in distortion given previous measurements. Ground-truth diffraction data were obtained for a 5 µm-diameter beam and SLADS reconstructed the image sampling 31% of the total volume and only 9% of the interior of the crystal greatly reducing the X-ray dosage on the crystal. Furthermore, by usingin situtwo-photon-excited fluorescence microscopy measurements as a surrogate for diffraction imaging with a 1 µm-diameter beam, the SLADS algorithm enabled image reconstruction from a 7% sampling of the total volume and 12% sampling of the interior of the crystal. When implemented into the beamline at Argonne National Laboratory, without ground-truth images, an acceptable reconstruction was obtained with 3% of the image sampled and approximately 5% of the crystal. The incorporation of SLADS into X-ray diffraction acquisitions has the potential to significantly minimize the impact of X-ray exposure on the crystal by limiting the dose and area exposed for image reconstruction and crystal positioning using data collection hardware present in most macromolecular crystallography end-stations.« less

  19. Dynamic X-ray diffraction sampling for protein crystal positioning

    DOE PAGES

    Scarborough, Nicole M.; Godaliyadda, G. M. Dilshan P.; Ye, Dong Hye; ...

    2017-01-01

    A sparse supervised learning approach for dynamic sampling (SLADS) is described for dose reduction in diffraction-based protein crystal positioning. Crystal centering is typically a prerequisite for macromolecular diffraction at synchrotron facilities, with X-ray diffraction mapping growing in popularity as a mechanism for localization. In X-ray raster scanning, diffraction is used to identify the crystal positions based on the detection of Bragg-like peaks in the scattering patterns; however, this additional X-ray exposure may result in detectable damage to the crystal prior to data collection. Dynamic sampling, in which preceding measurements inform the next most information-rich location to probe for image reconstruction,more » significantly reduced the X-ray dose experienced by protein crystals during positioning by diffraction raster scanning. The SLADS algorithm implemented herein is designed for single-pixel measurements and can select a new location to measure. In each step of SLADS, the algorithm selects the pixel, which, when measured, maximizes the expected reduction in distortion given previous measurements. Ground-truth diffraction data were obtained for a 5 µm-diameter beam and SLADS reconstructed the image sampling 31% of the total volume and only 9% of the interior of the crystal greatly reducing the X-ray dosage on the crystal. Furthermore, by usingin situtwo-photon-excited fluorescence microscopy measurements as a surrogate for diffraction imaging with a 1 µm-diameter beam, the SLADS algorithm enabled image reconstruction from a 7% sampling of the total volume and 12% sampling of the interior of the crystal. When implemented into the beamline at Argonne National Laboratory, without ground-truth images, an acceptable reconstruction was obtained with 3% of the image sampled and approximately 5% of the crystal. The incorporation of SLADS into X-ray diffraction acquisitions has the potential to significantly minimize the impact of X-ray exposure on the crystal by limiting the dose and area exposed for image reconstruction and crystal positioning using data collection hardware present in most macromolecular crystallography end-stations.« less

  20. Dynamic X-ray diffraction sampling for protein crystal positioning

    PubMed Central

    Scarborough, Nicole M.; Godaliyadda, G. M. Dilshan P.; Ye, Dong Hye; Kissick, David J.; Zhang, Shijie; Newman, Justin A.; Sheedlo, Michael J.; Chowdhury, Azhad U.; Fischetti, Robert F.; Das, Chittaranjan; Buzzard, Gregery T.; Bouman, Charles A.; Simpson, Garth J.

    2017-01-01

    A sparse supervised learning approach for dynamic sampling (SLADS) is described for dose reduction in diffraction-based protein crystal positioning. Crystal centering is typically a prerequisite for macromolecular diffraction at synchrotron facilities, with X-ray diffraction mapping growing in popularity as a mechanism for localization. In X-ray raster scanning, diffraction is used to identify the crystal positions based on the detection of Bragg-like peaks in the scattering patterns; however, this additional X-ray exposure may result in detectable damage to the crystal prior to data collection. Dynamic sampling, in which preceding measurements inform the next most information-rich location to probe for image reconstruction, significantly reduced the X-ray dose experienced by protein crystals during positioning by diffraction raster scanning. The SLADS algorithm implemented herein is designed for single-pixel measurements and can select a new location to measure. In each step of SLADS, the algorithm selects the pixel, which, when measured, maximizes the expected reduction in distortion given previous measurements. Ground-truth diffraction data were obtained for a 5 µm-diameter beam and SLADS reconstructed the image sampling 31% of the total volume and only 9% of the interior of the crystal greatly reducing the X-ray dosage on the crystal. Using in situ two-photon-excited fluorescence microscopy measurements as a surrogate for diffraction imaging with a 1 µm-diameter beam, the SLADS algorithm enabled image reconstruction from a 7% sampling of the total volume and 12% sampling of the interior of the crystal. When implemented into the beamline at Argonne National Laboratory, without ground-truth images, an acceptable reconstruction was obtained with 3% of the image sampled and approximately 5% of the crystal. The incorporation of SLADS into X-ray diffraction acquisitions has the potential to significantly minimize the impact of X-ray exposure on the crystal by limiting the dose and area exposed for image reconstruction and crystal positioning using data collection hardware present in most macromolecular crystallography end-stations. PMID:28009558

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