Highly efficient nickel-niobia composite catalysts for hydrogenation of CO2 to methane

We studied the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to methane using nickel-niobia composite catalysts. Catalysts containing 10–70 wt% Ni were synthesized by wet impregnation and tested for CO2 hydrogenation in a flow reactor. 40 wt% was found to be the optimum Ni loading, which resulted in CO2 conversion of 81% at 325 °C. We also calcined the Nb2O5 support at different temperatures to study the influence of calcination temperature on the catalytic performance. 40 wt% Ni loaded on Nb2O5, which was calcined at 700 °C gave higher methanation activity (91% conversion of CO2). Time on stream study for 50 h showed a stable activity and selectivity; thus confirming the scope for practical application.E.S.G. and N.R.S acknowledge the financial support from NOW CAPITA project (732.013.002). ASE acknowledges the financial support from the MINECO projects MAT-2013-45008-P and MAT2016-81732-ERC. EVRF gratefully acknowledge support from MINECO for his Ramón y Cajal grant (RyC-2012-11427) and University of Alicante for the project GRE-13-31. Generalitat Valenciana is also acknowledged for financial support (PROMETEOII/ 2014/004)

Nanometer Sized Silver Particles Embedded Silica Particles—Spray Method

Spherical shaped, nanometer to micro meter sized silica particles were prepared in a homogeneous nature by spray technique. Silver nanoparticles were produced over the surface of the silica grains in a harmonized manner. The size of silver and silica particles was effectively controlled by the precursors and catalysts. The electrostatic repulsion among the silica spheres and the electro static attraction between silica spheres and silver particles make the synchronized structure of the synthesized particles and the morphological images are revealed by transmission electron microscope. The silver ions are reduced by sodium borohydride. Infra red spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirm the formation of silver–silica composite particles. Thermal stability of the prepared particles obtained from thermal analysis ensures its higher temperature applications. The resultant silver embedded silica particles can be easily suspended in diverse solvents and would be useful for variety of applications

Mechanistic Aspects of Wet and Dry CO Oxidation on Co₃O₄ Nanorod Surfaces: A NAP-UPS Study

Catalytic activity, electronic structure, and the mechanistic aspects of Co₃O₄ nanorod (NR) surfaces have been explored for CO oxidation in dry and wet atmosphere using near-ambient pressure ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Presence of water with CO + O₂ plummets the catalytic activity because of the change in the electronic nature from predominantly oxide (without water in feed) to a Co₃O₄ surface covered by a few intermediates. However, at ≥375 K, the Co₃O₄ surface recovers and regains the oxidation activity, at least partially, even in the presence of water. This is fully supported by the changes observed in the work function of Co₃O₄ under wet (H₂O + CO + O₂) conditions compared with dry (CO + O₂) conditions. This study focuses on the comparative CO oxidation rate on Co₃O₄ NR surfaces and highlights the changes in the electronic structure that occur in the catalyst during the CO oxidation reaction

MgCl2 center dot 4((CH3)(2)CHCH2OH): A new molecular adduct for the preparation of TiClx/MgCl2 catalyst for olefin polymerization

A new molecular adduct of MgCl2 with isobutanol, namely MgCl2 center dot 4((CH3)(2)CHCH2OH) (MgiBOH), has been prepared as a precursor to the supporting material for an olefin polymerization catalyst. The MgiBOH adduct and final titanated Ziegler-Natta catalysts have been thoroughly characterized by powder XRD, thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and solid-state NMR for structural and spectroscopy aspects. A peak observed at 712 cm(-1) in the Raman spectra of MgiBOH indicates the characteristic Mg-O-6 breathing mode and the formation of the adduct. The diffraction feature at 2 theta = 7.8 degrees (d = 11.223 angstrom) in the XRD confirms the adduct formation and the layered structure. The aim of the present article is to study how the insertion of a bulky isobutanol moiety affects the structural and electronic properties of the MgCl2 isobutanol molecular adduct. Indeed, the focus of the present study is to explore how the presence of isobutanol, in the initial molecular adduct, influences the final Z-N catalyst properties and its activity

γ-Al_2−xM_xO_3±y (M = Ti⁴⁺ through Ga³⁺): potential pseudo-3D mesoporous materials with tunable acidity and electronic structure

A simple and highly efficient surfactant-free sol–gel process has been developed to obtain nanocrystalline mesoporous γ-Al2O3 and metal ion incorporated mesoporous γ-Al2O3 with general formula γ-Al2−xMxO3±y (where M = Ti4+ through Ga3+). Any one of the first row transition metal (TM) ions along with Ga3+ could be introduced into the γ-Al2O3 framework in a direct one-pot synthesis process. The generality of the present synthesis recipe for metal ion incorporation in γ-Al2O3 was demonstrated by preparation of an Al–Ga–M ternary oxide system with the metal ion composition of general formula Al9GaTM (TM = Ti4+ to Zn2+) and their characterization through various physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The mesoporous γ-Al2−xMxO3±y materials showed a BET surface area in the range of 200–400 m2 g−1 with a narrow pore size distribution. Wormhole mesoporosity makes the material pseudo-3D (p3D) with a small pore depth of few nm (<10 nm). Metal ions in γ-Al2O3 lead to changes in the acidity and electronic environment. XRD, TEM, and 27Al MAS NMR studies demonstrate that the sol–gel process and the disordered mesoporous structure allow Ga and TM ions to be highly distributed and integrated in the γ-Al2O3 framework. The efficacy of these materials in catalysis has been successfully evaluated for steam reforming of dimethylether: Ni, Cu and Zn containing Al9GaTM oxides showed high activity and stability. The smaller mesochannel depth (<10 nm) and pseudo-3D characteristics that arise due to the wormhole-type disordered mesoporous framework of these alumina materials facilitate mass transport through them without any leaching of metal ions out of the lattice and pore blocking during the reaction, which makes them attractive in catalysis. This preparation method is versatile enough to be used for a reproducible synthesis of metal ion incorporated mesoporous γ-Al2O3 by varying the metal content and their combinations, and it is expected that many other metal ions could be introduced into the lattice framework for a variety of applications by tuning acidity and electronic structure