Exsolution trends and co-segregation aspects of self-grown catalyst nanoparticles in perovskites

In perovskites, exsolution of transition metals has been proposed as a smart catalyst design for energy applications. Although there exist transition metals with superior catalytic activity, they are limited by their ability to exsolve under a reducing environment. When a doping element is present in the perovskite, it is often observed that the surface segregation of the doping element is changed by oxygen vacancies. However, the mechanism of co-segregation of doping element with oxygen vacancies is still an open question. Here we report trends in the exsolution of transition metal (Mn, Co, Ni and Fe) on the PrBaMn2O5+?? layered perovskite oxide related to the co-segregation energy. Transmission electron microscopic observations show that easily reducible cations (Mn, Co and Ni) are exsolved from the perovskite depending on the transition metal-perovskite reducibility. In addition, using density functional calculations we reveal that co-segregation of B-site dopant and oxygen vacancies plays a central role in the exsolution

Copper(0) Nanoparticles Supported on Silica-Coated Cobalt Ferrite Magnetic Particles: Cost Effective Catalyst in the Hydrolysis of Ammonia-Borane with an Exceptional Reusability Performance

Herein we report the development of a new and cost-effective nanocomposite catalyst for the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane (NH3BH3), which is considered to be one of the most promising solid hydrogen carriers because of its high gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity (19.6% wt) and low molecular weight. The new catalyst system consisting of copper nanoparticles supported on magnetic SiO2/CoFe2O4 particles was reproducibly prepared by wet-impregnation of Cu(II) ions on SiO2/CoFe2O4 followed by in situ reduction of the Cu(II) ions on the surface of magnetic support during the hydrolysis of NH3BH3 and characterized by ICP-MS, XRD, XPS, TEM, HR-TEM and N-2 adsorption-desorption technique. Copper nanoparticles supported on silica coated cobalt(II) ferrite SiO2/CoFe2O4 (CuNPs@SCF) act as highly active catalyst in the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane, providing an initial turnover frequency of TOF = 2400 h(-1) at room temperature, which is not only higher than all the non-noble metal catalysts but also higher than the majority of the noble metal based homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts employed in the same reaction.. More importantly, they were easily recovered by using a permanent magnet in the reactor wall and reused for up, to 10 recycles without losing their inherent catalytic activity significantly, which demonstrates the exceptional reusability of the CuNPs@SCF catalyst

Ruthenium(0) Nanoparticles Supported on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube As Highly Active Catalyst for Hydrogen Generation from Ammonia–Borane

Ruthenium(0) nanoparticles supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Ru(0)@MWCNT) were in situ formed during the hydrolysis of ammonia-borane (AB) and could be isolated from the reaction solution by filtration and characterized by ICP-OES, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, and XPS techniques. The results reveal that ruthenium(0) nanoparticles of size in the range 1.4-3.0 nm are well-dispersed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes. They were found to be highly active catalyst in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of AB with a turnover frequency value of 329 min(-1). The reusability experiments show that Ru(0)@MWCNTs are isolable and redispersible in aqueous solution; when redispersed they are still active catalyst in the hydrolysis of AB exhibiting a release of 3.0 equivalents of H-2 per mole of NH3BH3 and preserving 41% of the initial catalytic activity even after the fourth run of hydrolysis. The lifetime of Ru(0)@MWCNTs was measured as 26400 turnovers over 29 h in the hydrolysis of AB at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C before deactivation. The work reported here also includes the kinetic studies depending on the temperature to determine the activation energy of the reaction (E-a = 33 +/- 2 kJ/mol) and the effect of catalyst concentration on the rate of the catalytic hydrolysis of AB, respectively