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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

The outer-coordination sphere: incorporating amino acids and peptides as ligands for homogeneous catalysts to mimic enzyme function

Great progress has been achieved in the field of homogeneous transition metal-based catalysis, however, as a general rule these solution based catalysts are still easily outperformed, both in terms of rates and selectivity, by their analogous enzyme counterparts, including structural mimics of the active site. This observation suggests that the features of the enzyme beyond the active site, i.e. the outer-coordination sphere, are important for their exceptional function. Directly mimicking the outer-coordination sphere requires the incorporation of amino acids and peptides as ligands for homogeneous catalysts. This effort has been attempted for many homogeneous catalysts which span the manifold of catalytic reactions and often require careful thought regarding solvent type, pH and characterization to avoid unwanted side reactions or catalyst decomposition. This article reviews the current capability of synthesizing and characterizing this often difficult category of metal-based catalysts. This work was funded by the DOE Office of Science Early Career Research Program through the Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.

catalysis, outer-coordination sphere, bioinspired ↗
DOE OSTI2011

Molecular Structure and Transport Dynamics in Perfluoro Sulfonyl Imide Membranes

We report a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the nanostructure, transport dynamics of water and hydronium and water percolation in hydrated perfluoro sulfonyl imides (PFSI), a polymer considered for proton transport in PEM fuel cells, using classical molecular dynamics simulations. The dynamical changes are related to the changes in the membrane nanostructure. Water network percolation threshold, the level at which a consistent spanning water network starts to develop in the membrane, lies between hydration level (λ) 6 and 7. The higher acidity of the sulfonyl imide acid group of PFSI compared to Nafion reported in our earlier ab initio study, translates into more free hydronium ions at low hydration levels. Nevertheless, the calculated diffusion coefficients of the H3O+ ions and H2O molecules as a function the hydration level were observed to be almost the same as that of Nafion, indicating similar conductivity and consistent with the experimental observations. This research was performed in part using the Molecular Science Computing Facility in the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national scientific user facility located at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). This work was supported by the US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2013

Abundant Metals Give Precious Hydrogenation Performance

Homogeneous catalysts based on precious (noble) metals have had a profound influence on modern synthetic methods, enabling highly selective synthesis of organic compounds but typically require precious metal catalysts (Ru, Rh, Ir, Pt, and Pd). Increasing efforts have been devoted to the design and discovery of homogeneous catalysts using base metals (e.g., Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo). Morris et al. report Fe catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of C=O bonds. Cobalt catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of C=C bonds are described by Chirik et al., and Beller et al. report new nanoscale iron catalysts for synthesis of functionalized anilines through hydrogenation of nitroarenes. The author’s work in this area is supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.

catalysis↗
DOE OSTI2015

Fabrication of Carbon-Platinum Interdigitated Array Electrodes and Their Application for Investigating Homogeneous Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis

Interdigitated array electrodes (IDAEs) with one carbon electrode and the other platinum electrode were constructed by electrodepositing platinum on one set of the carbon electrodes. Platinum deposition was confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry. The width of the carbon and platinum digits is less than 2 μm and the gap between two adjacent digits is around 3 μm. The carbon-platinum IDAEs benefit from the characteristics of both carbon and platinum in that carbon can provide a wide nonreactive potential window while platinum is a good catalyst for hydrogen reactions making it useful to characterize the catalytic hydrogen production cycle of the molecular electrocatalyst [Ni(P Ph 2 N Ph 2 ) 2 (CH 3 CN)](BF 4 ) 2 (where P Ph 2 N Ph 2 is 1,3,5,7-tetraphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane). With properly set potentials, the molecular electrocatalyst was reduced at the carbon digits to initiate a homogeneous H 2 production reaction while the platinum digits detect the H 2 by oxidation, providing direct evidence of its production rate from the catalytic cycles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

Production of Molybdenum-99 using Neutron Capture Methods

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operated by Battelle, has identified a reference process for the production of molybdenum-99 (99Mo) for use in a chromatographic generator to separate the daughter product, technetium-99m (99mTc). The reference process uses the neutron capture reaction of natural or enriched molybdenum oxide via the reaction 98Mo(n,γ)99Mo. The irradiated molybdenum is dissolved in an alkaline solution, whereby the molybdenum, dissolved as the molybdate anion, is loaded on a proprietary ion exchange material in the chromatographic generator. The approach of this investigation is to provide a systematic collection of technologies to make the neutron capture method for Mo-99 production economically viable. This approach would result in the development of a technetium Tc99m generator and a new type of target. The target is comprised of molybdenum, either natural or enriched, and is tailored to the design of currently operating U.S. research reactors. The systematic collection of technologies requires evaluation of new metallurgical methods to produce the target, evaluation of target geometries tailored to research reactors, and chemical methods to dissolve the irradiated target materials for use in a chromatographic generator. A Technical specification for testing the target and neutron capture method in a research reactor is also required. This report includes identification of research and demonstration activities needed to enable deployment of neutron capture production method, including irradiations of prototypic targets, chemical processing of irradiated targets, and loading and extraction tests of Mo99 and Tc99m on the sorbent material in a prototypic generator design. The prototypical generator design is based on the proprietary method and systems for isotope product generation. The proprietary methods and systems described in this report are clearly delineated with footnotes. Ultimately, the Tc-99m generator solution provided by the system has exactly the same chemical and radiochemical characteristics as the Tc-99m currently produced by standard generator systems. Analysis results indicate: • The production of Mo99 is a function of the neutron flux in the thermal and epithermal region, the target volume, and the target geometry. Calculations show that neutron self-absorption is not very important such that large (2 cm OD or more) cylinders of molybdenum can be irradiated without significant losses. • Efficient use of target volume design is function of simultaneously optimizing the amount of molybdenum that can be inserted into each irradiation capsule and the amount of interconnected porosity within the specimen body to enhance the rate of post-irradiation dissolution. • Neutron capture of natural molybdenum may effectively achieve up to 1 Ci/g Mo99 in a 144 hour irradiation period, when using the fuel annulus plus a beryllium reflector configuration.

Molybdenum-99↗
DOE OSTI2013

Multiscale Toxicology- Building the Next Generation Tools for Toxicology

A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) was established between Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) with the goal of combining the analytical and synthetic strengths of the National Laboratories with BMI's expertise in basic and translational medical research to develop a collaborative pipeline and suite of high throughput and imaging technologies that could be used to provide a more comprehensive understanding of material and drug toxicology in humans.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗
DOE OSTI2012

Facile Thermal W–W Bond Homolysis in the N-Heterocyclic Carbene Containing Tungsten Dimer [CpW(CO) 2 (IMe)] 2

The thermal W-W bond homolysis in [CpW(CO)2(IMe)]2 (IMe = 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) was investigated and was found to occur to a large extent compared to other tungsten dimers such as [CpW(CO)3]2. CpW(CO)2(IMe)H was prepared by heating a solution of [IMeH]+[CpW(CO)2(PMe3)]-, and exists in solution as a mixture of interconverting cis and trans isomers. The carbene rotation in CpW(CO)2(IMe)H was explored by DFT calculations, and low enthalpic barriers (< 3.5 kcal mol-1) are predicted. CpW(CO)2(IMe)H has pKaMeCN = 31.5(3) and deprotonation with KH gives K+[CpW(CO)2(IMe)]- (• MeCN). Hydride abstraction from CpW(CO)2(IMe)H with Ph3C+PF6- in the presence of a coordinating ligand L (MeCN or THF) gives [CpW(CO)2(IMe)(L)]+PF6-. Electrochemical measurements on the anion [CpW(CO)2(IMe)]- in MeCN, together with digital simulations, give an E1/2 of -1.54(2) V vs Cp2Fe+/0 for the [CpW(CO)2(IMe)]•/- couple. A thermochemical cycle provides the solution bond dissociation free energy of the W-H bond of CpW(CO)2(IMe)H as 61.3(6) kcal mol-1. In the electrochemical oxidation of [CpW(CO)2(IMe)]-, reversible dimerization of the electrogenerated radical CpW(CO)2(IMe)• occurs, and digital simulation provides kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the monomer-dimer equilibrium: kdimerization ~ 2.5 x 104 M-1 s-1, khomolysis ~ 0.5 s-1 (i.e., Kdim ~ 5 x 104 M-1). Reduction of [CpW(CO)2(IMe)(MeCN)]+PF6- with cobaltocene gives the dimer [CpW(CO)2(IMe)]2, which in solution exists as a mixture of anti and gauche rotomers. As expected from the electrochemical experiments, the dimer is in equilibrium with detectable amounts of CpW(CO)2(IMe)•. This species was observed by IR spectroscopy, and its presence in solution is also in accordance with the observed reactivity toward 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone, chloroform and dihydrogen. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Biosciences and Geosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The EPR studies were performed at EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Catalytic N 2 Reduction to Silylamines and Thermodynamics of N 2 Binding at Square Planar Fe

The geometric constraints imposed by a tetradentate P4N2 ligand play an essential role in stabilizing square planar Fe complexes with changes in metal oxidation state. A combination of high-pressure electrochemistry and variable temperature UV-vis spectroscopy were used to obtain these thermodynamic measurements, while X-ray crystallography, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy were used to fully characterize these new compounds. Analysis of Fe0, FeI, and FeII complexes reveals that the free energy of N2 binding across three oxidation states spans more than 37 kcal mol-1. The square pyramidal Fe0(N2)(P4N2) complex catalyzes the conversion of N2 to N(SiR3)3 (R = Me, Et) at room temperature, representing the highest turnover number (TON) of any Fe-based N2 silylation catalyst to date (up to 65 equiv N(SiMe3)3 per Fe center). Elevated N2 pressures (> 1 atm) have a dramatic effect on catalysis, increasing N2 solubility and the thermodynamic N2 binding affinity at Fe0(N2)(P4N2). Acknowledgment. This research was supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. EPR experiments were performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. DOE. Computational resources were provided by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The authors thank Prof. Yisong Alex Guo at Carnegie Mellon University for recording Mössbauer data for some complexes and Emma Wellington and Kaye Kuphal for their assistance with the collection of Mössbauer data at Colgate University, Dr. Katarzyna Grubel for X-ray assistance, and Dr. Rosalie Chu for mass spectrometry assistance. The authors also thank Dr. Aaron Appel and Dr. Alex Kendall for helpful discussions.

iron, thermodynamics, dinitrogen, square planer, M↗
DOE OSTI2013

Characterization of CO2 behavior on rutile TiO2 (110) surface

The dynamic behavior of carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorbed on the rutile TiO2 (110) surface is studied by dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) and combined ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). Understanding he behavior of CO2 is important regarding possible applications for treating CO2 in current environmental problems along with the consideration as a renewable energy source. Concerning the ability as a redusible support of TiO2 surface, a fundamental understanding of the interaction between CO2 and TiO2 surface will help extending the possibile applications. In the current study, CO2 interaction and dynamics behavior on the TiO2 surface is characterized including he effect of the oxygen vacancy (OV) defect. Also the coverage dependence of CO2 behavior is investigated since more contribution of the intermolecular interaction among CO2 molecules can be expected as the coverage increasing. This work is supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Science, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosicences and Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. A portion of the research was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

ab initio molecular dynamics↗
DOE OSTI2016

Controlling Proton Delivery with Catalyst Structural Dynamics

The fastest synthetic molecular catalysts for production and oxidation of H2 emulate components of the active site of natural hydrogenases. The role of controlled structural dynamics is recognized as a critical component in the catalytic performance of many enzymes, including hydrogenases, but is largely neglected in the design of synthetic molecular cata-lysts. In this work, the impact of controlling structural dynamics on the rate of production of H2 was studied for a series of [Ni(PPh2NC6H4-R2)2]2+ catalysts including R = n-hexyl, n-decyl, n-tetradecyl, n-octadecyl, phenyl, or cyclohexyl. A strong correlation was observed between the ligand structural dynamics and the rates of electrocatalytic hydrogen production in acetonitrile, acetonitrile-water, and protic ionic liquid-water mixtures. Specifically, the turnover frequencies correlate inversely with the rates of ring inversion of the amine-containing ligand, as this dynamic process dictates the positioning of the proton relay in the second coordination sphere and therefore governs protonation at either catalytically productive or non-productive sites. This study demonstrates that the dynamic processes involved in proton delivery can be controlled through modifications of the outer coordination sphere of the catalyst, similar to the role of the protein architecture in many enzymes. The present work provides new mechanistic insight into the large rate enhancements observed in aqueous protic ionic liquid media for the [Ni(PPh2NR2)]2+ family of catalysts. The incorporation of controlled structural dynamics as a design parameter to modulate proton delivery in molecular catalysts has enabled H2 production rates that are up to three orders of magnitude faster than the [Ni(PPh2NPh2)]2+complex. The observed turnover frequencies are up to 106 s-1 in acetonitrile-water, and over 107 s-1 in protic ionic liquid-water mixtures, with a minimal increase in overpotential. This material is based upon work supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, and was performed in part using the Molecular Science Computing Facility (MSCF) in the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE national scientific user facility located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is operated by Battelle for DOE.

electrocatalysis, structural dynamics↗
DOE OSTI2014

Impact of a Mixed Oxide’s Surface Composition and Structure on Its Adsorptive Properties: Case of the (Fe,Cr) 3 O 4 (111) Termination of the α-(Fe,Cr) 2 O 3 (0001) Surface

Characterization of an α-(Fe 0.75 ,Cr 0.25 ) 2 O 3 (0001) mixed oxide single crystal surface was conducted using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). After sputter/anneal cleaning in ultra-high vacuum (UHV), the mixed oxide surface became terminated with a magnetite-(111) structure based on the presence of (2x2) spots in LEED and Fe 2+ in XPS. The composition of the surface was close to that of M 3 O 4 based on XPS, with the metal (M) content of Fe 2+/3+ and Cr 3+ being close to 1.4:1, despite the fact that the film’s bulk was 3:1 with respect to the metal cations. The enrichment of the surface with Cr was not altered by high temperature oxidation in UHV, but could be returned to that of the bulk film composition by exposure to the ambient. Adsorption of various probe molecules (NO, O 2 , CO 2 and H 2 O) was used to identify the active cation sites present in the (Fe,Cr) 3 O 4 (111) terminated surface. Although XPS and SIMS both indicated that the near-surface region was enriched in Cr 3+ , no adsorption states typically associated with Cr 3+ sites on α-Cr 2 O 3 single crystal surfaces were detected. Instead, the TPD behaviors of O 2 and CO 2 pointed toward the main active sites being Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ , with O 2 preferentially adsorbing at the former and CO 2 at the latter. NO was observed to bind at both Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ sites, and H 2 O TPD looked nearly identical to that for H 2 O on the Fe 3 O 4 (111) surface. Competition for adsorption sites between coadsorbed combinations of CO 2 , O 2 , H 2 O and NO corroborated these assignments. These results indicate that the surface composition of a mixed oxide can vary significantly from its bulk composition depending on the treatment conditions. Even then, the surface composition does not necessarily provide direct insight into the active adsorption sites. In the case of the (Fe,Cr) 3 O 4 (111) termination of the α-(Fe 0.75 ,Cr 0.25 ) 2 O 3 (0001) surface, Cr 3+ cations in the near-surface region appear to be fully coordinated and unavailable for adsorbing molecules. The authors thank Drs. Sara Chamberlin and Scott Chambers for supplying the film used in this work. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The research was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

adsorption↗
DOE OSTI2015

Photochemical Outcomes of Adsorbed Oxygen: Desorption, Dissociation and Passivation by Coadsorbed Water

A mixed Fe+Cr oxide surface was used to explore the photochemical fate of adsorbed O2 under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. This mixed oxide surface possessed a magnetite-like (111) structure based on low energy electron diffraction (LEED), with its chemical behavior resembling that of Fe3O4(111). Oxygen adsorption at 40 K resulted in two chemisorption states, a strongly bound form that desorbed in temperature programmed desorption (TPD) at 230 K and a weakly bound form that evolved at 100 K. The former was assigned to charge transfer adsorption at Fe2+ sites and the latter to electrostatic binding at Fe3+ sites. A minority state of O2 was also detected in TPD at ~160 K, and tentatively assigned to adsorption at Cr3+ sites. The 230 K O2 state was the focus of photochemical studies employing four wavelengths of light from the red to the UV. Irrespective of wavelength, O2 molecules in the 230 K state preferentially photodesorbed when irradiated, with comparable rates across the visible and an order of magnitude greater in the UV. Also, approximately 10% of adsorbed O2 irreversibly photodissociated, irrespective of wavelength, with the resulting fragments blocking access to cation sites for subsequent O2 adsorption. Preadsorbed water also blocked O2 adsorption, but post-adsorbed water stabilized O2 at Fe2+ sites in TPD to 285 K. However, water-stabilized O2 molecules were insensitive to photodesorption. O2 photodissociation and photo-passivation both represent potentially adverse outcomes in the release of O2 during the heterogeneous water photooxidation reaction. The author thanks Drs. Sara Chamberlin and Scott Chambers for supplying the film used in this work. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The research reported here was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

mixed oxide, photodesorption, oxygen, temperature ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Role of Water in Methanol Photochemistry on Rutile TiO2(110)

Photochemistry of the molecularly and dissociatively adsorbed forms of methanol on the vacuum-annealed rutile TiO2(110) surface was explored using temperature programmed desorption (TPD), both with and without coadsorbed water. Methoxy, and not methanol, was confirmed as the photochemically active form of adsorbed methanol on this surface. UV irradiation of methoxy-covered TiO2(110) lead to depletion of the methoxy coverage and formation of formaldehyde and a surface OH group. Coadsorbed water did not promote either molecular methanol photochemistry or thermal decomposition of methanol to methoxy. However, terminal OH groups (OHt), prepared by coadsorption of water and oxygen atoms, thermally converted molecularly adsorbed methanol to methoxy at 120 K, thus enabling photoactivity. While chemisorbed water molecules had no influence on methoxy photochemistry, water molecules hydrogen-bonded in the second layer to bridging oxygen (Obr) sites inhibited the methoxy photodecomposition to formaldehyde. From this we conclude that Obr sites accept protons from the hole-mediated conversion of methoxy to formaldehyde. These results provide new fundamental understanding of the hole-scavenging role of methanol in photochemical processes on TiO2-based materials and how water influences this photochemistry. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle under contract DEAC05-76RL01830. The research was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2012

Importance of Diffusion in Methanol Photochemistry on TiO2(110)

The photoactivity of methanol on the rutile TiO2(110) surface is shown to depend on the ability of methanol to diffuse on the surface and find sites active for its thermal dissociation to methoxy. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) results show that the extent of methanol photodecomposition to formaldehyde is negligible on the clean TiO2(110) surface at 100 K due to a scarcity of sites that can convert (photoinactive) methanol to (photoactive) methoxy. The extent of photoactivity at 100 K significantly increases when methanol is coadsorbed with oxygen, however only those molecules able to adsorb near (next to) a coadsorbed oxygen species are active. Preannealing coadsorbed methanol and oxygen to above 200 K prior to UV irradiation results in a significant increase in photoactivity. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images clearly show that the advent of increased photoactivity in TPD correlates with the onset of methanol diffusion along the surface’s Ti4+ rows at ~200 K. These results demonstrate that optimizing thermal processes (such as diffusion or proton transfer reactions) can be critical to maximizing photocatalytic reactivity on TiO2 surfaces. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle under contract DEAC05-76RL01830. The research was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

diffusion↗
DOE OSTI2013

Structure sensitivity of hydrogenolytic cleavage of endocyclic and exocyclic C-C bonds in methylcyclohexane over supported iridium particles

Structure sensitivities, H2 pressure effects and temperature dependencies for rates and selectivities of endo- and exocyclic C–C bond cleavage in methylcyclohexane were studied over supported Ir catalysts. The rate of endocyclic C–C bond cleavage first decreased and then increased with declining Ir dispersion from 0.65 to 0.035. The ring opening (RO) product distribution remained unchanged with varying H2 pressure on small Ir particles, while further shifting to methylhexanes with increasing H2 pressure on large particles. In contrast, the rate and selectivity of exocyclic C–C bond cleavage decreased monotonically with increasing H2 pressure and decreasing Ir particle size. The distinct dependencies of endocyclic and exocyclic C–C bond cleavage pathways on Ir dispersion and H2 pressure suggest that they are mediated by surface species with different ensemble size requirements. DFT calculations were performed on an Ir50 cluster and an Ir(111) surface, with or without pre-adsorbed hydrogen atoms, to provide insight into the observed effects of particle size and H2 pressure on RO pathways. On small Ir particles, the calculated dehydrogenation enthalpies for all endocyclic bonds were similar and affected to similar extents by H2 pressure; on large particles, the selectivity to n-heptane (via substituted C-C bond cleavage) was even lower than on small particles as a result of the least favorable adsorption and dehydrogenation energetics for hindered bonds. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The computing time is provided by the user project from EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the US Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Demethylation↗
DOE OSTI2014

Influence of Adsorption Site and Wavelength on the Photodesorption of NO from the (Fe,Cr) 3 O 4 (111) Mixed Oxide Surface

The photochemical properties of nitric oxide on a mixed oxide single crystal surface was examined in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) using temperature programmed desorption (TPD), photon stimulated desorption (PSD) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The mixed oxide was a 75% Fe and 25% Cr corundum (0001) oxide film prepared on an α-Al2O3(0001) crystal, however its surface became terminated with a magnetite-like (111) structure after sputter/anneal cleaning, leading to a surface designated of (Fe,Cr)3O4(111). TPD of NO from the (Fe,Cr)3O4(111) surface revealed three chemisorbed states at 220, ~315 and 370 K assigned to NO binding at Fe3+, Cr3+ and Fe2+ sites, respectively. No significant thermal chemistry of NO was detected. NO photodesorption, the primary photochemical pathway in UHV, was sensitive to the adsorption site, with rates at the three adsorption sites following the trend: Fe3+ > Fe2+ > Cr3+. Multiexponential rate behavior seen in the overall NO PSD spectra was linked directly to site heterogeneity being manifested as a convolution of the individual NO photodesorption rates at the three types of surface sites. The photodesorption rate with UV light (365 nm) was ~10 times greater than that in the visible, but the per-photon rates across the visible spectrum (from 460 to 630 nm) were independent of the wavelength, which is suggestive of localized photon absorption at the adsorption site. Results in this study demonstrate that the adsorption site plays a critical role in determining photochemical rates on complex oxide surfaces. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multi-program national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The research was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

The Role of Ir in Ternary Rh-Based Catalysts for Syngas Conversion to C2+ Oxygenates

Transition metal modified Rh-catalysts can be used for converting syngas (CO+H2) into C2+ oxygenates. It has been found that Mn has a favorable effect in the selectivity towards oxygenates, while addition of Ir to the binary Rh-Mn catalysts significantly increases the space-time yield of C2+ oxygenates. In this paper, we use quantum mechanical calculations to investigate the distribution of promoter sites within Rh rich nanoparticles and their role in the conversion of syngas towards ethanol. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is operated by Battelle for the DOE under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830. A portion of the research was performed in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a national science user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research located at PNNL.

DFT models↗