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At least 379 records · Page 21

Ultra-thin ZrO 2 overcoating on CuO-ZnO-Al 2 O 3 catalyst by atomic layer deposition for improved catalytic performance of CO 2 hydrogenation to dimethyl ether

Abstract An ultra-thin overcoating of zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ) film on CuO-ZnO-Al 2 O 3 (CZA) catalysts by atomic layer deposition (ALD) was proved to enhance the catalytic performance of CZA/HZSM-5 (H form of Zeolite Socony Mobil-5) bifunctional catalysts for hydrogenation of CO 2 to dimethyl ether (DME). Under optimal reaction conditions (i.e. 240 °C and 2.8 MPa), the yield of product DME increased from 17.22% for the bare CZA/HZSM-5 catalysts, to 18.40% for the CZA catalyst after 5 cycles of ZrO 2 ALD with HZSM-5 catalyst. All the catalysts modified by ZrO 2 ALD displayed significantly improved catalytic stability of hydrogenation of CO 2 to DME reaction, compared to that of CZA/HZSM-5 bifunctional catalysts. The loss of DME yield in 100 h of reaction was greatly mitigated from 6.20% (loss of absolute value) to 3.01% for the CZA catalyst with 20 cycles of ZrO 2 ALD overcoating. Characterizations including hydrogen temperature programmed reduction, x-ray powder diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that there was strong interaction between Cu active centers and ZrO 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

STEP Report on Advanced ODS FeCrAl Alloys for Fission Applications

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing advanced low-Cr oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) FeCrAl alloys for accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding. This report presents the characterization of two new ODS FeCrAl tubes by using powder commercially mechanically alloyed by Zoz GmbH, which underwent high-precision tube rolling with two different annealing schedules. This work shows that the ODS FeCrAl tube without recrystallization exhibits consistent mechanical behavior in comparison with a previously produced tube. The second tube, which underwent a full recrystallization step before the final tube rolling step, showed some circumferential cracking and exhibited limited ductility in the axial tube tensile tests. Based on current and prior work on the ODS FeCrAl alloy system, this report compares the current state of the scientific literature on the alloy class with that of wrought FeCrAl without oxide additions. Then, this report makes recommendations for future research directions that should be undertaken to increase the technology readiness level for ODS FeCrAl as a viable ATF candidate material. This report has been submitted as fulfillment of milestone M3FT-20OR020202064 titled, “STEP Report on Advanced ODS FeCrAl Alloys for Fission Applications” for the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Advanced Fuel Campaign of the Fuel Cycle R&D program.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Coupled Gel/Seeded Growth of Cs2AgBiBr6 Single Crystals for Radiation Detection

Abstract— The all-inorganic lead free Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskite represents a highly promising environment-friendly radiation detector material. The first attempt to grow Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals using the unique gel growth method is reported in this study. This technique enables controlled reagent diffusion in a gel medium at room temperature, fostering the growth of visible single crystals. It offers advantages over conventional methods, leading to fewer equilibrium and non-equilibrium defects and simplified execution. Interestingly, the as-grown crystals exhibited variations in size and colors within the gel matrix, indicating the influence of Bi solutes in Bi-poor and Bi-rich Cs2AgBiBr6 crystals. Once the crystals were confirmed by powder xray diffraction, a series of comprehensive material characterizations was performed. The resistivity of Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals was measured at 1.12x107 Ω•cm. Trap density analysis yielded a value of 2.82 x1010 cm-3. The charge carrier mobility was determined to be 32.9 cm2V-1S-1, suggesting the suitability for radiation detector applications. Additional growth optimization is going on and further characterization will be reported during the presentation. Our work helps accelerate the development of lead-free perovskite materials toward radiation detector applications.

James, Ralph B.↗

A New Complex Borohydride LiAl(BH4)2Cl2

A new mixed alkali metal–aluminum borohydride LiAl(BH4)2Cl2 has been prepared via mechanochemical synthesis from the 2LiBH4–AlCl3 mixture. Structural characterization, performed using a combination of X-ray powder diffraction and solid-state NMR methods, indicates that the LiAl(BH4)2Cl2 phase adopts a unique 3D framework and crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure with the space group C2221, a = 11.6709(6) Å, b = 8.4718(4) Å, c = 7.5114(3) Å. The material shows excellent dehydrogenation characteristics, where hydrogen evolution starts at Tons = 70 °C, releasing approximately 2 wt.% of nearly pure (99.8 vol.%) hydrogen and a very small amount (~0.2 vol.%) of diborane. When compared to halide-free mixed alkali metal–aluminum borohydrides, the presence of Al‒Cl bonding in the LiAl(BH4)2Cl2 structure likely prevents the formation of Al(BH4)3 upon decomposition, thus suppressing the formation of diborane.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Rietveld Refinement for Macromolecular Powder Diffraction

Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) has been employed extensively for the structural characterization of materials, quantitative analysis of multicomponent mixtures, phase identification, texture, and microstructural analysis. At the heart of all those lies the Rietveld method, which has revolutionized the use of powder diffraction for materials studies. Initially applied to minerals and inorganics, the Rietveld method has progressively been used for more complex materials, for instance, zeolites and pharmaceuticals. A major advance of the method came some 20 years ago, when the first protein structure was successfully refined. Because of the sheer complexity of macromolecules, several new approaches and algorithms had to be pioneered or adapted from macromolecular single-crystal diffraction experiments, thus constituting macromolecular PXRD a quite unique field of study. This review aims to provide necessary elements of theory and application of structure solution and refinement via the Rietveld method for macromolecular PXRD data. Here, practical explanations and highlighted case studies are also presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Transformation of a ceramic precursor to a biomedical (metallic) alloy: Part I – sinterability of Ta 2 O 5 and TiO 2 mixed oxides

Mixed Ta 2 O 5 – TiO 2 binary system was studied by a combination of differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) techniques. Different compositions of the mixed oxide powders were fabricated by ball–milling the powdered compositions, pelletizing the homogenized composite powders, and heating the green pellets in air at different temperatures for fixed time intervals. The sintered pellets were evaluated and characterized with respect to porosity, morphology, and phase distribution. DTA runs of the un-sintered powders indicated the onset temperatures for both exothermic and endothermic changes in the binary system. Significant amount of sintering was observed to take place at temperatures higher than 900 °C. Both room and high temperature X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited consistency in phase formation. A ternary compound (TaTiO 4 ) and a ternary solid solution (Ti 0.33 Ta 0.67 O 2 ) were observed to form in both room and high temperatures in addition to the respective binary phases (Ta 2 O 5 and TiO 2 ). A sintering temperature in the range 900–1000 °C was observed to be adequate to achieve the requisite mechanical strength and optimum internal porosity (40–48%) for subsequent electrochemical polarization experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

(Oxy)hydroxides Formed on Aluminum Fuel Materials After Irradiation and Long-Term Wet Storage - 20354

The aluminum cladding of research-reactor fuel experiences general corrosion when in contact with water during in-reactor service and post-discharge wet storage, resulting in the formation of adherent aluminum (oxy)hydroxide films. These (oxy)hydroxides contain chemically-bound water that poses challenges for extended dry storage due to the risk of thermal or radiolytic decomposition releasing free water and/or hydrogen and oxygen gases. This study describes characterization of the (oxy)hydroxides present on several aluminum materials used in reactor operation and subsequently stored wet in the L-Basin storage facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS) for an extended period. Characterization data providing insight into the loading, composition, and morphology of (oxy)hydroxides to be expected on service-exposed aluminum cladding provides valuable benchmarks for designing adequate drying and dry-storage approaches. This work is part of a broader investigation to address knowledge gaps and technical data needs for dry storage of aluminum-clad spent nuclear fuel (ASNF), which included in-lab growth of (oxy)hydroxide films on aluminum alloy substrates to investigate formation behavior, investigation of drying methods to remove existing (oxy)hydroxides from ASNF cladding, and measurement of radiolytic yield of hydrogen from (oxy)hydroxide powders and films. In this study, (oxy)hydroxide films were characterized for three aluminum-alloy materials used in reactors and subsequently stored wet for up to approximately 40 years in L-Basin at SRS: one cropping from a Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR) fuel element (Al-6061 alloy), one cropping from a Universal Sleeve Housing (USH) (Al-6063 alloy), and one Mark-16B fuel assembly (either Al-6061 or Al- 6063). The USH and Mark-16B were used in SRS production reactors. Characterization of the as-received (oxy)hydroxides included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in both plan-view and cross-section to characterize the (oxy)hydroxide layer's morphology, thickness, and structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the chemical composition and distinguish between the various aluminum (oxy)hydroxides known to form under reactor and storage conditions. XRD analysis revealed both bayerite (Al(OH)3) and boehmite (AlOOH) on the surface of the MURR and USH samples, as well as bayerite, boehmite, and gibbsite (another Al(OH)3 polymorph) on the surface of the Mark-16B sample. The aluminum trihydroxides, bayerite and gibbsite, are typically associated with corrosion in low-temperature (<80 deg. C) water, while boehmite is expected to form at higher water temperature (>80 deg. C). The presence of bayerite on the USH, which is believed to have operated close to 90 deg. C, suggests that boehmite formed during in-reactor exposure was not protective against further hydroxide growth in low-temperature wet storage. Cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed total (oxy)hydroxide layer thicknesses of ∼5- 10 μm for the MURR and ∼5-15 μm for the Mark-16B. The thickness of the USH's (oxy)hydroxide layer was indiscernible by the current mounting and imaging method, despite plan-view SEM and XRD confirming the presence of an (oxy)hydroxide layer. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Boron carbide amorphous solid with tunable band gap

Boron carbide B x C (x = 1/6 – 10) powders were synthesized through a microwave-assisted carbothermic reduction reaction as a potential clean energy material. Their crystallographic structures and optical properties were characterized. X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction indicated that the synthesized B x C powders were amorphous. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy demonstrated that the composition of boron and carbon was in amorphous materials, and their chemical bonding were disclosed from Raman scattering spectroscopy. Here, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that the bandgap of the bulks varied from 2.30 eV to 3.90 eV, tuned by the boron/carbon element ratio.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis and structural characterization of the vividly colored first row transition metal-containing oxyfluoride antiperovskites Sr3-xMnxMO4F and Sr3-xMnxMO4-αF1-δ (M = Al, Ga)

Highlights: • Substitution of Mn{sup 2+} demonstrates Sr{sub 3-x}A{sub x}MO{sub 4}F can tolerate divalent first row transition metals. • The colors of these materials vary from green to purple depending on anion stoichiometry. • Intense colors are likely due to small amounts of Mn{sup 3+} on the tetrahedral Al site. • Structural data is consistent with preferential occupation of eight-coordinate Sr(2) site by Mn{sup 2+}. • Large off-center displacements are observed on the underbonded ten-coordinate Sr(1) site. - Abstract: Incorporation of dopant amounts of the divalent transition metal cation Mn{sup 2+} into the oxyfluoride material Sr{sub 3-x}Mn{sub x}MO{sub 4}F (M = Al, Ga; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) yields green powders which vary in hue depending on the identity of M. Treatment of these phases with post-synthesis annealing under reducing conditions produces anion deficient phases according to Sr{sub 3-x}Mn{sub x}MO{sub 4-α}F{sub 1-δ} displaying vivid purple coloration. Intense colors are likely due to small amounts of Mn{sup 3+} on the tetrahedral M site. Full structural characterization based upon powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data are presented herein, demonstrating that the Sr{sub 3-x}A{sub x}MO{sub 4}F (A = Ca, Sr, Ba; M = Al, Ga) anti-perovskite structure can readily accommodate first row transition metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Presence of Induced Weak Ferromagnetism in Fe-Substituted YFe x Cr 1–x O 3 Crystalline Compounds

Fe-substituted YFe x Cr 1–x O 3 crystalline compounds show promising magnetic and multiferroic properties. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of several compositions from this series. Using the autocombustion route, various compositions (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.6, 0.75, 0.9, and 1) were synthesized as high-quality crystalline powders. In order to obtain microscopic and atomic information about their structure and magnetism, characterization was performed using room temperature X-ray diffraction and energy dispersion analysis as well as temperature-dependent neutron diffraction, magnetometry, and 57 Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. Rietveld analysis of the diffraction data revealed a crystallite size of 84 (8) nm for YFeO 3 , while energy dispersion analysis indicated compositions close to the nominal compositions. The magnetic results suggested an enhancement of the weak ferromagnetism for the YFeO 3 phase due to two contributions. First, a high magnetocrystalline anisotropy was associated with the crystalline character that favored a unique high canting angle of the antiferromagnetic phase (13°), as indicated by the neutron diffraction analysis. This was also evidenced by the high magnetic hysteresis curves up to 90 kOe by a remarkable high critical coercivity value of 46.7 kOe at room temperature. Second, the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions between homogenous and heterogeneous magnetic pairs resulted from the inhomogeneous distribution of Fe 3+ and Cr 3+ ions, as indicated by 57 Fe Mössbauer studies. Together, these results point to new methods of controlling the magnetic properties of these materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Study on Magnetic Properties and Degradability of Gas Atomization Fe-Based (Fe-Si-B-P) Amorphous Powder

Fe-based amorphous materials have attracted extensive attention in the application of organic pollutant degradation due to their excellent chemical properties. In this work, a novel Fe-based (Fe-Si-B-P) amorphous powder prepared by gas atomization is employed to decompose azo dyes for wastewater treatment. Its crystalline structure, distribution of particle size, and soft magnetic properties are characterized. The experimental results show that the Fe-based (Fe-Si-B-P) powder is amorphous morphology which might bring many benefits for decomposing organics in waste water. The particle size of the micro-sized spheroidal powder distributes mainly from 10 to 50 μm, and most are about 17~19 μm. The magnetic properties are also investigated. Its saturation magnetization (M{sub S}) and coercivity (H{sub C}) are, respectively, 55 emu/g and 19.6 Oe, which present superb soft magnetic properties. Finally, we studied the degradability of the Fe-based amorphous powder by decomposing the methylene blue in waste water, and the results show that 0.05-g Fe-based amorphous powder can completely degrade the 50 ml methylene blue solution with the concentration of 3 × 10{sup −5} M within 15 min in weak acidic environment, which shows great degradability for wastewater treatment.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Solidification texture, variant selection, and phase fraction in a spot-melt electron-beam powder bed fusion processed Ti-6Al-4V

The effect of a spot melt strategy on the solidification texture, variant selection, phase fraction, and their variations along the build height was investigated in comparison to a conventional linear melt strategy. Ti-6Al-4V alloy samples were manufactured by an electron-beam powder bed fusion process using two different melt strategies and characterized using high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction. The linear and spot melt cases resulted in β<100> cube and fiber textures, respectively, with the cube/fiber axis nearly parallel to the build direction. The α phase exhibited Burgers orientation relationship (BOR) with the parent β phase for both melt strategies. Although all of the key texture components and the BOR between the α and β phases were consistently observed in both cases along the build height, there were several measurable differences between the two. At the top of the build height, the β<100> build texture intensity was stronger in the linear case. However, the texture intensity in the linear case decreased gradually from the top to near the substrate, whereas the spot melt case did not show this trend. Moreover, the BOR was examined along the build height and the results showed that there is a distinct variant selection in the spot melt case, unlike the linear case. Specifically, the planar variants sharing ($\bar101$) β || (0002) α with [$\bar2\bar2\bar2$]β and [$2\bar22$]β were the most prominent in the spot melt, but no preference was identified in the directional variants. The β phase fraction was slightly lower in the spot melt case compared to the linear case. In both the cases, the β phase fraction decreased moving towards the substrate but remained significantly higher than that of the powder feedstock. Overall, the novel spot melt strategy produced a more homogeneous microstructure in terms of both the phase fraction and texture across the build height.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An investigation of the phase behaviors for quaternary U-Nb/Mo-Ti-Zr metallic fuel alloys

We report quaternary fuel alloys containing U, Nb/Mo, Ti, and Zr are proposed as fuel candidates for sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). In this work, two Nb-bearing alloys, i.e., U-NT5Z (U-2.5Nb-2.5Ti-5.0Zr in wt%) and U-NT7Z (U-1.5Nb-1.5Ti-7.0Zr in wt%), and two Mo-bearing alloys, i.e., U-MT5Z (U-2.5Mo-2.5Ti-5.0Zr in wt%) and U-MT7Z (U-1.5Mo-1.5Ti-7.0Zr in wt%) were characterized and compared. The characterization techniques were differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). DSC was performed to obtain the transition behaviors, and XRD and SEM/EDS were applied for phase identification. The results were combined to obtain the solid-state phase transitions between 500 °C and 850 °C for the alloys. It is found that the Nb-bearing alloys comprise similar phase transition behaviors as the Mo-bearing alloys. The phase transitions in U-NT5Z are a →γ at 608 °C and U 2 Ti → γ at 627 °C, which are ~40 °C higher than that of U-MT5Z. The phase transition in U-NT7Z is a → γ at 645 °C, and is 23 °C higher than that of U-MT7Z.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Gas Release Behavior of Cu-TiH{sub 2} Composite Powder and Its Application as a Blowing Agent to Fabricate Aluminum Foams with Low Porosity and Small Pore Size

Compared to traditional pore structure with high porosity (≥ 80 pct) and large pore size (≥ 3 mm), aluminum foams with low porosity (60 to 70 pct) and small pore size (≤ 2 mm) possess higher compressive property and formability. In order to achieve the goal of reducing pore size, Cu-TiH{sub 2} composite powder prepared by ball milling preoxidized TiH{sub 2} with Cu powder was used as a blowing agent. Its gas release behavior was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that the ball milling treatment can advance the gas release process and slow the gas release rate at the same time. All these changes are favorable to the reduction of porosity and pore size. Such Cu-TiH{sub 2} composite powder provides an alternative way to fabricate aluminum foams with low porosity and small pore size.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Preparation of single-crystal spherical γ-Mo{sub 2}N by temperature-programmed reaction between β-MoO{sub 3} and NH{sub 3}

In the present wok, single-crystalline spherical γ-Mo{sub 2}N powders was successfully prepared by the temperature-programmed reaction of single-crystal spherical β-MoO{sub 3} with NH{sub 3} in the temperature ranges of 1013–1073 K. Herein, the Mo source used was monoclinic system, β-MoO{sub 3}, a metastable phase of MoO{sub 3}. It is found that the characterizations of the as-prepared γ-Mo{sub 2}N powders are strongly depended on the selection of the MoO{sub 3} precursor. In other words, the as-prepared γ-Mo{sub 2}N powders inherited the shape, size and structure of the used β-MoO{sub 3} precursors upon reaction with NH{sub 3}. In order to make a comparison, β-MoO{sub 3} was also reduced by the mixed gases of N{sub 2} and H{sub 2} with the flow rate ratio of 1:3 at the identical conditions. It was found that pure β-Mo{sub 2}N polycrystalline can be obtained when the temperature was 1013 K; while further increasing the reaction temperature, metal Mo powder will be turned up. - Highlights: • Metastable phase β-MoO{sub 3} was used to prepare Mo{sub 2}N via temperature-programmed reaction. • Single-crystal spherical γ-Mo{sub 2}N can be obtained by reducing Single-crystal spherical β-MoO{sub 3} with NH{sub 3}. • The as-prepared γ-Mo{sub 2}N inherited the morphology and size of β-MoO{sub 3} precursors. • β-Mo{sub 2}N can be obtained if using the N{sub 2}-H{sub 2} mixed gases. • The morphologies of β-Mo{sub 2}N had no heredity with the parent MoO{sub 3}.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Polyhydroxyalkanoates/Fibrillated Nanocellulose Composites for Additive Manufacturing

Novel poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)(PHBH)/fibrillated nanocellulose biodegradable composites for additive manufacturing were produced and characterized. Fibrillated nanocellulose (NCF) was isolated with high energy ultrasonication and dispersed via solution mixing in the polymer matrix. Composite filaments having a nanofiller concentration of 0.5 wt%, 1 wt% and 3 wt% were then extruded, characterized and used in fused deposition modeling (FDM). Neat PHBH powder was then manually added to prepare a solid mixture at different fibrillated nanocellulose concentrations (from 0.5 to 3 wt%), to be then used to feed an extruder. SEM observations on filaments and 3D printed samples evidenced the good dispersion of fibrillated nanocellulose inside the matrix with the presence of agglomerates at higher NCF contents. The beneficial effects of the fibrillated nanocellulose in terms of stress at break and of elongation at break showed a maximum at a fibrillated nanocellulose content of 0.5 wt%. Moreover, the presence of fibrillated nanocellulose did not affect the thermal degradation behaviour of the materials, and also the glass transition and the melting temperatures were not influenced by NCF addition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Improvement of the Magnetization and Coercivity of La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} Induced by Substitution of Nickel for Manganese

La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 1−x}Ni{sub x}O{sub 3} (0 ≤x ≤ 0.3) is synthesized by solid-state reaction at low temperatures, followed by calcination in air. The precursor and its calcined products are characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. A high-crystallized La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 1−x}Ni{sub x}O{sub 3} with an orthorhombic structure is obtained when the precursor is calcined at 900{sup ∘}C in air for 3 h. Crystallite size of La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 1−x}Ni{sub x}O{sub 3} increases with the increase of Ni content, attributed to the decrease of lattice strains of the La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 1−x}Ni{sub x}O{sub 3} with the increase in Ni content. Nickel substitution can markedly improve coercivity and specific magnetization of La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 1−x}Ni{sub x}O{sub 3}. The coercive field (9 Oe) of La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 0.7}Ni{sub 0.3}O{sub 3} is higher, even at 293 K, indicating that La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}Mn{sub 0.7}Ni{sub 0.3}O{sub 3} continues being ferromagnetic above 260 K (Curie temperature for LCMO).

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Divanadium substituted keggin [PV 2 W 10 O 40 ] on non-reducible supports-Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 : synthesis, characterization, and catalytic properties for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Molecular metal oxide cluster, K 5 [α-1,2-PV 2 W 10 O 40 ] (PV 2 W 10 ), was found to have intrinsic catalytic activity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with high selectivity (> 80%) to propylene at low propane conversion (0.3%). Synthesis of dispersed PV 2 W 10 in non-reducible supports, γ-Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 , was done by incipient wetness impregnation. The supported catalysts were characterized by IR, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption, x-ray powder diffraction (PXRD), elemental analysis, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 –TPR), and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH 3 –TPD). Catalytic testing of the supported PV 2 W 10 at equimolar cluster concentration revealed that when supported in γ-Al 2 O 3 it is more active (sevenfold increase in propane conversion) but in SiO 2 it is more selective to propylene (94%). The observed performance was due to both an increase in reducibility and higher concentration of strong acid sites for PV 2 W 10 supported in γ-Al 2 O 3 versus SiO 2 . Lastly, PV 2 W10 was shown to remain intact under reaction conditions indicating its thermal and oxidative stability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗