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At least 109 records · Page 6

Structure and activity of supported bimetallic NiPd nanoparticles: influence of preparation method on CO 2 reduction

Here, bimetallic Ni-Pd and monometallic reference catalysts were prepared by decomposing organometallic precursors, Ni(cod) 2 and Pd 2 (dba) 3 , leading to nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 3 to 6 nm. Two different synthesis procedures were followed: i) solution synthesis using capping ligand (hexadecylamine) followed by impregnation of pre-formed nanoparticles on SiO 2 , called Sol-immobilization (SI); and 2) direct precursor decomposition onto SiO 2 , without stabilizer, called Direct Decomposition (DD). Samples prepared by SI procedure are alloyed bimetallic nanoparticles, whereas samples obtained by DD one show phase segregation. Interestingly, DD samples show better activity for CO 2 hydrogenation into CO (reverse water-gas shift reaction - RWGS) than SI ones. The best compromise between activity for CO 2 activation (at lower temperature) and CO selectivity was achieved with Ni DD and NiPd DD catalysts. Moreover, the addition of palladium increased the concentration of surface undercoordinated sites, which chemisorb CO weakly, thus improving activity and selectivity, in opposition to other samples that chemisorb CO strongly, in multiband configuration. In the presence of Pd, different decomposition rates drive the formation of smaller and more active Ni clusters. The knowledge acquired here on the influence of synthesis conditions on the catalytic properties of Ni-Pd catalysts should guide us to better catalysts for CO 2 transformations into valuable products.

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Steam-Assisted Selective CO 2 Hydrogenation to Ethanol over Ru–In Catalysts

Multicomponent catalysts can be designed to synergistically combine reaction intermediates at interfacial active sites, but restructuring makes systematic control and understanding of such dynamics challenging. In this work, we unveil how reducibility and mobility of indium oxide species in Ru-based catalysts crucially control the direct, selective conversion of CO 2 to ethanol. When uncontrolled, reduced indium oxide species occupy the Ru surface, leading to deactivation. With the addition of steam as a mild oxidant and using porous polymer layers to control In mobility, Ru–In 2 O 3 interface sites are stabilized, and ethanol can be produced with superior overall selectivity (70 %, rest CO). Our work highlights how engineering of bifunctional active ensembles enables cooperativity and synergy at tailored interfaces, which unlocks unprecedented performance in heterogeneous catalysts.

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Tracking the phase changes in micelle-based NiGa nanocatalysts for methanol synthesis under activation and working conditions

The hydrogenation of CO 2 into high energy density fuels such as methanol, where the required H 2 is obtained from renewable sources, is of utmost importance for a sustainable society. In recent years, NiGa alloys have attracted attention as promising catalyst material systems for the hydrogenation of CO 2 into methanol at ambient pressures. They thus represent an energy-saving alternative to the Cu-based catalysts employed in today's catalytic industry that require high pressures for the CO 2 hydrogenation. However, the underlying reaction mechanisms for the NiGa system are still under debate. One of the challenges here is to unravel the evolution and coexistence of the different species in the heterogeneous NiGa catalyst system under activation and reaction conditions. To shed light on their evolution under activation in H 2 and their catalytic roles under CO 2 hydrogenation working conditions on well-defined Ni 3 Ga 1 and Ni 5 Ga 3 nanoparticle (NP) catalysts, we employed a multi-probe approach in this study. It included advanced machine learning-based analysis of operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy data combined with operando powder X-ray diffraction and near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, as well as reactivity studies using bed-packed mass flow reactors. In addition, we employed atomic force microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy for structural characterization. Under H 2 activation at 1 bar total pressure, we concluded the formation of metallic Ni, starting for Ni 3 Ga 1 at 300 °C, and for Ni 5 Ga 3 at 400 °C. At higher temperatures, the formation of NiGa alloys follows. The α'-Ni 3 Ga 1 alloy phase is predominantly formed for the Ni 3 Ga 1 NPs, while the coexistence of α'-Ni 3 Ga 1 , δ-Ni 5 Ga 3 and Ga 2 O 3 phases is observed for the Ni 5 Ga 3 NPs after the H 2 activation. The formation of the Ga 2 O 3 phase also results in the presence of excess metallic Ni. Under CO 2 hydrogenation reaction conditions, Ga partially oxidizes again to form a Ga 2 O 3 -rich particle shell for both NP compositions, yet, to a larger extent for the Ni 3 Ga 1 NPs, which, in turn, feature a higher amount of excess Ni. We reveal that metallic Ni is responsible for the high selectivity of the Ni 3 Ga 1 NPs towards the production of methane in our catalytic tests. In contrast, the Ni 5 Ga 3 NPs display a strong selectivity toward methanol production (>92%), more than one order of magnitude higher than that for the Ni 3 Ga 1 NPs, which we ascribe to the presence of the δ-Ni 5 Ga 3 phase.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Neutron Insights into Sorption Enhanced Methanol Catalysis

Sorption enhanced methanol production makes use of the equilibrium shift of the CO 2 hydrogenation reaction towards the desired products. However, the increased complexity of the catalyst system leads to additional reactions and thus side products such as dimethyl ether, and complicates the analysis of the reaction mechanism. On the other hand, the unusually high concentration of intermediates and products in the sorbent facilitates the use of inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopy. Despite being a post-mortem method, the INS data revealed the change of the reaction path during sorption catalysis. Concretely, the experiments indicate that the varying water partial pressure due to the adsorption saturation of the zeolite sorbent influences the progress of the reaction steps in which water is involved. Experiments with model catalysts support the INS findings.

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Selective hydrogenation of CO 2 and CO over potassium promoted Co/ZSM-5

The utilization of CO 2 as a C 1 feedstock for synthesis of value-added chemicals and fuels could both mitigate the negative effects associated with increasing CO 2 emissions and decrease dependence on fossil fuels as part of a future circular carbon economy. Co-based catalysts have been well-developed for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS), but replacing the CO reactant with CO 2 (CO 2 -FTS) typically results in low selectivity toward desirable light olefins. To better understand the structure-property relationships of Co-based catalysts, and extend promising FTS results to CO 2 -FTS, we have studied the effect of a potassium promoter and acidic properties of ZSM-5 on catalytic performance. The selectivity of FTS and CO 2 -FTS is shown to be a strong function of Si/Al ratio in co-impregnated catalysts, with findings supported by in situ XAFS and FTIR, demonstrating light olefin selectivity can be tuned by Si/Al ratio and the method of introducing the K promoter.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Constructing Co Cluster Sites for Selective CO 2 Hydrogenation via Phase Segregation from Co-Doped TiO 2 Nanocrystals

This article presents a Co phase segregation strategy for creating stable Co cluster catalytic sites on TiO 2 , enabling selective CO 2 hydrogenation to CO. Through oxidative calcination, pre-synthesized Co-doped brookite TiO 2 nanorods transform into a mixed TiO 2 phase, leading to the phase segregation of Co species. The resulting Co clusters, stabilized by strong Co-TiO 2 interactions during reductive CO 2 hydrogenation, effectively suppress the formation of larger nanoparticles. The undercoordinated sites of these clusters promote a high CO production rate with near-unit selectivity, contrasting with Co nanoparticles, which favor CH 4 formation under identical conditions. In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analysis indicates that the weakened CO adsorption on Co clusters is key to their enhanced CO selectivity, highlighting this method as a promising approach for efficient CO 2 utilization.

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Revisiting the influence of Ni particle size on the hydrogenation of CO 2 to CH 4 over Ni/CeO 2

Nickel nanoparticles were supported on CeO 2 and evaluated in the hydrogenation of CO 2 to CH 4 at 538 K and 1 atm. Chemisorption of H 2 was used to estimate the average Ni particle size, which ranged from 1.3 to 17 nm. The apparent activation energy for CH 4 formation and turnover frequency for CO 2 conversion was independent of Ni particle size. The smallest Ni particles (1.3 nm) were less selective to CH 4 . Comparisons to alumina-supported Ni reveal the same performance as Ni/CeO 2 when normalized to active Ni atoms counted by H 2 chemisorption. A beneficial effect of ceria relative to alumina is the enhanced reducibility of Ni as evaluated by H 2 temperature-programmed reduction. The constancy of the turnover frequency on Ni particles suggests the acid-base and/or redox properties of the support do not play a significant role in the CO 2 methanation reaction under the conditions of study, which contrasts many earlier works.

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In situ ambient pressure XPS study of Pt/Cu(111) single-atom alloy in catalytically relevant reaction conditions

The presence of multiple reactant gases as well as reaction intermediates in a heterogeneous catalytic reaction results in a complex interaction between different components of the catalyst with each gas, which can alter the surface and chemical state of the catalyst differently than in the presence of an individual gas alone. In this study, we used in situ ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study the surface state of Pt/Cu(111) single-atom alloy model system in two catalytically relevant reaction conditions: CO 2 hydrogenation and CO oxidation. We found that the activation of CO 2 results in the formation of CO, which adsorbs on Pt sites at up to 400 K. In the presence of CO 2 and H 2 , Pt catalyzes the reverse water–gas shift reaction, which produces more CO and further stabilizes surface Pt atoms at 450 K. On the other hand, in CO oxidation condition, the presence of O 2 results in the formation of a thick Cu 2 O layer at higher temperatures, and Pt atoms are no longer detected in the surface and subsurface layers. When O 2 is introduced to the sample before CO, the formation of a complete Cu 2 O layer that covers all Pt atoms occurs immediately at room temperature. Finally, however, when CO is introduced at room temperature before O 2 , the presence of adsorbed CO on Pt sites stabilizes the surface Pt atoms and prevents the formation of a complete Cu 2 O layer, thus exposing the Pt atoms in 'holes' in the Cu 2 O layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Direct synthesis of branched hydrocarbons from CO 2 over composite catalysts in a single reactor

The thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 to hydrocarbons using a composite catalyst system in a single reactor under mild reaction conditions was investigated, by combining methanol synthesis, methanol dehydration and dimethyl ether homologation catalysts. High selectivity to isoparaffins, which are versatile precursors to sustainable aviation fuels, was achieved. The use of Cu/BEA significantly improved both the conversion of oxygenates and the hydrocarbon yield compared to HBEA by facilitating H-incorporation in the C-chain growth during the homologation reaction. A study of catalyst composition and reaction conditions revealed that nearly complete conversion of oxygenates was achieved using a stacked-bed configuration, providing high C-selectivity to C 4+ hydrocarbons (34.1% among all products and 95.5% in products excluding CO). The ability to completely convert oxygenates to hydrocarbons and achieve high CO-free selectivity to desired hydrocarbon products is unprecedented in CO 2 -to-hydrocarbon reports, and advantageous for downstream separation, as CO can be easily separated and recycled to improve overall hydrocarbon production in an integrated process.

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CO 2 hydrogenation: Selectivity control of CO versus CH 4 achieved using Na doping over Ru/m-ZrO 2 at low pressure

By doping 1%Ru/m-ZrO 2 with sodium, selectivity tuning between CO and CH 4 during CO 2 hydrogenation was achieved by controlling the relative rates of reverse water-gas shift and CO methanation. By increasing basicity through Na loading: (1) the formate C-H bond is weakened in DRIFTS of adsorbed CO, accelerating C-H bond formation of formate and promoting CO formation at the Ru/m-ZrO 2 interface; and (2) the coverage of Na increases on ensembles of Ru atoms responsible for methanation. Increasing Na content shifts selectivity from CH 4 (useful for synthetic natural gas) to CO, which can be used for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or methanol-to-gasoline. Electronic modification of formate is likely due to enhanced basicity (strengthening bonding between catalyst and the-CO 2 function of formate and weakening C-H). In conclusion, no electron transfer from Na to Ru was detected in XANES. DRIFTS as a function of time and XPS results showed that Na exacerbates site blocking and deactivation.

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Enhanced methanol production from photothermal CO 2 reduction via multilevel interface design

Photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation is a promising route to produce methanol as a sustainable liquid solar fuel. However, most existing catalysts require a combination of solar irradiation and additional heat input to achieve a satisfactory reaction rate. For the few that can be driven solely by light, their reaction rates are one order of magnitude lower. We develop a photothermal catalyst with multilevel interfaces that achieves improved methanol production from photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation without external heat. The catalyst features a layered structure comprising Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 (CZA) covered by oxidized carbon black (oCB), where the oCB/CZA interface promotes efficient heat generation and transfer, and the Cu/oxide interface contributes to high catalytic activity. Under a mild pressure of 8 bar, our oCB/CZA catalyst shows a methanol selectivity of 64.7% with a superior production rate of 4.91 mmol·g cza −1 ·h −1 , at least one order of magnitude higher than other photothermal catalysts solely driven by light. This work demonstrates a photothermal catalyst design strategy for liquid solar fuel production.

CO2 hydrogenation↗

Understanding the morphology and chemical activity of model ZrO x /Au (111) catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation

In this study, the growth of ZrO x on Au (111) was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and synchrotron-based ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). Nanostructures of ZrO x (x= 1,2) at the sub-monolayer (≤ 0.3 ML) level were prepared by vapor depositing Zr metal onto Au (111) followed by oxidation with O 2 or CO 2 . At low coverages of the admetal (< 0.05 ML), the formed ZrO x nanostructures were dispersed randomly on the terraces and steps of the Au(111) substrate. Strong oxide-metal interactions prevented the formation of islands of zirconia. The ZrO x nanostructures displayed a reactivity towards CO 2 and H 2 not seen for bulk zirconia. C 1 s AP-XPS results indicated that CO 2 molecules adsorbed on Zr/ZrO x /Au(111) surfaces could undergo partial decomposition on Zr (CO 2 , gas → CO gas + O ads ), or react with oxygen sites from ZrO x to yield carbonates (Zr-CO 3, ads ). Further, after exposing ZrO 2 /Au (111) surfaces to 1:3 mixtures of CO 2 :H 2 , the formation of HCOO, CO 3 , and CH 3 O was detected in AP-XP spectra. These chemical species decomposed at temperatures in the range of 400-600 K, making them possible reaction intermediates for methanol synthesis.

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Structural and Chemical Evolution of an Inverse CeO x /Cu Catalyst under CO 2 Hydrogenation: Tunning Oxide Morphology to Improve Activity and Selectivity

Small nanoparticles of ceria deposited on a powder of CuO display a very high selectivity for the production of methanol via CO 2 hydrogenation. CeO 2 /CuO catalysts with ceria loadings of 5%, 20%, and 50% were investigated. Among these, the system with 5% CeO x showed the best catalytic performance at temperatures between 200 and 350 °C. The evolution of this system under reaction conditions was studied using a combination of environmental transmission electron microscopy (E-TEM), in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD). For 5% CeO x /Cu, the in situ studies pointed to a full conversion of CuO into metallic copper, with a complete transformation of Ce 4+ into Ce 3+ . Images from E-TEM showed drastic changes in the morphology of the catalyst when it was exposed to H 2 , CO 2 , and CO 2 /H 2 mixtures. Under a CO 2 /H 2 feed, there was a redispersion of the ceria particles that was detected by E-TEM and in situ TR-XRD. Finally, these morphological changes were made possible by the inverse oxide/metal configuration and facilitate the binding and selective conversion of CO 2 to methanol.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Boosting Hydrogenation of CO 2 Using Cationic Cu Atomically Dispersed on 2D γ‐Al 2 O 3 Nanosheets

The continuous development of novel catalytic approaches is crucial for advancing efficient CO 2 hydrogenation processes. Drawing inspiration from single-atom catalysis and 2D materials, we designed a new 2D single-atom catalyst with excellent thermal stability by thermally treating Cu-adsorbed γ-AlOOH nanosheets, which yielded a Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst with high activity in the hydrogenation of CO 2 -yielding methanol (CH 3 OH), dimethyl ether (DME), and CO as products. The active Cu sites are monodispersed and highly stable due to their cationic oxidation state and their substitution for pentacoordinated aluminum (Al P ) sites on particle surfaces. This study demonstrates an efficient approach for achieving a high CO 2 hydrogenation rate (30.45 mol mol −1 h −1 ) using a catalyst system that lacks metallic Cu centers, traditionally considered essential for H₂ dissociation, and employs what was previously thought to be an inert metal oxide (γ-Al 2 O 3 ) for CO and CH 3 OH production. Ongoing mechanistic studies aim to elucidate the synergy between cationic Cu single atoms and γ-Al 2 O 3 , a Lewis acid support, in facilitating hydrogen (H 2 ) activation and methanol formation.

2D catalyst↗

Model-based optimization strategies for direct hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to dimethyl ether

Here, this study discusses model-based optimization strategies for CO 2 hydrogenation to dimethyl ether (DME) over aCuZnZr (CZZ) and ferrite (FER) mixed catalyst system in a packed-bed reactor configuration. A two-dimensional axisymmetric, nonisothermal packed-bed reactor model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2 software. The model solves two-dimensional (radial and axial) heat and mass transport equations in the packed-bed and integrates intraparticle diffusion and heat transfer in a 1D approach. This powerful feature differs from a traditional porous media approach and takes into account any heat and mass transfer limitations that may exist. Analysis shows that the heat transfer limitations are negligible, but strong internal mass transfer limitations were observed at 10 ≤ WHSV ≤ 90 h -1 on the FER catalyst and at 240 °C. The optimum catalyst composition (i.e., mixing ratio) varies depending on the operating regime. The FER catalyst weight in the mixture can be as low as 5 wt.%, but the ideal composition de-pends on the internal mass transfer limitation and its relationship with the operating regime (i.e., weight hourly space velocity, temperature). A catalyst composition of 80 wt.% CZZ and 20 wt.% FER was suggested; this composition can provide high CO 2 conversion and DME production rates at a wide range of temperatures and flow rates.

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Improving productivity and stability for CO 2 hydrogenation by using pincer-ligated Mn complexes with hemilabile ligands

Pincer ligands are widely used to support transition metal catalysts, but first-row systems often deactivate too quickly for widespread use. Here, pincer ligands bearing an additional hemilabile donor were designed to stabilize Mn catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation to formate. Ligands of the type (RCH 2 CH 2 )N(CH 2 CH 2 P i Pr 2 ) 2 ( iPr PN R P; R = OMe, CH 2 OMe, NMe 2 , P i Pr 2 ) were synthesized and coordinated to Mn to form complexes of the type ( iPr PN R P)Mn(CO) 2 H. Their performance was compared to {MeN(CH 2 CH 2 P i Pr 2 ) 2 }Mn(CO) 2 H, which lacks a pendant donor. The pendant donor identity and arm length strongly influenced catalytic activity, but all pendant arm containing systems extended catalyst lifetime. Notably, ( iPr PN CH2OMe P)Mn(CO) 2 H achieved turnover frequencies of 158,000 h -1 and turnover numbers of 838,000, exceeding most state-of-the-art catalysts. Mechanistic studies revealed that hemilabile coordination enhances stability by avoiding deactivation, although excessive binding can lead to inactive states. Here, this work demonstrates hemilabile donors dramatically improve pincer-based Mn catalysts and provides design principles for broader applications.

CO2 hydrogenation↗

MgO Nanostructures on Cu(111): Understanding Size- and Morphology-Dependent CO 2 Binding and Hydrogenation

To design and optimize cost-effective technologies for the capture, utilization, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), we need a fundamental knowledge and control of chemical interactions associated with the capture and conversion of the molecule into high-value chemicals, minerals, and all kinds of materials. Bulk magnesium oxide (MgO) is frequently used for the trapping and storage of CO 2 by generation of magnesium carbonates. In this study, the growth and reactivity of MgO nanostructures on a Cu 2 O/Cu(111) substrate were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and synchrotron-based ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). For extremely small concentrations of Mg (~ 0.01 monolayer (ML)), a well-ordered film of copper oxide with small clusters (0.2-0.5 nm in width, 0.4-0.6 Å in height) of embedded MgO was seen. At a coverage of 0.1 ML, MgO nanoparticles with a width of 0.4 to 1 nm and a height of ~ 1.5 Å were randomly distributed on the copper oxide. Further, random distribution was also observed when the MgO coverage was raised to 0.25 ML, with the width of the MgO particles increasing to 2-2.5 nm and the height reaching 2 Å. These oxide nanostructures displayed a high reactivity towards CO 2 and H 2 that is not seen for bulk MgO. Dissociation of H 2 was observed at room temperature with reaction of the H adatoms with CuO x and C-containing groups. On the small MgO nanostructures (< 1 nm in width), instead of plain carbonate formation, there was dissociation of CO 2 into CO and C species, opening reaction channels for the conversion of this harmful molecule into oxygenates and light alkanes.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Morphology and chemical behavior of model CsO x /Cu 2 O/Cu(111) nanocatalysts for methanol synthesis: Reaction with CO 2 and H 2

Cs is a promoter of Cu-based catalysts for the synthesis of alcohols from CO 2 hydrogenation. Scanning tunneling microscopy and ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study the morphology and chemical properties of surfaces generated by the deposition of cesium on Cu 2 O/Cu(111) and Cu(111) substrates. CsO x nanostructures were formed after Cs metal was deposited on Cu 2 O/Cu(111) at 300 K. The formed CsO x protrude over the surface of copper oxide by 2–4 Å, with the dimension at the base of the nanostructures being in the range of 1–3 nm. Heating to elevated temperature induced significant changes in the size and dispersion of the CsO x nanostructures, and there was a clear reconstruction of the copper oxide substrate, which then exhibited long range order with a hexagonally packed structure. The as-deposited and annealed surfaces of CsO x /Cu 2 O/Cu(111) were more reactive toward CO 2 than plain Cu 2 O/Cu(111) or clean Cu(111). Yet, none of them were stable in the presence of H 2 , which fully reduced the copper oxide at 400–450 K. In CsO x /Cu(111), the CsO x nanoclusters were dispersed all over the metallic copper in no particular order. The CsO x species had an average width of 2 nm and ~1 Å height. The CsO x /Cu(111) systems exhibited the highest activity for the binding and dissociation of CO 2 , indicating that the CsO x -copper interface plays a key role in alcohol synthesis.

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