Preparation and Catalytic Activity of M2O3/CNTs (M = Y, Nd, Sm) Nanocomposites by Solvothermal Process

Xiaojuan Zhang,Hao Lu

doi:10.1155/2018/3635164

Abstract

The rare-earth oxide nanoparticles along carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (M2O3/CNTs, M = Y, Nd, Sm) were prepared by in situ solvothermal method. Products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. M2O3/CNTs presented good morphology and large surface area. Furthermore, catalysis of M2O3/CNTs during the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was evaluated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Compared with Nd2O3/CNTs and Sm2O3/CNTs, Y2O3/CNTs nanocomposites showed the best catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of AP. With the addition of 2 wt.% Y2O3/CNTs nanocomposite, high decomposition temperature of AP decreased by 125.5°C, and the total DTA heat release increased by 2.027 kJ·g−1.

Highlights

Rare-earth oxide (M2O3) nanoparticles have received considerable attention because of their applications in various fields, such as advanced ceramics, superconducting materials, luminescence materials, oxygen sensor, and catalysis [1,2,3,4]
M2O3 nanoparticles exhibit good catalytic effect in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) [7], which is used as oxidizer in solid propellants [8,9,10]
It can be concluded that M2O3/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites by in situ solvothermal method possessed smaller particle size and higher specific area, which can more effectively catalyze the thermal of decomposition of AP than M2O3/CNTs synthesized by chemical deposition

Summary

Introduction

Rare-earth oxide (M2O3) nanoparticles have received considerable attention because of their applications in various fields, such as advanced ceramics, superconducting materials, luminescence materials, oxygen sensor, and catalysis [1,2,3,4]. M2O3 nanoparticles exhibit good catalytic effect in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) [7], which is used as oxidizer in solid propellants [8,9,10]. The electrophoretic deposition techniques produced densely packed CNTs mat-Eu2O3 film-CNTs mat heterostructure, and the capacitance-voltage measurements of the CNT matEu2O3 film-CNT mat structure confirmed electrical insulation between the two CNT mats and the charge-storage capabilities of the structure. Some of these methods lack good control of the morphology of M2O3 nanoparticles, whereas others require complex processes, expensive experimental device, or long time.

Experimental

Materials Characterization

Catalytic Properties

Conclusions