Evaporation-induced Self-assembly Method Research Articles

Ga-doped spinel-typed Co-Al catalysts for CO2-assisted ethane dehydrogenation

A series of Ga-doped spinel-typed Co-Al catalysts were prepared via one-step evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method. These catalysts present promising catalytic performance for CO2-assisted ethane dehydrogenation, which can be ascribed to the conjunction effect of cobalt and gallium species. The incorporation of Ga into the structure of Co-Al spinel has been recognized for enhancing CO2 conversion via reverse water-gas shift reaction, leading to a favorable equilibrium shift towards ethylene, along with an improved catalyst stability as a result of coexisting Boudouard reaction. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), NH3 and CO2 temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) characterizations, coordinatively unsaturated Co2+ and Ga3+ cations were identified as collaborative catalytic active sites, with gallium species taking the prominent role. These sites were closely associated with the formation of acid-base pairs on the catalyst surface, which were crucial for the adsorption and activation of the reactants.

Mesoporous Ag-K-Al2O3 catalysts prepared via a one-pot evaporation induced self-assembly approach and their application in catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde

Mesoporous Ag-Al2O3-m and Ag-K-Al2O3-m catalysts were fabricated by a one-pot technique based on an evaporation-induced self-assembly method. Among them, Ag-3 K-Al2O3-m exhibited the highest activity, achieving 100 % HCHO conversion at 40 °C. The catalyst’s performance was notably impacted by RH conditions, which showed improved activity at 30 % RH, due to the formation of active –OH groups. As the K loading increased, the aggregation of Ag particles gradually occurred. According to DFT computation, the presence of K promoted the adsorption and activation of HCHO, O2 and H2O on the catalyst surface. The superior low-temperature reducibility, adequate surface active oxygen and surface –OH groups were identified as key roles to the enhanced catalytic performance of Ag-K-Al2O3-m. Both Ag-Al2O3-m and Ag-K-Al2O3-m operated through the same oxidation mechanism for HCHO oxidation.

Fuel flexible SOFC with a Mo-doped CeO2/YSZ mesoporous anode fabricated by the evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) method

The design and extension of the triple phase boundary (TPB) in fuel cell electrodes play a key role in electric power generation, TPB enhancement can be achieved by direct growth of mesoporous anode structures on the electrolyte of a SOFC. In this study, we present a novel approach to enhance the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by designing and extending the TPB through direct growth of mesoporous anode structures on the electrolyte. Mesoporous Mo-doped CeO2/YSZ anodes were successfully grown directly on a commercial YSZ substrate via the EISA method. These anodes exhibited remarkable stability over 60 h of testing when fueled with H2 or syngas, highlighting their fuel-flexibility. Our results show that these SOFCs achieved their highest power densities when fueled with H2, achieving a remarkable 135 % increase in electrical power density compared to previously reported values for the same anode material without microstructure control. Moreover, compared to SOFCs with mesoporous nanoparticles-based anodes, the EISA approach resulted in a 74 % higher electrical power density. Although this method improves the performance of the SOFC, there is evidence of an increase in its polarization resistance attributed to mass transport limitations through the mesoporous structure.

Ag nanoparticle-embedded fish scales as SERS substrates for sensitive detection of forever chemical in real samples

Biological materials with unique surface properties provide a new avenue for fabricating green and sensitive SERS-active substrates. Herein, we present a simple but efficient method to prepare surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates by depositing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on fish scale substrates using an evaporation-induced self-assembly method (EISA). Characterization of the formed flexible Ag-impregnated substrate proved outstanding SERS sensitivity, uniformity, and reproducibility properties, with a Raman enhancement factor of 1.3 × 106 and a relative standard deviation of 6.4 %. Using this powerful fish scale substrate, a toxic environmental pollutant perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) was indirectly detected in lake water, soil, and human urine samples. Due to its chemical structure, it is difficult to detect low concentrations of PFOSA in real samples. Interestingly, malachite green (MG) was smartly used as the Raman label for PFOSA detection in real samples. One of the main appeals is that the concentration of PFOSA can be correlated with a decrease in the SERS signal of MG in real samples. In conclusion, the strategy employed and reproducible SERS substrates may have diverse applications in clinical and environmental analyses.

Development of Bromine Adsorbing Carbon Felt Electrode by Coating of Nitrogen-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Layer for Highly Stable Flowless Zinc-Bromine Battery

Renewable energy is well known for the extreme volatility of power production, and secondary battery-based energy storage systems (BESS) are the key to the novel and safe energy industry to expand the supply of renewable energy. Currently, lithium-ion battery-based ESS is commonly used, but the frequent ignition accidents from these ESSs rather become an obstacle to the growth of the renewable energy field. Among the redox batteries, the flowless zinc-bromine battery (FLZBB) is studied as the alternative since it uses a non-flammable and cost-effective aqueous Zn- Br2 electrolyte. However, its main challenges are that bromine (Br2) and polybromide anions (), formed at the positive electrode during the charging process, cross over to the negative electrode due to the difference in chemical potential between the electrodes. The diffused Br2 oxidizes the zinc metal, electrodeposited on the negative electrode, and causes a self-discharge reaction that consumes the charging active material and Br2 the battery performance and life. Herein, we present a nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon coated on the pristine graphite felt fibers (NMC/GF). By uniformly forming a nitrogen-doped porous carbon material on the GF fibers through the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method, it is a simple and cost-effective method to develop the structural and properties of the GF positive electrode to increase the ability of adsorption and storing the active materials, Br2 and polybromide anions (,, and ) generated during the charging process. In addition, it also improved the bromine redox reaction kinetics by having a strong affinity with the aqueous Zn-Br2 electrolyte. This facilitates long-term charge/discharge cycles, enabling high performance and improved durability for Coulombic efficiency over 95% for 5000 cycles in the FLZBB single-cell platform at a current density of 20 mA cm-2 and a high-rate areal capacity of 2 mAh cm-2.

Enhanced Fluorescence Based on Slow Light Effect of ZIF-8 Photonic Crystals for Trace 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol Detection.

In response to growing concerns about public safety and environmental conservation, it is essential to develop a precise identification method for trace explosives. To improve the stability and detection sensitivity of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) and address the issue of low porosity in traditional polymer-based photonic crystals (PhCs), this study proposed a PQD photoluminescence (PL) enhancement strategy based on the slow light effect of ZIF-8 PhCs for highly sensitive, selective, and convenient detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP). The slow light effect at the photonic band gap edge is the basis of amplifying the PL signal. PhCs were fabricated by the evaporation-induced self-assembly method. The diffraction wavelength overlapping the whole visible region was designed to match the emission wavelength of PQDs. Results showed that PhCs matching the PBG edge with PQDs' emission peak amplified the PL signal 11.3 times, significantly improving sensitivity for trace TNP detection with a limit as low as 2.52 nM. Moreover, there was a 13.3-fold enhancement of PQDs' fluorescence lifetime when the emission wavelength fell in the PBG range. The hydrophobic surface of ZIF-8 PhCs enhanced the PQDs' stability and moisture resistance. Furthermore, the selective quenching mechanism of TNP by the sensor was photoinduced electron transfer (PET) verified by DFT calculations and time-resolved PL decay dynamics measurements. This study demonstrated great potential for manipulating light emission enhancement by PhCs in developing efficient fluorescent sensors for trace environmental pollutant detection.

Mechanically flexible graphene oxide network for highly-sensitive and ultra-long fire warning

Graphene oxide (GO)-based intelligent fire alarm sensor (FAS) has recently been a sought-after research topic in fire prevention fields. However, it remains a challenge to facilely construct GO-based composite that simultaneously possess mechanical flexibility, excellent flame resistance, highly-sensitive temperature-responsive behavior, rapid fire response and ultra-long fire alarming durability. Here, a nacre-like ternary hybrid paper is conveniently obtained by integrating GO with hexachlorophosphazene-based multi‑hydroxyl molecule (HHACP) and tannic acid (TA) via a facile and eco-friendly water evaporation-induced self-assembly method. The resultant composite paper (TA-GO/HHACP) exhibits mechanically flexible property with tensile strength of 103.7 MPa and toughness of 1.51 MJ/m3, comparable to 2.52 and 5.39 times higher than those of pure GO paper. Further, the TA-GO/HHACP paper displays excellent nonflammability and high-temperature resistance that can withstand continuous butane flame attack (∼ 1200 °C), resulting in ultra-long sustained alarming period of > 1600 s under an open fire. More importantly, benefiting from its rapid electrical resistance reduction capability, such TA-GO/HHACP paper demonstrates ultra-fast fire-triggered response time of ∼ 0.6 s, and ultra-sensitive early fire alarm responses to abnormal high temperatures during pre-combustion process, e.g., ∼ 1 s at 250 °C and ∼ 19 s at 200 °C, respectively, outperforming the best reported GO‑based FAS counterparts. This work provides an inventive paradigm to develop high-performance GO-based intelligent materials with reliable and sensitive early fire-warning function.

Self-Assembled Hydrogel Membranes with Structurally Tunable Mechanical and Biological Properties.

Using supramolecular self-assembled nanocomposite materials made from protein and polysaccharide components is becoming more popular because of their unique properties, such as biodegradability, hierarchical structures, and tunable multifunctionality. However, the fabrication of these materials in a reproducible way remains a challenge. This study presents a new evaporation-induced self-assembly method producing layered hydrogel membranes (LHMs) using tropocollagen grafted by partially deacetylated chitin nanocrystals (CO-g-ChNCs). ChNCs help stabilize tropocollagen's helical conformation and fibrillar structure by forming a hierarchical microstructure through chemical and physical interactions. The LHMs show improved mechanical properties, cytocompatibility, and the ability to control drug release using octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT) as a drug model. Because of the high synergetic performance between CO and ChNCs, the modulus, strength, and toughness increased significantly compared to native CO. The biocompatibility of LHM was tested using the normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) and the human osteosarcoma cell line (Saos-2). Cytocompatibility and cell adhesion improved with the introduction of ChNCs. The extracted ChNCs are used as a reinforcing nanofiller to enhance the performance properties of tropocollagen hydrogel membranes and provide new insights into the design of novel LHMs that could be used for various medical applications, such as control of drug release in the skin and bone tissue regeneration.

Enhancement of carbon dioxide adsorption performance on mesoporous alumina modified with alkaline earth metals

The mesoporous alumina-supported alkaline earth metal 5 M/MA (MA= mesoporous alumina, M=Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and xMg/MA (x=1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) adsorbents were synthesized via evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) and impregnation method. The adsorption properties of CO2 were evaluated by thermal gravimetric analyzer to focus on exploring the dynamic adsorption process of the prepared adsorbents. Loading alkaline earth metals mainly enhanced the basic sites of these adsorbents, and the alkaline sites played an extremely critical role in determining the amount of CO2 adsorbed. Of all the adsorbents prepared, 5Mg/MA exhibited the highest adsorption uptake (1.08 mmol/g), a 2.16-fold enhancement compared to MA (0.50 mmol/g). In-situ DRIFTS indicated that CO2 primarily existed in the form of carbonate species, and the analysis of adsorption kinetics elucidated that the adsorption process was predominantly chemisorbed, with external diffusion being the main process of adsorption. Simultaneously, based on DFT calculations, it has been found that Mg-loaded MA has a higher affinity for CO2 compared to MA, which providing a good explanation for the experimental results. Furthermore, the 5 Mg/MA adsorbent not only exhibited excellent adsorption capacity, but also maintained excellent cyclic stability after 10 adsorption and desorption cycle runs, making it a highly favorable option for capturing CO2.

Effect of C-Cl functional groups on adsorption and desorption of elemental mercury over an ordered mesoporous carbon modified with C-Cl functional groups

Wet desorption presents an environmentally sustainable approach for the disposal of deactivated elemental mercury (Hg0) removal adsorbents. However, the prevalence of insoluble Hg compounds in the adsorption products poses a significant impediment to the wet desorption process. In this work, an ordered mesoporous carbon modified with C-Cl functional groups (OMC-Cl) was synthesized via the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method. It has a high specific surface area (∼630 m2/g), large pore volume (∼0.64 cm3/g), and uniform pore size (∼22.0 nm). The presence of C-Cl functional groups provides a remarkable adsorption capacity to the adsorbent, exhibiting high adsorption efficiency in various adsorption atmospheres (96.8 % in pure N2; 91.7 % in N2 + H2S) and promoting the prevalence of soluble HgCl2 in the adsorption product. Density functional theory analysis has elucidated that the C-Cl functional groups exerted inhibitory effects on the formation of HgO and HgS mainly by weakening the adsorption process of Hg0 on C = O and C-S. The desorption efficiencies of adsorption products in the above atmospheres in HCl solution (0.5 mol/L) achieved 95.4 % and 81.3 %, respectively. The high concentration of H+ ions serves to prevent the re-adsorption of Hg2+ by the -SH generated during the adsorption process. Furthermore, the adsorbent desorbed in HCl solution manifests substantial potential for recyclability. This study introduces a novel approach for efficient wet desorption in terms of designing active sites to modulate the adsorption products and pore structures to facilitate mass transfer.

Surface control of Ni-Al2O3 dry reforming of methane catalyst by composition segregation

Catalyst surface control is of great importance considering that a catalytic reaction initially starts with surface atoms’ interaction with reactant molecules. In the present study, we synthesized the Ni-Al2O3 dry reforming of methane (DRM) catalyst via the spray-pyrolysis-assisted evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method in order to systematically investigate catalyst surface change as controlled by composition segregation. The present results showed that segregation in the Ni-Al2O3 catalyst had successfully occurred by the post-annealing process and that the segregated Ni nanoparticles were located on the catalyst surface with simultaneous reduction to metal. The size of the surface Ni nanoparticles was highly dependent on the post-annealing temperature, whereas the electronic properties did not consistently align with the trend of particle-size growth, indicating that the particle-growth mechanism underwent alterations from segregation to sintering as the temperature was increased. In other words, when the reduction temperature for metal segregation is excessively high, particle-growth on the external catalyst surface, as induced by post-annealing, is primarily attributable to particle sintering rather than to metal segregation. This phenomenon directly results in decreased Ni surface density. The catalytic DRM reaction revealed that due to sintering, the catalytic performance did not align with the trend of Ni particle-size growth, and the conversion of CH4/CO2 was closely associated with Ni surface density. This information will offer valuable insight to future research focused on development of Ni-based catalysts for DRM reactions.

Comparative study on Al-SBA-15 prepared by spray drying and traditional methods for bulky hydrocarbon cracking: Properties, performance and influencing factors

Mesoporous aluminosilicates Al-SBA-15 with large pore sizes and suitable acid properties are promising substitutes to zeolites for catalytic cracking of bulky hydrocarbons without molecular diffusion limitation. The conventional processes to synthesize Al-SBA-15 are time-consuming and often suffer from low “framework” Al contents. Herein, Al-SBA-15 microspheres are synthesized using the rapid and scalable microfluidic jet spray drying technique. They possess uniform particle sizes (45–60 μm), variable surface morphologies, high surface areas (264–340 m2/g), uniform mesopores (3.8–4.9 nm) and rich acid sites (126–812 μmol/g) and high acid strength. Their physicochemical properties are compared with the counterparts synthesized using traditional hydrothermal and evaporation-induced self-assembly methods. The spray drying technique results in a higher incorporation of aluminum (Al) atoms into the silica “framework” compared to the other two methods. The catalytic cracking efficiencies of 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) on the Al-SBA-15 materials synthesized using the three different methods and nanosized ZSM-5 are compared. The optimal spray-dried Al-SBA-15 exhibits the best performance with 100 % TIPB conversion, excellent selectivity (about 75 %) towards the formation of deeply cracked products (benzene and propylene) and high stability. The catalytic performances of the spray-dried Al-SBA-15 with varying Si/Al ratios are also compared. The reasons for the different performances of the different materials are discussed, where the mesopores, high acid density and strength are observed to play the most critical role. This work might provide a basis for the synthesis of mesoporous rich metal-substituted silica materials for different catalytic applications.

Tailoring pore size of mesoporous silica and organosilica using biodegradable pentablock copolymer templates via EISA process

In this work, we have designed unique poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) pentablock copolymers using Pluronic F68 and F108 triblock copolymers as macroinitiators. The poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) blocks were attached as glycolide and lactide monomers at the both ends of each F68 and F108 triblock copolymer. The molecular weights and the block fractions were confirmed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) for the four kinds of pentablock copolymers. Using these pentablock copolymers as templates, we synthesized mesoporous ethane-silicas as well as silicas by the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method. 1,2-bis(triethoxysily)ethane (BTEE) were used as an organosilica precursor. The mesoporous ethane-silica samples were characterized using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), nitrogen sorption experiments, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and solid-state 29Si CP-MAS NMR. Based on the experimental results, it was confirmed that the porosity and pore diameter can be varied with the PLGA weight fraction of the pentablock copolymer. It is due to the PLGA block in polymer forming the hydrophobic domain in micelles, which leads to the formation of increased pore size over 20 nm without any additive pore expander. In addition, it seems that as the organosilica precursor increases, the association number of block copolymers forming one micelle decreases, resulting in a decrease in pore size. In summary, the polymer template plays a vital part in tuning the structure of the mesoporous ethane-silica samples. Thus, the development of synthetic method of mesoporous organosilica materials using polymer templates with different topology is still challenging and can endow the unique structure and property for mesoporous organosilica for future applications.

Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using Mesoporous Honeycomb Iron Titanate.

Mesoporous honeycomb iron titanate using a sol-gel, evaporation-induced self-assembly method is synthesized. A triblock copolymer, F127, serves as a structure-directing agents, with iron chloride and titanium (IV) isopropoxide as inorganic precursors. The strong intermolecular force of attraction among urea, metal precursors, and polymer led to the formation of the mesoporous honeycomb structure. The study of physicochemical properties using different techniques reveals the formation of microstructures with a remarkable degree of porosity. The amorphous iron titanate outperforms the photochemical generation of H2 due to its disorderly structural arrangement and incomplete crystal formation. The randomness on the structure provides more area for catalytic reaction by providing more contact with the reactant and superior light absorption capability. The high amount of hydrogen gas, 40.66mmolg-1h-1, is observed in the investigation over 3h of activity for the iron titanate honeycomb sample. This yield is a more significant amount compared to the obtained for the commercially available TiO2 (23.78mmolg-1h-1). The iron titanate materials synthesized with low-cost materials and methods are very effective and have the potential for hydrogen generation.

Insights into formation and properties of amorphous mesostructured alumina

Here, using liquid crystals as template, an EISA (evaporation-induced self-assembly) method has been used to synthesize amorphous mesostructured alumina. The effect of the synthesis parameters such as the presence of a chelating agent, the amounts of both porogen agent and alumina precursor on the materials properties have been investigated in details. Under the optimum conditions, after Soxhlet extraction, the obtained Al2O3 presents an HMS (Hexagonal Molecular Sieves) structure and a high specific surface area (≈400 m2/g) with a mesopore size distribution centered around 8.3 nm.Investigation of the thermal stability shows that the crystallization into γ-Al2O3 of the amorphous alumina walls delimiting mesopores begins after heating at 800 °C. We have also demonstrated that half of the carbon present in the as-synthesized material can be removed by washing with water or ethanol at room temperature instead of Soxhlet extraction.On the basis of SAXS, XRD and N2 adsorption-desorption analyses, we have shown that when treated into boiling water or exposed to water vapor the alteration of the mesostructure occurs quickly. Its collapse has been attributed to the crystallization of the amorphous alumina walls into aluminum hydroxides, mainly boehmite, upon the hydration of the alumina.Dual mesoporous alumina have been also obtained from micelles through a cooperative templating mechanism at low P123 amount and in the presence of citric acid. In that case both mesopores networks adopt a wormhole-like mesostructure.

Ytterbium–nitrogen co-doped ordered mesoporous TiO2: an innovative hetero-phase photocatalyst for harnessing solar energy in green hydrogen production

Ytterbium–nitrogen doubly doped ordered mesoporous titania boosts solar hydrogen generation, a potential breakthrough in renewable energy.

Bio-response of copper-magnesium co-substituted mesoporous bioactive glass for bone tissue regeneration.

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) is widely acknowledged in bone tissue engineering due to its mesoporous structure, large surface area, and bioactivity. Recent research indicates that introduction of metallic ions has beneficial impacts on bone metabolism and angiogenesis. Thus, the features of MBG can be modified by incorporating combinations of ions, such as magnesium (Mg) and copper (Cu), which can play a considerable role in bone formation, influencing angiogenesis, osteogenesis, as well as antibacterial properties. In this study, Mg and Cu were co-doped for the first time (in a ratio of 1 : 1) in 80SiO2-5P2O5-(15 - 2x)CaO-xMgO-xCuO glass composition with x = 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mol%, synthesized using the sol-gel and evaporation-induced self-assembly method. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the powders, while inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry verified the existence of dopant ions in the respective amounts. The nitrogen sorption method indicated the formation of uniform cylindrical mesopores which are open at both ends and a high surface area of the powders. TEM images show fringes, indicating an ordered mesoporous structure in all MgCu co-doped systems. In vitro bioactivity was observed in all MBG powders, confirmed by the formation of an apatite phase when placed in simulated body fluid (SBF). Flake-like microstructure characteristics of HAp crystals found on the surface of MBG powders were visualized using FESEM. Cytotoxicity tests at lower concentrations (0.1 and 1 wt/vol%) of co-doped 2MC MBG (co-doping up to 2 mol%) showed cell proliferation and viability of osteoblast-like MG-63 cells and normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells similar to the basic glass 80S. Antibacterial study of MBG pellets showed an increment in the zone of inhibition with the sequential addition of doping ions. The turbidity measurement of bacterial cultures revealed that the optimal concentration for effectively inhibiting bacterial growth was 1 wt/vol% (i.e., 10 mg mL-1) concentration of MBG extracts. The result suggested that the incorporation of Mg and Cu ions in MBG in lower concentrations of up to 2 mol% can be useful in bone regeneration owing to bioactivity, cell proliferation, and antibacterial characteristics.

High-throughput centrifugal evaporation for mesoporous alumina powder synthesis via evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA).

The evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process is commonly employed to synthesise mesoporous materials, such as mesoporous alumina. Typically, recovering mesoporous alumina in powder form takes several days due to the need for controlled solvent evaporation conditions. The mesostructure obtained from the EISA process is highly sensitive to these conditions, which can sometimes hinder reproducibility. This paper presents an improved EISA method using a centrifugal evaporator, which enables the rapid recovery of mesoporous alumina powder (approximately 2 h) from multiple precursor solutions under controlled evaporation conditions. The advantages of using a centrifugal evaporator over traditional vacuum evaporation methods include: (1) the reduction of bumping and foaming due to centrifugal force; (2) resistance to evaporated gaseous HCl; and (3) the ability to evaporate multiple samples simultaneously. This enhanced EISA process is expected to accelerate the research progress of powdery mesoporous materials.

Spherical mesoporous silica-supported Ru nanoparticles for ammonia decomposition

To synthesize highly dispersed Ru nanoparticles (NPs) with desired particle size for NH3 decomposition, an appropriate support is crucial. Herein, spherical mesoporous silica (SMS) NPs with ∼3 nm pores are synthesized by a microwave-assisted evaporation-induced self-assembly method and used as support of Ru NPs for NH3 decomposition. Characterization shows that compared to Ru NPs supported on SBA-15 and fumed SiO2, Ru NPs supported on SMS (Ru@SMS) exhibit superior NH3 decomposition performance, achieving a hydrogen generation rate of 31.4 mmol·g-1 cat·min−1 at 500 °C, which is one of the highest reported values for supported Ru catalysts in NH3 decomposition. The excellent NH3 decomposition performance observed on Ru@SMS should be attributed to effective dispersion and appropriate particle size (2.22 ± 0.29 nm) of Ru NPs. This work highlights the potential of SMS as support of Ru catalyst in NH3 decomposition.

Engineering bifunctional Pd/CeNbTiOx catalyst for the simultaneous removal of NO and CO under oxygen-rich conditions at low temperature

The simultaneous elimination of CO and NO has practical significance for the control of air pollutants in the flue gas operating temperature range of 240–320 °C. CeNbTiOx catalyst was prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly method (EISA), and the 0.3 % Pd/CeNbTiOx catalyst was obtained by appropriate Pd anchoring at the defects of CeNbTiOx. CO and NO removal efficiency were above 90 % from 240 to 320 °C, which exhibited satisfactory N2 selectivity. The CO and NO removal efficiency of the 0.3 % Pd/CeNbTiOx catalyst exceeded 92 % during stability and water resistance. Oα and Oβ were involved in the oxidation of NO and CO, respectively, promoting the fast SCR and CO oxidation reaction within the ordered mesoporous of the 0.3 % Pd/CeNbTiOx catalyst. In addition, the efficiency of CO and NO elimination had been further improved due to the enhancement of defects after resistance of H2O. Therefore, this work provided a new and efficient way to control CO and NO by the efficient using of oxygen species.