Faceted metal and metal oxide nanoparticles: design, fabrication and catalysis

The review addresses new advances in metal, bimetallic, metal oxide, and composite particles in their nanoregime for facet-selective catalytic applications. The synthesis and growth mechanisms of the particles have been summarized in brief in this review with a view to develop critical examination of the faceted morphology of the particles for catalysis. The size, shape and composition of the particles have been found to be largely irrelevant in comparison to the nature of facets in catalysis. Thus selective high- and low-index facets have been found to selectively promote adsorption, which eventually leads to an effective catalytic reaction. As a consequence, a high density of atoms rest at the corners, steps, stages, kinks etc on the catalyst surface in order to host the adsorbate efficiently and catalyze the reaction. Again, surface atomic arrangement and bond length have been found to play a dominant role in adsorption, leading to effective catalysis.

Assembling strategy to synthesize palladium modified kaolin nanocomposites with different morphologies

Nanocomposites of aluminosilicate minerals, kaolins (kaolinite and halloysite) with natural different morphologies assembling with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized through strong electrostatic adsorption and chemical bonding after surface modification with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). Meanwhile, the influence of different morphologies supports on catalytic hydrogenation properties was explored. The surface concentration of amino groups on the kaolins was related to the morphology and surface nature. Electronmicroscopy revealed that the monodisperse Pd nanoparticles were uniformly deposited onto the surface of kaolins, ranging in diameter from 0.5 nm to 5.5 nm. The functional groups could not only improve the dispersion of kaolins with different morphologies in solution, but also enhance the interaction between Pd precursors and kaolins, thus preventing small Pd nanoparticles from agglomerating and leading to high activity for the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene. Pd-FK@APTES was more active compared to other samples. Selecting the kaolin morphology with a different surface nature allows the selective surface modification of a larger fraction of the reactive facets on which the active sites can be enriched and tuned. This desirable surface coordination of catalytically active atoms could substantially improve catalytic activity.

The facile fabrication of magnetite nanoparticles and their enhanced catalytic performance in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Uniform and crystalline magnetite nanoparticles are facilely fabricated and utilized as an efficient catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The catalyst exhibits a high and stable activity with low methane selectivity, attributed to its remarkable structural and chemical stability at the realistic conditions of FTS.

Recent advances in hybrid Cu2O-based heterogeneous nanostructures

Hybrid Cu2O-based heterogeneous nanostructures possess novel synergistic properties that arise from the integrated interaction between the disparate components, thereby showing promising potential for various important applications including solar cells, carbon monoxide oxidation, photocatalysts, field emission, sensors, templates and so on. With the rapid progress in nanomaterials science and nanotechnology, hybrid Cu2O-based heterogeneous nanostructures with well-controlled compositions, shapes and sizes have been rationally designed and synthesized. This review attempts to summarize the important advances in the development of different types of hybrid Cu2O-based heterogeneous nanostructures, such as hybrid Cu2O-metal nanostructures, hybrid Cu2O-metal oxide nanostructures and hybrid Cu2O-carbon nanostructures. The correlations between the improved performances and interfacial structures of the hybrid Cu2O-based heterogeneous nanostructures are discussed based on some important and representative examples. Several key scientific issues and perspective research directions in this field are also given.

Two-Dimensional Porous Micro/Nano Metal Oxides Templated by Graphene Oxide

Novel two-dimensional (2D) porous metal oxides with micro-/nanoarchitecture have been successfully fabricated using graphene oxide (GO) as a typical sacrificial template. GO as a 2D template ensures that the growth and fusion of metal oxides nanoparticles is restricted in the 2D plane. A series of metal oxides (NiO, Fe2O3, Co3O4, Mn2O3, and NiFe2O4) with similar nanostructure were investigated using this simple method. Some of these special nanostructured materials, such as NiO, when being used as anode for lithium-ion batteries, can exhibit high specific capacity, good rate performance, and cycling stability. Importantly, this strategy of creating a 2D porous micro/nano architecture can be easily extended to controllably synthesize other binary/polynary metal oxides nanostructures for lithium-ion batteries or other applications.

Supported catalysts based on layered double hydroxides for catalytic oxidation and hydrogenation: general functionality and promising application prospects

Oxidation and hydrogenation catalysis plays a crucial role in the current chemical industry for the production of key chemicals and intermediates. Because of their easy separation and recyclability, supported catalysts are widely used in these two processes. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with the advantages of unique structure, composition diversity, high stability, ease of preparation and low cost have shown great potential in the design and synthesis of novel supported catalysts. This review summarizes the recent progress in supported catalysts by using LDHs as supports/precursors for catalytic oxidation and hydrogenation. Particularly, partial hydrogenation of acetylene, hydrogenation of dimethyl terephthalate, methanation, epoxidation of olefins, elimination of NOx and SOx emissions, and selective oxidation of biomass have been chosen as representative reactions in the petrochemical, fine chemicals, environmental protection and clean energy fields to highlight the potential application and the general functionality of LDH-based catalysts in catalytic oxidation and hydrogenation. Finally, we concisely discuss some of the scientific challenges and opportunities of supported catalysts based on LDH materials.

Experimental and theoretical studies on the effects of magnetic fields on the arrangement of surface spins and the catalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles

Nanocatalysts have very high catalytic activities due to surface atoms with their unpaired spins. It is the purpose of this paper to investigate the effect of magnetic fields (MFs) on the arrangement of surface spins and their catalytic activities. Pd nanoparticles supported on MIL-100(Cr) were selected as catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol under MFs. The result demonstrates that MFs can reduce the reaction time from 2.6 to 1.4 min under 0.5 T. This study first shows that the configuration of surface spins has an effect on the catalytic activity, which can be regulated by a foreign MF.

Template engaged synthesis of hollow ceria-based composites

Hollow ceria-based composites, which consist of noble metal nanoparticles or metal oxides as a secondary component, are being studied extensively for potential applications in heterogeneous catalysis. This is due to their unique features, which exhibit the advantages of a hollow structure (e.g. high surface area and low weight), and also integrate the properties of ceria and noble metals/metal oxides. More importantly, the synergistic effect between constituents in hollow ceria-based composites has been demonstrated in various catalytic reactions. In this feature article, we summarize the state-of-the-art in the synthesis of hollow ceria-based composites, including traditional hard-templates and more recently, sacrificial-template engaged strategies, highlighting the key role of selected templates in the formation of hollow composites. In addition, the catalytic applications of hollow ceria-based composites are briefly surveyed. Finally, challenges and perspectives on future advances of hollow ceria-based composites are outlined.

Liquid crystal seed nucleates liquid-solid phase change in ceria nanoparticles

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to explore the liquid-solid (crystal) phase change of a ceria nanoparticle. The simulations reveal that the crystalline seed, which spontaneously evolves and nucleates crystallisation, is a liquid rather than a solid. Evidence supporting this concept includes: (a) only 3% of the total latent heat of solidification had been liberated after 25% of the nanoparticle had (visibly) crystallised. (b) Cerium ions, comprising the (liquid) crystal seed had the same mobility as cerium ions comprising the amorphous regions. (c) Cerium ion mobility only started to reduce (indicative of solidification) after 25% of the nanoparticle had crystallised. (d) Calculated radial distribution functions (RDF) revealed no long-range structure when 25% of the nanoparticle had (visibly) crystallised. We present evidence that the concept of a liquid crystal seed is more general phenomenon rather than applicable only to nanoceria.

Enhancing the catalytic performance of cobalt oxide by doping on ceria in the high temperature water–gas shift reaction

The high temperature water–gas shift (HT-WGS) reaction was performed using a Co–CeO₂ catalyst, prepared through a co-precipitation method.

Facile synthesis of anisotropic single crystalline α-Fe2O3 nanoplates and their facet-dependent catalytic performance

Facet-dependent photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was carried out using hexagonal and cylindrical hematite nanoplates.

Redox properties and catalytic performance of ceria–zirconia nanorods

The shape effect of Ce_1−xZr_xO₂ nanomaterials is associated with the amount of zirconia that is incorporated into the ceria lattice.

Review: monoclinic zirconia, its surface sites and their interaction with carbon monoxide

This review is focused on the surface sites of monoclinic zirconia, especially surface hydroxyls and their manipulation, and the interaction of CO with zirconia to form linearly adsorbed CO and formates.

Enantioselective cyanosilylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a multistereogenic salen–Mn(iii) complex with a rotatable benzylic group as a helping hand

A multistereogenic salen–Mn(iii) complex bearing an aromatic pocket and two benzylic groups as helping hands was found to be efficient in the catalysis of asymmetric cyanosilylation.

Concentration quenching in cerium oxide dispersions via a Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism facilitates the identification of fatty acids

The distance dependence of FRET has been utilized, as a simple and novel analytical tool, for explaining the fluorescence quenching of cerium dioxide dispersions and in the prediction of the structure of fatty acids.

Ultrathin CuO nanorods: controllable synthesis and superior catalytic properties in styrene epoxidation

Ultrathin CuO nanorods which were synthesized in an oleylamine-based synthetic system exhibited excellent activity and high styrene oxide yields in styrene epoxidation.

Low temperature catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds: a review

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are toxic and recognized as one of the major contributors to air pollution.

Morphology-controllable synthesis of novel Bi25VO40 microcubes: optical properties and catalytic activities for the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds

Novel Bi₂₅VO₄₀ microcubes were successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal synthesis route and they exhibited excellent optical and catalytic properties.

Controlling the synthesis and application of nanocrystalline spherical and ordered mesoporous alumina with high thermal stability

In an acetic acid assisted sol–gel system, nanosize spherical mesoporous alumina (Figure Q) and ordered mesoporous alumina (Figure S) were synthesized using different mole ratios of n(acetic acid)/n(Al) and synthesis temperatures.

Catalytic strategy for efficient degradation of nitroaromatic pesticides by using gold nanoflower

In this contribution, we report a new type of Au nanoflower-based nitroaromatic pesticide degradation platform that is fast, efficient, and simple. We found a straightforward, economically viable, and "green" approach for the synthesis and stabilization of relatively monodisperse Au nanoflowers by using nontoxic chemical of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) without stabilizer and the adjustment of the pH environment. This experiment shows that these Au nanoflowers function as effective catalyst for the reduction of pendimethalin in the presence of NaBH4 (otherwise unfeasible if NaBH4 is the only agent employed), which was reflected by the UV/vis spectra of the catalytic reaction kinetics. Importantly, the novel degradation platform could be put in use in two different practical soil samples with satisfactory results under laboratory conditions. To demonstrate the feasibility and universality of our design, two other nitroaromatic pesticides, trifluralin, and p-nitrophenol, were selected and were successfully degraded using this degradation platform.

Single-particle spectroscopy reveals heterogeneity in electrochemical tuning of the localized surface plasmon

A hyperspectral imaging method was developed that allowed the identification of heterogeneous plasmon response from 50 nm diameter gold colloidal particles on a conducting substrate in a transparent three-electrode spectroelectrochemical cell under non-Faradaic conditions. At cathodic potentials, we identified three distinct behaviors from different nanoparticles within the same sample: irreversible chemical reactions, reversible chemical reactions, and reversible charge density tuning. The irreversible reactions in particular would be difficult to discern in alternate methodologies. Additional heterogeneity was observed when single nanoparticles demonstrating reversible charge density tuning in the cathodic regime were measured dynamically in anodic potential ranges. Some nanoparticles that showed charge density tuning in the cathodic range also showed signs of an additional chemical tuning mechanism in the anodic range. The expected changes in nanoparticle free-electron density were modeled using a charge density-modified Drude dielectric function and Mie theory, a commonly used model in colloidal spectroelectrochemistry. Inconsistencies between experimental results and predictions of this common physical model were identified and highlighted. The broad range of responses on even a simple sample highlights the rich experimental and theoretical playgrounds that hyperspectral single-particle electrochemistry opens.

Engineering the surface of perovskite La0.5Sr0.5MnO3 for catalytic activity of CO oxidation

A simple treatment of La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ with diluted HNO₃ creates more B-sites (rich) on the terminated perovskite surface and improves its catalytic activity toward CO oxidation, and the perovskite catalyst possesses a higher ratio of Mn⁴⁺/Mn³⁺ and thus enhances the O₂ adsorption capability, favourable for CO oxidation and catalytic activity.

A hexaphenylbenzene based AIEE active probe for the preparation of ferromagnetic α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles: facile synthesis and catalytic applications

A hexaphenylbenzene based AIEE active probe has been synthesized which serves as reactor for the preparation of ferromagnetic α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. These nanoparticles show excellent catalytic activity in Sonogashira coupling reactions.

Mesoporous nanobelts and nano-necklaces of Co3O4 converted from β-Co(OH)2 nanobelts via a thermal decomposition route for the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O2

A direct and scalable approach, based upon a thermal decomposition route under normal atmospheric pressure via a precursor-induced mechanism, was developed for growing well-defined mesoporous Co₃O₄ nanobelts and nano-necklaces from β-Co(OH)₂ nanobelts.