Ag2O versus Cu2O in the Catalytic Isomerization of Coordinated Diaminocarbenes to Formamidines: A Theoretical Study

DFT theoretical calculations for the Ag₂O-induced isomerization process of diaminocarbenes to formamidines, coordinated to Mn(I), have been carried out. The reaction mechanism found involves metalation of an N-H residue of the carbene ligand by the catalyst Ag₂O and the formation of a key transition state showing a μ-η²:η² coordination of the formamidinyl ligand between manganese and silver, which allows a translocation process of Mn(I) and silver(I) ions between the carbene carbon atom and the nitrogen atom, before the formation of the formamidine ligand is completed. Calculations carried out using Cu₂O as a catalyst instead of Ag₂O show a similar reaction mechanism that is thermodynamically possible, but highly unfavorable kinetically and very unlikely to be observed, which fully agrees with experimental results.

Understanding the roles of copper dopant and oxygen vacancy in promoting nitrogen oxides removal over iron-based catalyst surface: A collaborative experimental and first-principles study

In this work, we proposed a novel strategy of copper (Cu) doping to enhance the nitrogen oxides (NO_x) removal efficiency of iron (Fe)-based catalysts at low temperature through a simple citric acid mixing method, which is critical for its practical application. The doping of Cu significantly improves the deNO_x performance of Fe-based catalysts below 200 °C, and the optimal catalyst is (Cu_0.22Fe_1.78)_1-δO₃, which deNO_x efficiency can reach 100% at 160-240 °C. From the macro aspects, the main reasons for the excellent catalytic activity of the (Cu_0.22Fe_1.78)_1-δO₃ catalyst are the large number of oxygen vacancies (O_vac), appropriate Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ contents, stronger surface acidity and redox ability. From the micro aspects, the O_vac plays a key role in enhancing molecular adsorption, oxidation, and the deNO_x reaction over the Fe-based catalyst surface, which promoting order is CuO_vac > O_vac > Cu. This work provides a new insight for the mechanism study of oxygen vacancy engineering and also accelerates the development of CuFe bimetal composite catalysts at low temperature.

Effect of doping Cr on NH3 adsorption and NO oxidation over the FexOy/AC surface: A DFT-D study

Activated carbon supported iron-based catalysts (Fe_xO_y/AC) show good deNO_x efficiency at low temperature. The doping of chromium (Cr) greatly improves the catalyst activity. However, the detailed effect of doping Cr over Fe_xO_y/AC surface at molecular level is still a grey area. In this study, the roles of Cr dopant on gas adsorption and NO oxidation were deeply investigated by a DFT-D3 method. Results show that the synergy of Cr-Fe bimetal improves the binding capacity of Fe₂O₃/AC and Fe₃O₄/AC surfaces after doping Cr. NH₃ can be adsorbed on Cr and Fe sites to form coordinated NH₃. Doping Cr greatly improves the NH₃ adsorption property on the Fe₃O₄/AC surface. NO molecule can combine with Cr, Fe, and O sites to form nitrosyl and nitrite. The doping of Cr increases the adsorption performance of NO on the Fe₂O₃/AC and Fe₃O₄/AC surfaces, especially for Fe₃O₄/AC surface. Furthermore, NO can be oxidized to NO₂ by adsorption oxygen or active O sites of Fe_xO_y clusters. The doping of Cr restrains the formation of insoluble chelating bidentate nitrates and greatly reduces the reaction energy barrier of NO oxidation on the Fe_xO_y/AC surface, which can promote the deNO_x reaction.

A DFT and microkinetic study of propylene oxide selectivity over copper-based catalysts: effects of copper valence states

The development of high-performance copper-based catalysts is critical for the selective oxidation of propylene in both technology and scientific fields.