Escaping undesired gas-phase chemistry: Microwave-driven selectivity enhancement in heterogeneous catalytic reactors

Research in solid-gas heterogeneous catalytic processes is typically aimed toward optimization of catalyst composition to achieve a higher conversion and, especially, a higher selectivity. However, even with the most selective catalysts, an upper limit is found: Above a certain temperature, gas-phase reactions become important and their effects cannot be neglected. Here, we apply a microwave field to a catalyst-support ensemble capable of direct microwave heating (MWH). We have taken extra precautions to ensure that (i) the solid phase is free from significant hot spots and (ii) an accurate estimation of both solid and gas temperatures is obtained. MWH allows operating with a catalyst that is significantly hotter than the surrounding gas, achieving a high conversion on the catalyst while reducing undesired homogeneous reactions. We demonstrate the concept with the CO₂-mediated oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane, but it can be applied to any system with significant undesired homogeneous contributions.

Facile production of stable silicon nanoparticles: laser chemistry coupled to in situ stabilization via room temperature hydrosilylation

Stable, alkyl-terminated, light-emitting silicon nanoparticles have been synthesized in a continuous process by laser pyrolysis of a liquid trialkyl-silane precursor selected as a safer alternative to gas silane (SiH4). Stabilization was achieved by in situ reaction using a liquid collection system instead of the usual solid state filtration. The alkene contained in the collection liquid (1-dodecene) reacted with the newly formed silicon nanoparticles in an unusual room-temperature hydrosilylation process. It was achieved by the presence of fluoride species, also produced during laser pyrolysis from the decomposition of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) selected as a laser sensitizer. This process directly rendered alkyl-passivated silicon nanoparticles with consistent morphology and size (<3 nm), avoiding the use of costly post-synthetic treatments.

Continuous production of iron-based nanocrystals by laser pyrolysis. Effect of operating variables on size, composition and magnetic response

Well dispersed iron-based magnetic nanoparticles have been prepared by gas phase laser-driven decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl. Agglomeration of the newly synthesized nanoparticles could be avoided by using a liquid collection system in which the exit stream from the laser reactor was bubbled through triethylene glycol (TREG). The effect of different experimental parameters (precursor concentration, laser power, working pressure, residence time) was studied and, by selecting the appropriate conditions, the size of the resulting magnetic nanocrystals could be tuned from ultrasmall (ca. 2.5 nm) to around 12 nm. For nanoparticle sizes around 10 nm and larger a metallic iron core could be preserved. These iron/iron oxide core-shell compositions exhibit very high values of magnetization, 127 emu g(-1).

Use of a polyol liquid collection medium to obtain ultrasmall magnetic nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis

The present work addresses the main bottleneck in the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. Since the introduction of laser pyrolysis for the production of nanoparticles nearly three decades ago, this method has been repeatedly presented as a highly promising alternative, on account of two main characteristics: (i) its flexibility, since nanoparticles can be formed from a wide variety of precursors in both gas and liquid phase, and (ii) its continuous nature, avoiding the intrinsic variability of batch processing. However, the results reported to date invariably show considerable aggregation of the obtained nanoparticles, which strongly limits their application in most fields. In this work, we have been able to circumvent this problem by collecting the particles in a polyol liquid medium. This method prevents the formation of aggregates and renders a uniform distribution of well dispersed ultrasmall nanoparticles (<4 nm) in a water-compatible solvent. We consider that the effectiveness of this novel collection method for the production of well-dispersed magnetic nanoparticles will be of high interest to a wide range of scientists working in the nanoparticle synthesis field and may enable new applications wherever there is a strict requirement for non-agglomerated nanoparticles.

Preparation of highly accessible mordenite coatings on ceramic monoliths at loadings exceeding 50% by weight

A mordenite layer with a high accessibility has been synthesised on cordierite monolith supports; substantial loadings of mordenite were achieved (above 50 wt%) under the synthesis conditions used.