Resin-derived hierarchical porous carbon spheres with high catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene

A facile one-step synthesis of molybdenum carbide-carbon composites for the hydrogenation of naphthalene

A molybdenum carbide-carbon composite (β-Mo2C/C) is prepared by carbonization of an anionic resin with molybdate. The β-Mo2C/C is characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Characterization indicates that the sample shows a hierarchically microporous, mesoporous, and macroporous structure, and has a large surface area. The nanosized β-Mo2C crystals are highly dispersed in the carbon-based sample. The β-Mo2C/C composite shows high catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of naphthalene to tetralin.

Nanoengineering Carbon Spheres as Nanoreactors for Sustainable Energy Applications

Colloidal carbon sphere nanoreactors have been explored extensively as a class of versatile materials for various applications in energy storage, electrochemical conversion, and catalysis, due to their unique properties such as excellent electrical conductivity, high specific surface area, controlled porosity and permeability, and surface functionality. Here, the latest updated research on colloidal carbon sphere nanoreactor, in terms of both their synthesis and applications, is summarized. Various synthetic strategies are first discussed, including the hard template method, the soft template method, hydrothermal carbonization, the microemulsion polymerization method, and extension of the Stöber method. Then, the functionalization of colloidal carbon sphere nanoreactors, including the nanoengineering of compositions and the surface features, is discussed. Afterward, recent progress in the major applications of colloidal carbon sphere nanoreactors, in the areas of energy storage, electrochemical conversion, and catalysis, is presented. Finally, the perspectives and challenges for future developments are discussed in terms of controlled synthesis and functionalization of the colloidal carbon sphere nanoreactors with tunable structure, and the composition and properties that are desirable for practical applications.

An in situ reactivation study reveals the supreme stability of γ-alumina for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene

Ethylbenzene oxidative dehydrogenation over γ-alumina under in situ conditions has revealed that the catalyst recovers fully the original conversion and selectivity under steady state conditions.

An efficient robust fluorite CeZrO4−δ oxide catalyst for the eco-benign synthesis of styrene

The catalytic activities of CeO₂, ZrO₂, (PH)-CeO₂/ZrO₂ and fluorite CeZrO_4−δ oxides were reported for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene to styrene using O₂, air and CO₂ as oxidants. CeZrO_4−δ accounted for a 47% styrene yield under optimized reaction conditions.