A facile ultrasonic process for the preparation of Co3O4 nanoflowers for room-temperature removal of low-concentration NOx

Ambient Air Purification by Nanotechnologies: From Theory to Application

Air pollution has been a recurring problem in northern Chinese cities, and high concentrations of PM2.5 in winter have been a particular cause for concern. Secondary aerosols converted from precursor gases (i.e., nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) evidently account for a large fraction of the PM2.5. Conventional control methods, such as dust removal, desulfurization, and denitrification, help reduce emissions from stationary combustion sources, but these measures have not led to decreases in haze events. Recent advances in nanomaterials and nanotechnology provide new opportunities for removing fine particles and gaseous pollutants from ambient air and reducing the impacts on human health. This review begins with overviews of air pollution and traditional abatement technologies, and then advances in ambient air purification by nanotechnologies, including filtration, adsorption, photocatalysis, and ambient-temperature catalysis are presented—from fundamental principles to applications. Current state-of-the-art developments in the use of nanomaterials for particle removal, gas adsorption, and catalysis are summarized, and practical applications of catalysis-based techniques for air purification by nanomaterials in indoor, semi-enclosed, and open spaces are highlighted. Finally, we propose future directions for the development of novel disinfectant nanomaterials and the construction of advanced air purification devices.

Insights into the Morphological Effect of Co3O4 Crystallite on Catalytic Oxidation of Vinyl Chloride

Co3O4 catalysts of cube and sphere shapes were prepared by one-step hydrothermal synthesis with different controlled amounts of Co(NO3)2·6H2O and NaOH. The morphological effects on both physicochemical properties and catalytic activities of vinyl chloride oxidation were investigated by material characterization and performance evaluation. The obtained results showed that the morphology, resulting in the exposure difference of crystal planes, significantly affected the catalytic property. The catalytic activity for vinyl chloride oxidation followed a descending order of Co3O4 cube (Co3O4-c) > Co3O4 sphere (Co3O4-s) > Co3O4 commercial (Co3O4-com). The cube-shaped Co3O4 presented higher catalytic activity and stability than Co3O4 spheres despite their similar crystallographic structures as well as physicochemical and redox properties. Accordingly, the different catalytic behaviors should be attributed to a morphological effect. The Co3O4 cube with a preferential exposure of (001) plane presented higher abundance of surface Co2+ cations and adsorbed oxygen species, which acted as the active sites responsible for the improvement of its catalytic activity.

Highly selective catalytic reduction of NO via SO2/H2O-tolerant spinel catalysts at low temperature

Selective catalytic reduction of NO X by hydrogen (H2-SCR) in the presence of oxygen has been investigated over the NiCo2O4 and Pd-doped NiCo2O4 catalysts under varying conditions. The catalysts were prepared by a sol-gel method in the presence of oxygen within 50-350 °C and were characterized using XRD, BET, EDS, XPS, Raman, H2-TPR, and NH3-TPD analysis. The results demonstrated that the doped Pd could improve the catalyst reducibility and change the surface acidity and redox properties, resulting in a higher catalytic performance. The performance of NiCo1.95Pd0.05O4 was consistently better than that of NiCo2O4 within the 150-350 °C range at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 4800 mL g(-1) h(-1), with a feed stream containing 1070 ppm NO, 10,700 ppm H2, 2 % O2, and N2 as balance gas. The effects of GHSV, NO/H2 ratios, and O2 feed concentration on the NO conversion over the NiCo2O4 and NiCo1.95Pd0.05O4 catalysts were also investigated. The two samples similarly showed that an increase in GHSV from 4800 to 9600 mL h(-1) g(-1), the NO/H2 ratio from 1:10 to 1:1, and the O2 content from 0 to 6 % would result in a decrease in NO conversion. In addition, 2 %, 5 %, and 8 % H2O into the feed gas had a slightly negative influence on SCR activity over the two catalysts. The effect of SO2 on the SCR activity indicated that the NiCo1.95Pd0.05O4 possesses better SO2 tolerance than NiCo2O4 catalyst does. Graphical abstract The NiCo1.95Pd0.05O4 catalyst achieved over 90 % NO conversion with N2 selectivity of 100 % in the 200∼250 °C range than the maximum 40.5 % NO conversion over NiCo2O4 with N2 selectivity of approximately 80 % in 350 °C.

Performance optimization of a MnO2/carbon nanotube substrate for efficient catalytic oxidation of low-concentration NO at room temperature

Performance optimization of a MnO₂ NS/CNT series of catalysts could be realized via doping methods or acid treatment.

Mesostructured amorphous manganese oxides: facile synthesis and highly durable elimination of low-concentration NO at room temperature in air

98% removal of 10 ppm NO is achieved for 237 h with no sign of deactivation with amorphous manganese oxides.