Usage of carbon nanotubes as platinum and nickel catalyst support in dehydrogenation reactions

Process Simulation of Diesel into Aromatics and Carbon Nanotubes: A Techno and Economic Analyses

With the sustainable increase of renewable energy and the maturation of heavy vehicle market, diesel consumption would face a downward trend worldwide. Herein, we have proposed a new route for hydrocracking of light cycle oil (LCO) into aromatics and gasoline and the tandem conversion of C₁-C₅ hydrocarbons (byproducts) into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and H₂, and by combining the simulation with Aspen Plus software and the experimental study of C₂-C₅ conversion, we have built a transformation network including LCO to aromatics/gasoline, C₂-C₅ to CNTs and H₂, the conversion of CH₄ into CNTs and H₂, and the cycle use of H₂ with pressure swing adsorption. Mass balance, energy consumption, and economic analysis were discussed as a function of varying CNT yield and CH₄ conversion. 50% of H₂ required for hydrocracking of LCO can be supplied by the downstream chemical vapor deposition processes. This can greatly reduce the cost of high-priced hydrogen feedstock. If the sale price of CNTs exceeds 2170 CNY per ton, the entire process would break even for a process of dealing with 520,000 t/a LCO. These results imply the great potential of this route, considering the vast demand and the current high price of CNTs.

Pd on thermo-responsive composite of silica-coated carbon nanotube and 1-vinyl-3-butylimidazolium-based ionic liquid copolymers as an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation of nitro compounds

In this work, an ionic liquid-containing thermo-responsive heterogeneous catalyst with utility for promoting hydrogenation of nitro-compounds in aqueous media is developed. To prepare the catalyst, silica-coated carbon nanotubes were synthesized and vinyl-functionalized. The resulted compound was then polymerized with 1-viny-3-butylimidazolium bromide and N-isopropylacrylamide. The obtained ionic liquid-containing thermo-responsive composite was palladated via wet-impregnation method to give the final catalyst. Study of the performance of the catalyst confirmed high catalytic activity of the catalyst at temperature above the lower critical solution temperature. Furthermore, the catalyst was highly recyclable and showed negligible Pd leaching upon recycling. Broad substrate scope and selectivity of the catalyst towards reduction of nitro functionality were also confirmed. Furthermore, hot filtration test implied the heterogeneous nature of the catalysis. The comparison of the activity of Pd/CNT-P with some control catalysts approved the importance of hybridization of P and CNT and the presence of ionic liquid for the catalytic activity.

Nitrogen/Carbon-Coated Zero-Valent Copper as Highly Efficient Co-catalysts for TiO2 Applied in Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Zero-valent copper (Cu⁰) is a promising co-catalyst in semiconductor-based photocatalysis as it is inexpensive and exhibits electronic properties similar to those of Ag and Au. However, its practical application in photocatalytic hydrogen production is limited by its susceptibility to oxidation, forming less active Cu species. Herein, we have carried out in situ encapsulation of Cu⁰ nanoparticles with N-graphitic carbon layers (14.4% N) to stabilize Cu⁰ nanoparticles (N/C-coated Cu) and improve the electronic communication with a TiO₂ photocatalyst. A facile solvothermal procedure is used to coat the Cu⁰ nanoparticles at 200 °C, while graphitization is achieved by calcination at 550 °C under an inert atmosphere. The resultant N/C-coated Cu/TiO₂ composites outperform the uncoated Cu counterparts, exhibiting a 27-fold enhancement of the hydrogen evolution rate compared to TiO₂ and achieving a rate of 19.03 mmol g^-1 h^-1 under UV-vis irradiation. Likewise, the N/C-coated Cu co-catalyst exhibits a less negative onset potential of -0.05 V toward hydrogen evolution compared to uncoated Cu (ca. -0.30 V). This superior activity is attributed to coating Cu⁰ with N/C, which enhances the stability, electronic communication with TiO₂, conductivity, and interfacial charge transfer processes. The reported synthetic approach is simple and scalable, yielding an efficient and affordable Cu⁰ co-catalyst for TiO₂.

Understanding the electrochemistry of armchair graphene nanoribbons containing nitrogen and oxygen functional groups: DFT calculations

The surface and edge chemistry are vital points to assess a specific application of graphene and other carbon nanomaterials. Based on first-principles density functional theory, we investigate twenty-four chemical functional groups containing oxygen and nitrogen atoms anchored to the edges of armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs). Results for the band structures, formation energy, band gaps, electronic charge deficit, oxidation energy, reduction energy, and global hydrophilicity index are analyzed. Among the oxygen functional groups, carbonyl, anhydride, quinone, lactone, phenol, ethyl-ester, carboxyl, α-ester-methyl, and methoxy act as electron-withdrawing groups and, conversely, pyrane, pyrone, and ethoxy act as electron-donating groups. In the case of nitrogen-functional groups, amine, N-p-toluidine, ethylamine, pyridine-N-oxide, pyridone, lactam, and pyridinium transfer electrons to the AGNRs. Nitro, amide, and N-ethylamine act as electron-withdrawing groups. The carbonyl and pyridinium group-AGNRs show metallic behavior. The formation energy calculations revealed that AGNRs with pyridinium, amine, pyrane, carbonyl, and phenol are the most stable structures. In terms of the global hydrophilicity index, the quinone and N-ethylamine groups showed the most significant values, suggesting that they are highly efficient in accepting electrons from other chemical species. The oxidation and reduction energies as a function of the ribbon's width are discussed for AGNRs with quinone, hydroquinone, nitro, and nitro + 2H. Besides, we discuss the effect of nitrogen-doping in AGNRs on the oxidation and reduction energies for the quinone and hydroquinone functional groups.

Carbon nanotube-supported Cu-based catalysts for oxidative carbonylation of methanol to methyl carbonate: effect of nanotube pore size

The inner diameter of CNTs significantly affected the location, dispersion, autoreduction and stability of Cu species and thus the catalytic activity and stability for oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate.

Combination of carbon nanotube and cyclodextrin nanosponge chemistry to develop a heterogeneous Pd-based catalyst for ligand and copper free C-C coupling reactions

Carbon nanotubes and cyclodextrin nanosponge were hybridized and used as a support for embedding Pd(0) nanoparticles and developing a novel and heterogeneous catalyst, Pd@CDNS-CNT, for promoting ligand and copper-free Sonogashira and Heck coupling reactions in aqueous media and mild reaction condition. Cyclodextrin nanosponge could contribute to catalysis through encapsulating the reagents and transferring them in the vicinity of Pd nanoparticles. The results established that the catalytic activity of Pd@CDNS-CNT was superior to those of Pd@CNT, Pd@CDNS and Pd@CNT + CDNS, indicating the synergism between the components of the hybrid system. Notably, various aryl halides including aryl iodide, bromide and chloride were useful substrates for the coupling reactions and affording the corresponding products in high to excellent yields in short reaction times. Moreover, the catalyst was recyclable up to six reaction runs with negligible Pd leaching.

Hydrogen Adsorption Properties of Carbon Nanotubes and Platinum Nanoparticles from a New Ammonium-Ethylimidazolium Chloroplatinate Salt

Self-supporting membranes built entirely of carbon nanotubes have been prepared by wet methods and characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The membranes are used as supports for the electrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles without the use of additional additives and/or stabilizers. The Pt precursor is an ad hoc synthesized ammonium-ethylimidazolium chloroplatinate(IV) salt, [NH3 (CH2 )2 MIM)][PtCl6 ]. The Pt complex was characterized using NMR spectroscopy, XRD, ESI-MS, and FTIR spectroscopy. The interaction between the Pt-carbon nanotubes nanocomposites and hydrogen is analyzed using electrochemical and quartz microbalance measurements under near-ambient conditions. The contribution of the Pt phase to the hydrogen adsorption on nanotube is found and explained by a kinetic model that takes into account a spillover event. Such a phenomenon may be exploited conveniently for catalysis and electrocatalysis applications in which the hybrid systems could act as a hydrogen transfer agent in specific hydrogenation reactions.

Nitrogen-functionalised carbon nanotubes as a novel adsorbent for the removal of Cu(ii) from aqueous solution

Nitrogen-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes synthesized were effective and efficient for the removal of Cu²⁺ from aqueous solutions.

Metal-supported carbon-based materials: opportunities and challenges in the synthesis of valuable products

We summarize relevant applications and limitations of metal-supported carbons and nanocarbons in the synthesis of valuable products and the recent advances in this field.

Interactions between metal species and nitrogen-functionalized carbon nanotubes

Surface functionalities and defects strongly influence the interactions between metal species and nitrogen-functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Pyrrolic nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes: physicochemical properties, interactions with Pd and their role in the selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzophenone

The selective synthesis of pyrrolic N-CNTs, which promote the catalytic activity, and selectivity of PdN/CNTs used to hydrogenate nitrobenzophenone.

Au/graphene oxide/carbon nanotube flexible catalyst film: synthesis, characterization and its application for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

We report a simple approach for fabricating flexible, free-standing and catalytic film composed of graphene oxide/carbon nanotube-Au. It shows excellent catalytic property in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol reaction.

Carbon nanotube catalysts: recent advances in synthesis, characterization and applications

Carbon nanotubes are promising materials for various applications.

Ni-promoted synthesis of graphitic carbon nanotubes from in situ produced graphitic carbon for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene

Ni promoted the synthesis of graphitic carbon nanotubes from in situ produced graphitic carbon and exhibited excellent activity in dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene.

An effective approach for modifying carbonaceous materials with niobium single sites to improve their catalytic properties

In this paper we show a very simple route for the incorporation of catalytically active niobium species on the surface of carbon materials, such as graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes and activated carbon.

Preparation of Rh–SiO2 fiber catalyst with superior activity and reusability by electrospinning

Rh–SiO₂ fiber catalyst prepared by electrospinning for room temperature hydrogenation of alkenes with superior catalytic activity and reusability.