Influence of MgO-modified SBA-15 on the structure and catalytic activity of supported vanadium oxide catalysts

C-H bond activation in light alkanes: a theoretical perspective

Alkanes are the major constituents of natural gas and crude oil, the feedstocks for the chemical industry. The efficient and selective activation of C-H bonds can convert abundant and low-cost hydrocarbon feedstocks into value-added products. Due to the increasing global demand for light alkenes and their corresponding polymers as well as synthesis gas and hydrogen production, C-H bond activation of light alkanes has attracted widespread attention. A theoretical understanding of C-H bond activation in light hydrocarbons via density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling provides a feasible approach to gain insight into the process and guidelines for designing more efficient catalysts to promote light alkane transformation. This review describes the recent progress in computational catalysis that has addressed the C-H bond activation of light alkanes. We start with direct and oxidative C-H bond activation of methane, with emphasis placed on kinetic and mechanistic insights obtained from DFT assisted microkinetic analysis into steam and dry reforming, and the partial oxidation dependence on metal/oxide surfaces and nanoparticle size. Direct and oxidative activation of the C-H bond of ethane and propane on various metal and oxide surfaces are subsequently reviewed, including the elucidation of active sites, intriguing mechanisms, microkinetic modeling, and electronic features of the ethane and propane conversion processes with a focus on suppressing the side reaction and coke formation. The main target of this review is to give fundamental insight into C-H bond activation of light alkanes, which can provide useful guidance for the optimization of catalysts in future research.

Influence of Calcination Conditions on Structural and Solid-State Kinetic Properties of Iron Oxidic Species Supported on SBA-15

Iron oxidic species supported on silica SBA-15 were synthesized with various iron loadings using two different FeIII precursors. The effect of varying powder layer thickness during calcination on structural and solid-state kinetic properties of FexOy/SBA-15 samples was investigated. Calcination was conducted in thin (0.3 cm) or thick (1.3 cm) powder layer. Structural characterization of resulting FexOy/SBA-15 samples was performed by nitrogen physisorption, X-ray diffraction, and DR-UV/Vis spectroscopy. Thick powder layer during calcination induced an increased species size independent of the precursor. However, a significantly more pronounced influence of calcination mode on species size was observed for the FeIII nitrate precursor compared to the FeIII citrate precursor. Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) experiments revealed distinct differences in reducibility and reduction mechanism dependent on calcination mode. Thick layer calcination of the samples obtained from FeIII nitrate precursor resulted in more pronounced changes in TPR profiles compared to samples obtained from FeIII citrate precursor. TPR traces were analyzed by model-dependent Coats-Redfern method and model-independent Kissinger method. Differences in solid-state kinetic properties of FexOy/SBA-15 samples dependent on powder layer thickness during calcination correlated with differences in iron oxidic species size.

Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles in a Modular Fashion to Prepare Multifunctional Catalysts for Cascade Reactions: From Simplicity to Complexity

One-pot cascade reactions can simplify the synthetic route and reduce the use of solvents and energy. The critical part of the completion of the cascade reaction is the preparation of multifunctional catalysts. In this work, a novel and simple pathway was developed to construct multifunctional catalysts with acidic, basic, and magnetic properties at the same time. Mesoporous silica materials modified with different metal oxides were used as catalytic elements. Microspheres that assembled with catalytic components have a diameter of 150 μm and a specific surface area larger than 400 m² g^-1 and can be used as catalysts for cascade reactions. The yield of the final product in the deacetalization-Knoevenagel reaction is 92%. Microspheres integrated with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have a magnetic susceptibility of 7.2 emu g^-1 and can be easily removed from the reaction system by applying an external magnetic field. This multimodule assembly method fully reflects the enormous power of complexity resulting from simplicity. This method provides a reference and practical technical support for the preparation of other multifunctional materials.

Design, synthesis and catalytic performance of vanadium-incorporated mesoporous silica KIT-6 catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene

The vanadium-incorporated KIT-6 catalysts synthesized by combining a direct hydrothermal method with a pH adjusting method show superior catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene.

Vanadia supported on nickel manganese oxide nanocatalysts for the catalytic oxidation of aromatic alcohols

Vanadia nanoparticles supported on nickel manganese mixed oxides were synthesized by co-precipitation method. The catalytic properties of these materials were investigated for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol using molecular oxygen as oxidant. It was observed that the calcination temperature and the size of particles play an important role in the catalytic process. The catalyst was evaluated for its oxidation property against aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, which was found to display selectivity towards aromatic alcohols. The samples were characterized by employing scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.