Surface properties and performance for VOCs combustion of LaFe1−yNiyO3 perovskite oxides

Weakening Mn-O Bond Strength in Mn-Based Perovskite Catalysts to Enhance Propane Catalytic Combustion

Exploring highly efficient and robust non-noble metal catalysts for VOC abatement is crucial but challenging. Mn-based perovskites are a class of redox catalysts with good thermal stability, but their activity in the catalytic combustion of light alkanes is insufficient. In this work, we modulated the Mn-O bond strength in a Mn-based perovskite via defect engineering, over which the catalytic activity of propane combustion was significantly enhanced. It demonstrates that the oxygen vacancy concentration and the Mn-O bond strength can be efficiently modulated by finely tuning the Ni content in SmNixMn1-xO3 perovskite catalysts (SNxM1-x), which in turn can enhance the redox ability and generate more active oxygen species. The SN0.10M0.90 catalyst with the lowest Mn-O bond strength exhibits the lowest apparent activation energy, over which the propane conversion rate increases by 3.6 times compared to that on the SmMnO3 perovskite catalyst (SM). In addition, a SN0.10M0.90/cordierite monolithic catalyst can also exhibit a remarkable catalytic performance and deliver excellent long-term durability (1000 h), indicating broad prospects in industrial applications. Moreover, the promotional effect of Ni substitution was further unveiled by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This work brings a favorable guidance for the exploration of highly efficient perovskite catalysts for light alkane elimination.

Solar-light-driven LaFe x Ni1- x O3 perovskite oxides for photocatalytic Fenton-like reaction to degrade organic pollutants

LaFe _x Ni_{1- x} O₃ perovskite oxides were prepared by the sol-gel method under various conditions, including different pH values (pH 0 and pH 7) and different calcination temperatures (500-800 °C) as well as different Fe/Ni ratios (1/9, 3/7, 5/5, 7/3, 9/1). The samples were examined by XRD, DRS, BET, and SEM to reveal their crystallinity, light-absorption ability, specific surface area, and surface features, respectively. The photocatalytic Fenton reaction was conducted using various LaFe _x Ni_{1- x} O₃ perovskite oxides to decompose the methylene blue molecules. Accordingly, the synthesis condition of pH 0, calcination temperature at 700 °C, and Fe/Ni ratio = 7/3 could form LaFe_0.7Ni_0.3O₃ perovskite oxides as highly efficient photocatalysts. Moreover, various conditions during the photocatalytic degradation were verified, such as pH value, catalyst dosage, and the additional amount of H₂O₂. LaFe_0.7Ni_0.3O₃ perovskite oxides could operate efficiently under pH 3.5, catalyst dosage of 50 mg/150 mL, and H₂O₂ concentration of 133 ppm to decompose the MB dye in the 1st order kinetic rate constant of 0.0506 s^-1.

Approach to the Characterization of Monolithic Catalysts Based on La Perovskite-like Oxides and Their Application for VOC Oxidation under Simulated Indoor Environment Conditions

Catalysts are very important in controlling the pollutant emissions and are used for hundreds of chemical processes. Currently, noble metal-based catalysts are being replaced for other kinds of materials. In this study, three lanthanum-based perovskite-like oxides were synthesized (LaCo, LaCoMn, and LaMn) by the glycine-combustion method. The powder catalysts obtained were supported onto cordierite ceramic monoliths using an optimized washcoating methodology to obtain the subsequent monolithic catalysts (LaCo-S, LaCoMn-S, and LaMn-S). Sample characterization confirmed the formation of the perovskite-like phase in the powder materials as well as the presence of the perovskite phase after supporting it onto the monolithic structure. The XPS analysis showed a general decrease in lattice oxygen species for monolithic catalysts, mainly caused by the colloidal silica used as a binder agent during the washcoating process. Additionally, some variations in the oxidation state distribution for elements in Co-containing systems suggest a stronger interaction between cordierite and such catalysts. The catalytic activity results indicated that powder and monolithic catalysts were active for single-component VOC oxidation in the following order: 2-propanol > n-hexane ≅ mixture > toluene, and there was no evidence of loss of catalytic activity after supporting the catalysts. However, LaMn-S had a better catalytic performance for all VOC tested under dry conditions, achieving oxidation temperatures between 230–420 °C. The oxidation efficiency for the VOC mixture was strongly affected by the presence of moisture linking the oxidation efficiency at wet conditions to the VOC chemical nature. Additionally, for higher VOC concentrations, the catalyst efficiency decreased due to the limited number of active sites.

Defect engineering of oxide perovskites for catalysis and energy storage: synthesis of chemistry and materials science

Oxide perovskites have emerged as an important class of materials with important applications in many technological areas, particularly thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and energy storage. However, their implementation faces numerous challenges that are familiar to the chemist and materials scientist. The present work surveys the state-of-the-art by integrating these two viewpoints, focusing on the critical role that defect engineering plays in the design, fabrication, modification, and application of these materials. An extensive review of experimental and simulation studies of the synthesis and performance of oxide perovskites and devices containing these materials is coupled with exposition of the fundamental and applied aspects of defect equilibria. The aim of this approach is to elucidate how these issues can be integrated in order to shed light on the interpretation of the data and what trajectories are suggested by them. This critical examination has revealed a number of areas in which the review can provide a greater understanding. These include considerations of (1) the nature and formation of solid solutions, (2) site filling and stoichiometry, (3) the rationale for the design of defective oxide perovskites, and (4) the complex mechanisms of charge compensation and charge transfer. The review concludes with some proposed strategies to address the challenges in the future development of oxide perovskites and their applications.

How Chemoresistive Sensors Can Learn from Heterogeneous Catalysis. Hints, Issues, and Perspectives

The connection between heterogeneous catalysis and chemoresistive sensors is emerging more and more clearly, as concerns the well-known case of supported noble metals nanoparticles. On the other hand, it appears that a clear connection has not been set up yet for metal oxide catalysts. In particular, the catalytic properties of several different oxides hold the promise for specifically designed gas sensors in terms of selectivity towards given classes of analytes. In this review, several well-known metal oxide catalysts will be considered by first exposing solidly established catalytic properties that emerge from related literature perusal. On this basis, existing gas-sensing applications will be discussed and related, when possible, with the obtained catalysis results. Then, further potential sensing applications will be proposed based on the affinity of the catalytic pathways and possible sensing pathways. It will appear that dialogue with heterogeneous catalysis may help workers in chemoresistive sensors to design new systems and to gain remarkable insight into the existing sensing properties, in particular by applying the approaches and techniques typical of catalysis. However, several divergence points will appear between metal oxide catalysis and gas-sensing. Nevertheless, it will be pointed out how such divergences just push to a closer exchange between the two fields by using the catalysis knowledge as a toolbox for investigating the sensing mechanisms.

Noble-metal-free hydroxyapatite activated by facile mechanochemical treatment towards highly-efficient catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compound

Controlling of volatile organic compound (VOC) emitted from industrial processes as most abundant and harmful air pollutant, has become one of the most important global environmental issues due to the rapid urbanization and industrialization. As an alternative and new type catalyst instead of conventional noble-metal nanoparticles widely utilized in oxidative decomposition of VOC, here we report the superior catalytic performance with 100% CO₂/CO conversion on hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) with structurally well-controlled active surface tailored via facile one-step mechanochemical treatment in ambient air. With detailed characterizations of particle morphology, crystallinity and chemical structure with respects to surface defect/oxygen vacancy formation, acidity/basicity and VOC affinity on HAps activated through different mechanical stresses when altered ball size is utilized in planetary ball-milling assisted mechanochemical process, it was found that the predominant defect/oxygen vacancy generation in PO₄^3- site and enhanced basic site population established by selective mechanochemical activation of c-plane, facilitates the favorable catalytic oxidation route towards highly-efficient CO₂/CO conversion of VOC. Regards to the cost-effectiveness and non-toxic nature of HAp, incorporated with the sustainable mechanochemical surface structure tuning process, the results presented in this work opens new strategy in development of novel noble-metal-free catalyst for VOC elimination and environmental cleaning techniques.

Development of Pharmaceutical VOCs Elimination by Catalytic Processes in China

As a byproduct of emerging as one of the world’s key producers of pharmaceuticals, China is now challenged by the emission of harmful pharmaceutical VOCs. In this review, the catalogue and volume of VOCs emitted by the pharmaceutical industry in China was introduced. The commonly used VOC removal processes and technologies was recommended by some typical examples. The progress of catalytic combustion, photocatalytic oxidation, non-thermal plasma, and electron beam treatment were presented, especially the development of catalysts. The advantages and shortages of these technologies in recent years were discussed and analyzed. Lastly, the development of VOCs elimination technologies and the most promising technology were discussed.

Nickel and cobalt metal-organic-frameworks-derived hollow microspheres porous carbon assembled from nanorods and nanospheres for outstanding supercapacitors

The development of efficient electrode materials is essential to promote the performance of energy storage equipment. Nowadays, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely regarded as active materials for supercapacitors mainly thanks to their adjustable structure and outstanding porosity. Here, highly optimized Nickel and Cobalt MOF-derived N-doped porous carbon (Ni/Co-MOF-NPC) are considered the best choice for electrode materials due to their unique structural properties and excellent electrochemical performance. Pure cobalt oxide rarely reaches a specific capacitance of 104.3 F g^-1 when the current density is 1 A g^-1, but the optimized Ni/Co-MOF-NPC-2:1 offers an ultra-high specific capacitance of 1214 F g^-1, which is much higher than that of pure cobalt oxide in a three-electrode test system. When the current density is 10 A g^-1, after 6000 cycles, the capacitance can still maintain 98.8% of the initial capacitance. Asymmetric supercapacitors were assembled using the prepared Ni/Co-MOF-NPC-2:1 as the positive electrode material, corrugated paper activated carbon (CPAC) as the negative electrode material, the prepared Ni/Co-MOF-NPC-2:1//CPAC exhibits an outstanding energy density of 55.4 Wh kg^-1 at 758.5 W kg^-1, and has a significant cycle stability of 75.2% retention after 20,000 cycles. This excellent MOF synthesis strategy reduced the gap between the experimental synthesis and practical application of MOF in fast energy storage.

Nanoparticles of Rh confined and tailored by LaFeO3–La2O3 on SiO2 for direct ethanol synthesis from syngas

A catalyst with a novel composition for direct ethanol synthesis from syngas was prepared and investigated in this work, which is Rh nanoparticles (NPs) highly dispersed on La₂O₃ modified LaFeO₃, and the Rh NPs/La₂O₃–LaFeO₃ was loaded on SiO₂ with high surface area.

Catalytic oxidation of ethyl acetate over LaBO3 (B = Co, Mn, Ni, Fe) perovskites supported silver catalysts

A series of silver catalysts supported on lanthanum based perovskites LaBO₃ (B = Co, Mn, Ni, Fe) were synthesized and evaluated in the catalytic oxidation of ethyl acetate. XRD, BET, TEM/HRTEM, HAADF-STEM, XPS and H₂-TPR were conducted, and the results indicate that redox activity of the catalysts is of great importance to the oxidation reaction. Activity tests demonstrated that Ag/LaCoO₃ was more active than the other samples in ethyl acetate oxidation. Moreover, the CO₂ selectivity, CO_x yields and byproduct distributions for all catalysts were studied, and Ag/LaCoO₃ showed the best catalytic performance. Besides, Ag/LaCoO₃ also showed excellent catalytic activity for other OVOCs.

Ag/LaBO₃ (B = Co, Mn, Ni, Fe) were investigated for the catalytic oxidation of ethyl acetate, and Ag/LaCoO₃ showed the best catalytic performance.

Copper doped BaMnO3 perovskite catalysts for NO oxidation and NO2-assisted diesel soot removal

BaMn_0.7Cu_0.3O₃ is the most active catalyst for NO₂ generation and soot oxidation. This behavior is a result of the enhancement of the redox properties of the catalyst due to the replacement of Mn(iii)/Mn(iv) by Cu(ii) in the perovskite structure.

Perovskite as nickel catalyst precursor – impact on catalyst stability on xylose aqueous-phase hydrogenation

Precursors materials with formula, La_1−xCe_xAl_0.18Ni_0.82O₃ (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.7), were successfully used as precursors to prepare Ni nanoclusters to be used as catalysts in the hydrogenation of xylose to xylitol.

Improved catalytic activity of PrMO3 (M = Co and Fe) perovskites: synthesis of thermally stable nanoparticles by a novel hydrothermal method

A simple hydrothermal method was used to synthesize nanoperovskites using metal cyano complexes as precursors.

Ferromagnetism and optical properties of La1 - x Al x FeO3 nanopowders

La1 - x Al x FeO3 (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) nanopowders were prepared by polymerization complex method. All prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-vis spectrophotometry (UV-vis). The magnetic properties were investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The X-ray results of all samples show the formation of an orthorhombic phase with the second phase of α-Fe2O3 in doped samples. The crystallite sizes of nanoparticles decreased with increasing Al content, and they are found to be in the range of 58.45 ± 5.90 to 15.58 ± 4.64 nm. SEM and TEM images show the agglomeration of nanoparticles with average particle size in the range of 60 to 75 nm. The FT-IR spectra confirm the presence of metal oxygen bonds of O-Fe-O and Fe-O in the FeO6 octahedra. The UV-vis spectra show strong absorption peaks at approximately 285 nm, and the calculated optical band gaps are found to be in the range of 2.05 to 2.09 eV with increasing Al content. The M-H loop of the pure sample is antiferromagnetic, whereas those of the doped samples tend to be ferromagnetic with increasing Al content. The magnetization, remanent magnetization, and coercive field of the Al-doped sample with x = 0.5 are enhanced to 1.665 emu/g, 0.623 emu/g, and 4,087.0 Oe, respectively.

Syngas Production from Reforming of Methane with CO2 and O2 over LaNi1–xCoxO3 Perovskites

The LaNi1–xCoxO3 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) perovskites were prepared by the citrate sol–gel method. The prepared compounds were characterized by using XRD, BET, ICP, SEM, EDS, TEM, TPR and TGA techniques, under the condition of as-synthesized and used samples. The results showed that the highly homogeneous and pure solids with particle sizes in the range of nanometers were obtained through this synthesis method. The XRD patterns of fresh catalysts indicated the formation of well-crystallized perovskite structure with LaNiO3 and LaCoO3 as the main phases present on the solids depending on the amount of Co-substitution. TPR analysis revealed that the reduction of the solids was more difficult when increasing the degree of substitution (x). The effects of the partial substitution of Ni by Co and reaction temperatures at atmospheric pressure were investigated in the combined reforming of methane with CO2 and O2 (CRM), after reduction of the samples under hydrogen. LaNiO3 exhibited high activity and selectivity without coke formation between all of the studied perovskites. For LaNi1–xCoxO3 perovskites, it was observed a trend to decrease the catalytic activity with increasing the Co-doping level.