Nanowire Morphology of Mono- and Bidoped α-MnO2 Catalysts for Remarkable Enhancement in Soot Oxidation

Insights into the interface of NiCo2O4 spinel /LaCoO3 perovskite nano-composite for CO and soot oxidation

In the quest for the development of thermally stable, highly active and low-cost catalysts for use in catalyzed diesel particulate filter, nano-composites are new areas of research. Therefore, we reported the easy synthesis of spinel NiCo2O4/perovskite LaCoO3 nano-composite, and its individual oxides NiCo2O4 and LaCoO3 for comparison. The detailed insights into the physio-chemical characteristics of formed NiCo2O4/ LaCoO3 nano-composite were done based on various characterization analysis such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), N2 physiosorption, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characterization analysis of NiCo2O4/LaCoO3 revealed the successful formation of a chemical interface possessing strong interfacial interaction, resulting in desirable physicochemical characteristics such as small crystallite size, abundant mesoporosity, high specific surface area and activation of surface lattice oxygen. Owing to the desirable characteristics, the activity results over NiCo2O4/LaCoO3 nano-composite showed the excellent CO oxidation performance and high soot oxidation activity, recyclability and thermal stability. This work mainly attempts to emphasize the effectiveness of the facile, inexpensive and conventionally used precipitation method for the successful formation of highly efficient nano-composites.

MnO2 porous carbon composite from cellulose enabling high gravimetric/volumetric performance for supercapacitor

Preparing electrode material integrated with high gravimetric/volumetric capacitance and fast electron/ion transfer is crucial for the practical application. Owing to the structural contradiction, it is a big challenge to construct electrode material with high packing density, sufficient ion transport channels, and fast electronic transfer pathways. Herein, MnO2 porous carbon composite with abundant porous structure and 3D carbon skeleton was facilely fabricated from Linum usitatissimum. L stems via NaOH activation and MnO2 introduction. The in-situ introduced MnO2 not only increases the packing density and the electrical conductivity of the porous carbon but also provides more active sites for oxidation reactions. These unique characteristics endow the resultant MnO2 porous carbon composite with remarkable gravimetric capacitance of 549 F g-1, volumetric capacitance of 378 F cm-3, and capacitance retention of 54.9 %. Giving the simple process and low cost, this work might offer a new approach for structural design and the practical application of high-performance electrode materials.

Activating Mn Sites by Ni Replacement in α-MnO2

Transition metal oxides are characterized by an acute structure and composition dependent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions. For instance, Mn containing oxides are among the most active ORR catalysts, while Ni based compounds tend to show high activity toward the OER in alkaline solutions. In this study, we show that incorporation of Ni into α-MnO2, by adding Ni precursor into the Mn-containing hydrothermal solution, can generate distinctive sites with different electronic configurations and contrasting electrocatalytic activity. The structure and composition of the Ni modified hollandite α-MnO2 phase were investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Our analysis suggests that Mn replacement by Ni into the α-MnO2 lattice (site A) occurs up to approximately 5% of the total Mn content, while further increasing Ni content promotes the nucleation of separate Ni phases (site B). XAS and XRD show that the introduction of sites A and B have a negligible effect on the overall Mn oxidation state and bonding characteristics, while very subtle changes in the XPS spectra appear to suggest changes in the electronic configuration upon Ni incorporation into the α-MnO2 lattice. On the other hand, changes in the electronic structure promoted by site A have a significant impact in the pseudocapacitive responses obtained by cyclic voltammetry in KOH solution at pH 13, revealing the appearance of Mn 3d orbitals at the energy (potential) range relevant to the ORR. The evolution of Mn 3d upon Ni replacement significantly increases the catalytic activity of α-MnO2 toward the ORR. Interestingly, the formation of segregated Ni phases (site B) leads to a decrease in the ORR activity while increasing the OER rate.

Self-assembly of random networks of zirconium-doped manganese oxide nanoribbons and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) flakes at the water/chloroform interface

Owing to their magnificent chemical and physical properties, transition metal-based heterostructures are potential materials for applications ranging from point-of-care diagnostics to sustainable energy technologies. The cryptomelane-type octahedral molecular sieves (K-OMS-2) are extensively studied porous materials with a hollandite (2 × 2 tunnel of dimensions 4.6 × 4.6 Å2) structure susceptible to the isovalent substitution of metal cations at the framework of MnO6 octahedral chains. Here we report a facile in situ synthesis of framework-level zirconium (Zr)-doped K-OMS-2 nanoribbons in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanoflakes at a water/chloroform interface at ambient conditions. An oxidant system of KMnO4 and ZrOCl2·8H2O initiated the polymerisation at temperatures ranging from 5° to 50 °C. The lattice distortions arising from the framework-level substitution of Mn4+ by Zr4+ in the K-OMS-2 structure were evidenced with powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption studies. Transmission electron microscopic and mapping images confirmed that PEDOT/Zr-K-OMS-2 comprises a highly crystalline random network of two-dimensional PEDOT flakes and Zr-doped K-OMS-2 nanoribbons. In this regard, the proposed interfacial strategy affirms an in situ method for the morphological tuning of heterostructures on polymer supports at low temperatures.

Soot Erased: Catalysts and Their Mechanistic Chemistry

Soot formation is an inevitable consequence of the combustion of carbonaceous fuels in environments rich in reducing agents. Efficient management of pollution in various contexts, such as industrial fires, vehicle engines, and similar applications, relies heavily on the subsequent oxidation of soot particles. Among the oxidizing agents employed for this purpose, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen dioxide have all demonstrated effectiveness. The scientific framework of this research can be elucidated through the following key aspects: (i) This review situates itself within the broader context of pollution management, emphasizing the importance of effective soot oxidation in reducing emissions and mitigating environmental impacts. (ii) The central research question of this study pertains to the identification and evaluation of catalysts for soot oxidation, with a specific emphasis on ceria-based catalysts. The formulation of this research question arises from the need to enhance our understanding of catalytic mechanisms and their application in environmental remediation. This question serves as the guiding principle that directs the research methodology. (iii) This review seeks to investigate the catalytic mechanisms involved in soot oxidation. (iv) This review highlights the efficacy of ceria-based catalysts as well as other types of catalysts in soot oxidation and elucidate the underlying mechanistic strategies. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of pollution management and environmental sustainability. This study contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field of catalysis and provides valuable insights for the development of effective strategies to combat air pollution, ultimately promoting a cleaner and healthier environment.

Insight into phase structure-dependent soot oxidation activity of K/MnO2 catalyst

In the present study, two nanosized MnO₂ with β and δ phase structures and potassium loaded MnO₂ catalysts with varied K loading amounts (denoted as K/MnO₂) were prepared. Temperature programmed oxidation and isothermal reactions in loose contact modes were employed to examine the soot oxidation activity of the as-prepared catalysts. Characterization results show that as compared with β-MnO₂, δ-MnO₂ has larger surface area and higher content of hydroxyl groups. Upon K loading, abundant hydroxyl groups in δ-MnO₂ effectively sequestrate K cation to form bound K species and free K species are available only at K loading above 3.0 wt.%. In contrast, the majority of K species present as free state in β-MnO₂ even at a K loading of 1.0 wt.% due to its very low hydroxyl group content. The O₂ temperature-programmed desorption (O₂-TPD) demonstrates that the catalysts with free K species exhibit strong ability in activating gaseous O₂, whereas the catalysts only having bound K display minor O₂ activation capability. As a result, despite of slightly lower activity of β-MnO₂ than δ-MnO₂, the K/β-MnO₂ catalysts exhibit substantially higher activities than K/δ-MnO₂ catalysts with identical K loadings. The finding in this study clearly demonstrates that for MnO₂ based catalysts, the enhancement of catalytic activity for soot oxidation is highly K loading amount dependent and the dependency is strongly associated with the phase structure of MnO₂.

Alkali/alkaline-earth metal-modified MnOx supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous-mesoporous TixSi1-xO2 catalysts: Preparation and catalytic performance for soot combustion

The performance of catalysts used in after-treatment systems is the key factor for the removal of diesel soot, which is an important component of atmospheric fine particle emissions. Herein, three-dimensionally ordered macroporous-mesoporous Ti_xSi_1-xO₂ (3DOM-m Ti_xSi_1-xO₂) and its supported MnO_x catalysts doped with different alkali/alkaline-earth metals (AMnO_x/3DOM-m Ti_0.7Si_0.3O₂ (A: Li, Na, K, Ru, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)) were prepared by mesoporous template (P123)-assisted colloidal crystal template (CCT) and incipient wetness impregnation methods, respectively. Physicochemical characterizations of the catalysts were performed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption, H₂ temperature-programmed reduction, O₂ temperature-programmed desorption, NO temperature-programmed oxidation, and Raman spectroscopy techniques; then, we evaluated their catalytic performances for the removal of diesel soot particles. The results show that the 3DOM-m Ti_0.7Si_0.3O₂ supports exhibited a well-defined 3DOM-m nanostructure, and AMnO_x nanoparticles with 10-50 nm were evenly dispersed on the inner walls of the uniform macropores. In addition, the as-prepared catalysts exhibited good catalytic performance for soot combustion. Among the prepared catalysts, CsMnO_x/3DOM-m Ti_0.7Si_0.3O₂ had the highest catalytic activity for soot combustion, with T₁₀, T₅₀, and T₉₀ (the temperatures corresponding to soot conversion rates of 10%, 50%, and 90%) values of 285, 355, and 393°C, respectively. The high catalytic activity of the CsMnO_x/3DOM-m Ti_0.7Si_0.3O₂ catalysts was attributed to their excellent low-temperature reducibility and homogeneous macroporous-mesoporous structure, as well as to the synergistic effects between Cs and Mn species and between CsMnO_x and the Ti_0.7Si_0.3O₂ support.

Soot Combustion over Cu-Co Spinel Catalysts: The Intrinsic Effects of Precursors on Catalytic Activity

In this work, a series of CuCo₂O₄-x (x = N, A and C) catalysts were synthesized using different metal salt precursors by urea hydrothermal method for catalytic soot combustion. The effect of CuCo₂O₄-x catalysts on soot conversion and CO₂ selectivity in both loose and tight contact mode was investigated. The CuCo₂O₄-N catalyst exhibited outstanding catalytic activity with the characteristic temperatures (T₁₀, T₅₀ and T₉₀) of 451 °C, 520 °C and 558 °C, respectively, while the CO₂ selectivity reached 98.8% during the reaction. With the addition of NO, the soot combustion was further accelerated over all catalysts. Compared with the loose contact mode, the soot conversion was improved in the tight contact mode. The CuCo₂O₄-N catalysts showed better textural properties compared to the CuCo₂O₄-A and CuCo₂O₄-C, such as higher specific surface areas and pore volumes. The XRD results confirmed that the formation of a CuCo₂O₄ crystal phase in all catalysts. However, the CuO crystal phase only presented in CuCo₂O₄-N and CuCo₂O₄-A. The relative contents of Cu²⁺, Co³⁺ and O_ads on the surface of CuCo₂O₄-x (x = N, A and C) catalysts were analyzed by XPS. The CuCo₂O₄-N catalyst displayed the highest relative content of Cu²⁺, Co³⁺ and O_ads. The activity of catalytic soot combustion showed a good correlation with the order of the relative contents of Cu²⁺, Co³⁺ and O_ads. Additionally, the CuCo₂O₄-N catalyst exhibited lower reduction temperature compared to the CuCo₂O₄-A and CuCo₂O₄-C. The cycle tests clarified that the copper-cobalt spinel catalyst obtained good stability. In addition, based on the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism, the process of catalytic soot combustion was described combined with the electron transfer process and the role of oxygen species over CuCo₂O₄ spinel catalysts.

Revealing the promoting effect of multiple Mn valences on the catalytic activity of CeO2 nanorods toward soot oxidation

Mn-modified CeO₂ nanomaterials have attracted extensive attention as efficient and promising catalysts for soot combustion due to their low cost and high catalytic activity. However, a detailed mechanism of how Mn promotes soot oxidation over CeO₂ is still not clearly elucidated, which is crucial to further optimize the catalyst for achieving its practical applications. We here report a Mn-doped CeO₂ catalyst with tunable surface Mn chemical valence states to study the Mn-promoting mechanism for improving CeO₂ catalyst activity in soot oxidation. Experimental results show that Mn-doped CeO₂ nanorods with surface Mn chemical valence states being optimized (Mn_0.19Ce_0.81O₂) can lower the eliminating temperature of soot to 410 °C (T₉₀) when in a loose contact and exhibit a strong resistance towards water molecules. The catalytic performances of Mn_0.19Ce_0.81O₂ nanorods are comparable with those of other reported oxide catalysts both in the mimetic realistic and ideal reaction environments. Detailed characterization and theoretical calculation results demonstrate that balanced multiple Mn valences can dramatically enhance the catalysts' redox properties and their ability to activate O₂ molecules, as well as improve the dynamic contact efficiency during the oxidation, which synergistically result in superior catalytic performances. This work might provide insight for the future design and preparation of catalysts to efficiently eliminate soot particles.

Enhancing the Low-Temperature CO Oxidation over CuO-Based α-MnO2 Nanowire Catalysts

A series of CuO-based catalysts supported on the α-MnO₂ nanowire were facilely synthesized and employed as the CO oxidation catalysts. The achieved catalysts were systematically characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS-mapping, XPS and H₂-TPR. The catalytic performances toward CO oxidation had been carefully evaluated over these CuO-based catalysts. The effects of different loading methods, calcination temperatures and CuO loading on the low temperature catalytic activity of the catalyst were investigated and compared with the traditional commercial MnO₂ catalyst with a block structure. It was found that the slenderness ratio of a CuO/α-MnO₂ nanowire catalyst decreases with the increase in CuO loading capacity. The results showed that when CuO loading was 3 wt%, calcination temperature was 200 °C and the catalyst that was supported by the deposition precipitation method had the highest catalytic activity. Besides, the α-MnO₂ nanowire-supported catalysts with excellent redox properties displayed much better catalytic performances than the commercial MnO₂-supported catalyst. In conclusion, the CuO-based catalysts that are supported by α-MnO₂ nanowires are considered as a series of promising CO oxidation catalysts.

Excellent catalytic oxidation performance on toluene and benzene over OMS-2 with a hierarchical porous structure synthesized by a one-pot facile method: modifying surface properties by introducing different amounts of K

The formation of K–O–Mn bond weaken the bond of Mn–O–Mn which increases oxygen species mobility leading to excellent catalytic oxidation performance over OMS-2 by introducing different amounts of K.

Facile preparation, catalytic performance and reaction mechanism of MnxCo1-xOδ/3DOM-m Ti0.7Si0.2W0.1Oy catalysts for the simultaneous removal of soot and NOx

In this work, three-dimensionally ordered macroporous-mesoporous Ti0.7Si0.2W0.1Oy (3DOM-m TiSiWO) supported MnxCo1-xOδ catalysts with different x values were prepared using the colloidal crystal template method and incipient wetness impregnation method. The...

Recent progresses in the synthesis of MnO2 nanowire and its application in environmental catalysis

Nanostructured MnO2 with various morphologies exhibits excellent performance in environmental catalysis owing to its large specific surface area, low density, and adjustable chemical properties. The one-dimensional MnO2 nanowire has been proved to be the dominant morphology among various nanostructures, such as nanorods, nanofibers, nanoflowers, etc. The syntheses and applications of MnO2-based nanowires also have become a research hotspot in environmental catalytic materials over the last two decades. With the continuous deepening of the research, the control of morphology and crystal facet exposure in the synthesis of MnO2 nanowire materials have gradually matured, and the catalytic performance also has been greatly improved. Differences in the crystalline phase structure, preferably exposed crystal facets, and even the length of the MnO2 nanowires will evidently affect the final catalytic performances. Besides, the modifications by doping or loading will also significantly affect their catalytic performances. This review carefully summarizes the synthesis strategies of MnO2 nanowires developed in recent years as well as the influences of the phase structure, crystal facet, morphology, dopant, and loading amount on the catalytic performance. Besides, the cutting-edge applications of MnO2 nanowires in the field of environmental catalysis, such as CO oxidation, the removal of VOCs, denitrification, etc., have been also summarized. The application of MnO2 nanowire in environmental catalysis is still in the early exploratory stage. The gigantic gap between theoretical investigation and industrial application is still a great challenge. Compared with noble metal based traditional environmental catalytic materials, the lower cost of MnO2 has injected new momentum and promising potential into this research field.

Remarkable MnO2 structure-dependent H2O promoting effect in HCHO oxidation at room temperature

H₂O is often critical in determining the activity and stability of metal oxide catalysts for HCHO oxidation; however, synthesis of metal oxide catalysts with super resistance to H₂O remains a challenging. Herein, we synthesized Akhtenskite-type MnO₂ catalyst with Mn-O-Mn stretching along MnO₆ octahedra layers, which promotes the utilization of the associatively adsorbed H₂O. The activity and stability of formaldehyde oxidation at room temperature enhanced in humid air. Diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIRFT) spectroscopy was used to characterize the H₂O adsorption and intermediate species. The associatively adsorbed H₂O promotes the oxidation of formaldehyde to CO₂ via the formic acid intermediate. The service life of MnO₂ is prolonged due to formic acid generation. MnO₂ gradually deactivates when formic acid accumulates and forms formate and hydrogen carbonate species. This study provides significant insights into the development of a high-efficiency MnO₂ catalyst for formaldehyde oxidation in humid air, and the developed MnO₂ catalyst is a promising candidate for application in practical formaldehyde elimination.

MnO2 -Based Materials for Environmental Applications

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂ ) is a promising photo-thermo-electric-responsive semiconductor material for environmental applications, owing to its various favorable properties. However, the unsatisfactory environmental purification efficiency of this material has limited its further applications. Fortunately, in the last few years, significant efforts have been undertaken for improving the environmental purification efficiency of this material and understanding its underlying mechanism. Here, the aim is to summarize the recent experimental and computational research progress in the modification of MnO₂ single species by morphology control, structure construction, facet engineering, and element doping. Moreover, the design and fabrication of MnO₂ -based composites via the construction of homojunctions and MnO₂ /semiconductor/conductor binary/ternary heterojunctions is discussed. Their applications in environmental purification systems, either as an adsorbent material for removing heavy metals, dyes, and microwave (MW) pollution, or as a thermal catalyst, photocatalyst, and electrocatalyst for the degradation of pollutants (water and gas, organic and inorganic) are also highlighted. Finally, the research gaps are summarized and a perspective on the challenges and the direction of future research in nanostructured MnO₂ -based materials in the field of environmental applications is presented. Therefore, basic guidance for rational design and fabrication of high-efficiency MnO₂ -based materials for comprehensive environmental applications is provided.

Surface In Situ Doping Modification over Mn2O3 for Toluene and Propene Catalytic Oxidation: The Effect of Isolated Cuδ+ Insertion into the Mezzanine of Surface MnO2 Cladding

Heterocation insertion and substitution in tunnels and mezzanines of MnO₂ present significant influences on the microchemical environment at the surfaces and interfaces. An innovative surface in situ doping modification method via Cu²⁺-H⁺/KMnO₄ treatment was applied onto the Mn₂O₃ surface to provide Mn₂O₃@MnO₂ nanospheres. Cu was stabilized into resulting MnO₂ cladding substituting original K⁺ during a mild comproportionation reaction between Mn(VII) and Mn(III). The Cu25 (Cu(II): Mn(VII)_atomic = 25%) catalyst shows significant promotion of the catalytic performance compared with bare Mn₂O₃ and Cu0 (without Cu involving). Isolated Cu^δ+ was predominantly inserted into the mezzanine of the [MnO₆]^δ- layers in MnO₂ instead of K⁺, leading to slight electron transfer from Cu^δ+ to outermost Mn^(4-ε)+ and a decrease of interlayer spacing as well as crystallinity. Such a configuration facilitates the formation of additional oxygen vacancies, promoting the redox ability and oxygen mobility at relatively low temperatures. The mechanistic study reveals that Cu^δ+ in MnO₂ cladding boosts the activation of toluene (methyl) to form benzoates and propene (methyl and double bonds) to form carboxylates, enhancing the chemical adsorption of reactants. Moreover, it also inhibits the unfavored accumulation of incomplete oxidized intermediates on the surface at high temperatures.

Synergistic Effects of Multicomponents Produce Outstanding Soot Oxidation Activity in a Cs/Co/MnOx Catalyst

The control of soot emission from diesel vehicles is of extraordinary importance to the environment, and catalytic removal of soot is a highly effective and clean method. Here, we report a novel, non-noble metal catalyst for application in the catalytic combustion of soot with superb activity and resistance to H₂O and SO₂. MnO_x oxide was prepared via a hydrothermal method, and then, Cs and Co were loaded on MnO_x by impregnation. The 5%Cs/1%Co/MnO_x catalyst displayed excellent catalytic activity with values of T₁₀ (332 °C), T₅₀ (371 °C), and T₉₀ (415 °C) under loose contact. The as-prepared catalysts were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), O₂ temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). The results suggest that, after the introduction of Cs and Co into the MnO_x oxide, more NO₂ molecules take part in soot oxidation, exhibiting higher NO₂ utilization efficiency; this is due to the synergistic effects of multiple components (Cs, Co, and Mn) promoting the generation of more surface-active oxygen and then accelerating the reaction between NO₂ and soot. This study provides significant insights into the development of high-efficiency catalysts for soot oxidation, and the developed 5%Cs/1%Co/MnO_x catalyst is a promising candidate for application in diesel particulate filters.

Highly Efficient CuO/α-MnO2 Catalyst for Low-Temperature CO Oxidation

Copper manganese composite (hopcalite) catalyst has been widely explored for low-temperature CO oxidation reactions. However, the previous reports on the stabilization of such composite catalysts have shown that they deactivated severely under moist conditions. Herein, we developed an α-MnO₂ nanorod-supported copper oxide catalyst that is very active and stable for the conditions with or without moisture by the deposition precipitation (DP) method. Incredibly, the CuO/MnO₂ DP catalyst (with 5 wt % copper loading) achieves superior activity with a reaction rate of 9.472 μmol^-1·g_cat^-1·s^-1 even at ambient temperatures, which is at least double times of that for the reported copper-based catalyst. Additionally, the CuO/MnO₂ DP catalyst is significantly more stable than the copper manganese composite catalysts reported in the literature under the presence of 3% water vapor as well as without moisture. A correlation between the catalytic CO oxidation activity and textural characteristics was derived via multitechnique analyses. The results imply that the superior activity of the CuO/MnO₂ DP catalyst is associated with the proper adsorption of CO on partially reduced copper oxide as Cu(I)-CO and more surface oxygen species at the interfacial site of the catalyst.

Highly improved soot combustion performance over synergetic MnxCe1-xO2 solid solutions within mesoporous nanosheets

Constructing synergetic bimetal oxide solid solutions with exceptional catalytic performances for efficient soot elimination is becoming a research frontier in environmental catalysis. Herein, synergetic Mn_xCe_1-xO₂ solid solutions within mesoporous nanosheets, synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method for the first time, have been performed to catalyze the NO_x-assisted soot combustion. Research results validate that Mn_xCe_1-xO₂ solid solutions displayed highly improved soot combustion performance with respect to activity and selectivity, mainly due to the synergetic effect by combining factors of the unique mesoporous nanosheet-shaped feature, the enhanced chemical nature stemmed from high-valence Mn species, abundant active oxygen species originated from the enriched oxygen vacancies and the escalated redox properties. Furthermore, the enhanced NO_x storage and oxidation abilities, mainly derived from integrating reciprocal merits of high-valence Mn species and CeO₂, were also responsible for the highly improved soot combustion performance via NO_x-assisted mechanism. Moreover, Mn_xCe_1-xO₂ solid solutions also exhibited excellent reusability due to the unique morphological structure and stable crystal phase, showing good potential in practical applications.

Synthesis of a CeO2/Co3O4 catalyst with a remarkable performance for the soot oxidation reaction

A highly active catalyst based on CeO₂/Co₃O₄ for soot oxidation at low temperatures with complete selectivity toward CO₂.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Effect of Oxygen Vacancies on the Electronic Structure and Pseudocapacitance of MnO2

Defect engineering is an effective way to modulate the intrinsic physicochemical properties of materials. In this work, δ-MnO₂ with oxygen vacancies is fabricated by a simple oxidation or reduction process, and the relationship between the electronic structure and pseudocapacitance is systematically studied through experimental analysis and theoretical calculations. The peaks in the Raman spectra of the as-prepared samples are shifted compared with those of pure MnO₂ and the Mn³⁺ /Mn⁴⁺ ratio and O species content also change after the introduction of oxygen vacancies. The optimized samples exhibit a better specific capacitance of 207 F g^-1 after the oxidation process and 181.4 F g^-1 after the reduction treatment compared with only 143.9 F g^-1 for the pure MnO₂ . The samples obtained through the oxidation or reduction process also retain 93.3 or 86.4 % of the initial capacity after 5000 cycles. The excellent properties are attributed to the enhanced conductivity and increased surface reactivity or electrochemically active sites. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the presence of oxygen vacancies leads to an increase in the density of states, which improves the redox reaction of MnO₂ . This study will provide a reference for exploring and designing highperformance pseudocapacitive materials.

CeO2-Decorated ?-MnO2 Nanotubes: A Highly Efficient and Regenerable Sorbent for Elemental Mercury Removal from Natural Gas

CeO₂ nanoparticle-decorated ?-MnO₂ nanotubes (NTs) were prepared and tested for elemental mercury (Hg⁰) vapor removal in simulated natural gas mixtures at ambient conditions. The composition which had the largest surface area and a relative Ce/Mn atomic weight ratio of around 35% exhibited a maximum Hg⁰ uptake capacity exceeding 20 mg?g^?1 (2 wt %), as determined from measurements of mercury breakthrough which corresponded to 99.5% Hg⁰ removal efficiency over 96 h of exposure. This represents a significant improvement in the activity of pure metal oxides. Most importantly, the composite nanosorbent was repeatedly regenerated at 350 ?C and retained the 0.5% Hg⁰ breakthrough threshold. It was projected to be able to sustain 20 regeneration cycles, with the presence of acid gases, CO₂, and H₂S, not affecting its performance. This result is particularly important, considering that pure CeO₂ manifests rather poor activity for Hg⁰ removal at ambient conditions, and hence, a synergistic effect in the composite nanomaterial was observed. This possibly results from the addition of facile oxygen vacancy formation at ?-MnO₂ NTs and the increased amount of surface-adsorbed oxygen species.

Effect of Surface Ionization of Doped MnO2 on Capacitive Deionization Efficiency

Associating MnO₂ with carbonaceous supports profoundly enhances capacitive deionization (CDI) efficiency. A fundamental question of how the surface chemistry of MnO₂ itself influences CDI efficiency is not yet fully understood. In this study, the effect of surface ionization on the CDI efficiencies of Fe-, Co-, and Ni-doped α-MnO₂ (<0.1 mol %) as a model cathode material was studied. A pattern that CDI efficiency decreased with increasing negative surface charge density resulting from surface deprotonation was noted. This is likely attributed to the appreciable co-ion expulsion occurring at a highly ionized surface in the mesopores of MnO₂. It is thus concluded that the combination of surface charge modification and a microporous environment would be important for CDI efficiency enhancement by minimizing co-ion exclusion effect. In the former case, structural stress adjustment by doping elements would be a practical route to regulate the p K_a1 and p K_a2 values and consequently the degree of surface ionization of MnO₂.

Synergetic effect over flame-made manganese doped CuO-CeO2 nanocatalyst for enhanced CO oxidation performance

CuO-CeO2 nanocatalysts with different amounts of Mn dopping (Mn/Cu molar ratios of 0.5 : 5, 1 : 5 and 1.5 : 5) were synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) method and tested in the catalytic oxidation of CO. The physicochemical properties of the synthesised samples were characterized systematically, including using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), oxygen-temperature programmed desorption (O2-TPD), hydrogen-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS). The results showed that the 1Mn-Cu-Ce sample (Mn/Cu molar ratio of 1 : 5) exhibited superior catalytic activity for CO oxidation, with the temperature of 90% CO oxidation at 131 °C at a high space velocity (SV = 60 000 mL g-1 h-1), which was 56 °C lower than that of the Cu-Ce sample. In addition, the 1Mn-Cu-Ce sample displays excellent stability with prolonged time on CO stream and the resistance to water vapor. The significantly enhanced activity was correlated with strong synergetic effect, leading to fine textual properties, abundant chemically adsorbed oxygen and high lattice oxygen mobility, which further induced more Cu+ species and less formation of carbon intermediates during the CO oxidation process detected by in situ DRIFTS analysis. This work will provide in-depth understanding of the synergetic effect on CO oxidation performances over Mn doped CuO-CeO2 composite catalysts through FSP method.

Self-templating construction of mesopores on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous La0.5Sr0.5MnO3 perovskite with enhanced performance for soot combustion

A three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ perovskite was prepared by a colloidal crystal templating method, with extra mesopores created by selective dissolution method performed successively.

Enhanced soot oxidation activity over CuO/CeO2 mesoporous nanosheets

CuO/CeO₂ mesoporous nanosheets exhibited superior soot oxidation activity owing to the synergistic effects.

Efficient removal of hexavalent chromium from water by an adsorption–reduction mechanism with sandwiched nanocomposites

Hexavalent chromium Cr(vi), one of the most toxic contaminants, is released in the environment due to various anthropogenic activities. This study presents a novel sandwiched nanocomposite synthesized using graphene oxide (GO), manganese dioxide (MnO₂) nanowires, iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles and polypyrrole (PPy) to remove hexavalent chromium ion Cr(vi) from water by an adsorption–reduction mechanism. In the sandwiched nanocomposites, GO provided enough surface area, functional groups, and hydrophilic surface for efficient absorption. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with excellent magnetic properties make it easy to separate and recover from water. Under acidic conditions, MnO₂ nanowires act as both template and oxidant to initiate the polymerization of pyrrole monomers on its freshly activated surface to obtain GO/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄/PPy (designated as GMFP) nanocomposite. GMFP could effectively adsorb Cr(vi) through electrostatic attraction, and the adsorbed Cr(vi) ions were partly reduced to trivalent chromium Cr(iii) (62%), resulting in the efficient adsorption and high removal of Cr(vi) from water. Hexavalent chromium adsorption by GMFP is strongly pH dependent and the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir isothermal model described the adsorption isotherm data well and the maximum adsorption capacity was up to 374.53 mg g⁻¹ at pH 2.0. These experimental results suggested that GMFP had great potential as an economic and efficient adsorbent of hexavalent chromium from wastewater, which has huge application potential.

A sandwiched nanocomposite has been developed to remove hexavalent chromium ion Cr(vi) from water by an adsorption–reduction mechanism.

Rational design of MnCo2O4@NC@MnO2 three-layered core–shell octahedron for high-rate and long-life lithium storage

With the depletion of fossil energy and rapid development of electronic equipment, the commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) do not meet the current energy demand.