Poly(methyl methacrylate) as an Environmentally Responsive Capping Material for Aluminum Nanoparticles

Polymer Coated Functional Catalysts for Industrial Applications

Surface engineering of conventional catalysts using polymeric coating has been extensively explored for producing hybrid catalytic material with enhanced activity, high mechanical and thermal stability, enhanced productivity, and selectivity of the desired product. The present review discusses in detail the state-of-the-art knowledge on surface modification of catalysts, namely photocatalysts, electrocatalysts, catalysts for photoelectrochemical reactions, and catalysts for other types of reactions, such as hydrodesulfurization, carbon dioxide cycloaddition, and noble metal-catalyzed oxidation/reduction reactions. The various techniques employed for the polymer coating of catalysts are discussed and the role of polymers in enhancing the catalytic activity is critically analyzed. The review further discusses the applications of biodegradable and biocompatible natural polysaccharide-based polymers, namely, chitosan and polydopamine as prospective coating material.

A Novel Method for Generating H2 by Activation of the μAl-Water System Using Aluminum Nanoparticles

A method is described for activation of the reaction of room temperature water with micron-scale aluminum particles (μAl) by the addition of poly(epoxyhexane)-capped aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs). By themselves, Al NPs react vigorously and completely with water at ambient temperatures to produce H2. While pure μAl particles are unreactive toward water, mixtures of the μAl particles comprising 10 to 90% (by mass) of Al NPs, demonstrated appreciable hydrolytic activation. This activation is attributed to the reaction of the Al NPs present with water to produce a basic solution. Speciation modelling, pH studies, and powder X-ray diffraction analysis of the hydrolysis product confirm that the pH change is the key driver for the activation of μAl rather than residual heat from the exothermicity of Al NP hydrolysis. A mechanism is proposed by which the nonreactive aluminum oxide layer of the μAl is eroded under basic conditions. Mixtures 10% by mass of Al NPs can be used to produce the optimal quantity of H2.

Hollow polymer nanocapsules with a ferrocenyl copolymer shell

Hollow polymer nanocapsules consisting of ferrocenyl shell have been developed by crosslinking the polymer chains grafted over silica nanoparticles synthesized via one pot surface-initiated RAFT polymerization.

Aluminum nanoparticle preparation via catalytic decomposition of alane adducts - influence of reaction parameters on nanoparticle size, morphology and reactivity

Al nanoparticles represent one of the most challenging classes of metal nanoparticles in synthesis and handling due to their high chemical reactivity and their affinity to oxidation. A promising wet chemical preparation route is the catalytic decomposition of alane adducts. In the current systematic study, we investigated the influence of various reaction parameters, such as precursors, catalysts, solvents, reaction temperatures, capping agents, and concentrations of the reactants on the size and morphology of the resulting Al nanoparticles. One major goal was the optimization of the reaction parameters towards short reaction times. Our studies revealed that Ti alkoxides, such as Ti(OiPr)4, are much more efficient decomposition catalysts compared to other related metal catalysts. Optimized conditions for full conversion times smaller than 15 min are temperatures between 90-100 °C and non-polar solvents such as toluene. Amine alanes containing short alkyl chains, for example H3AlNMe2Et or H3AlNEt3, were the most suitable precursors, leading to the formation of the smallest nanoparticles. The use of weakly coordinating capping agents like amines and phosphines should be preferred over the commonly employed carboxylic acids because they do not accelerate the formation of an amorphous oxide shell upon binding to the particle surface. In conclusion, the best reaction parameters for a fast synthesis of Al nanoparticles via a catalytic decomposition approach are the combination of sterically less hindered amine alanes applying a Ti catalyst in toluene solutions in the presence of amine or phosphine stabilizers at elevated temperatures.

Synthesis of submicron aluminum particles via thermal decomposition of alkyl aluminum precursors in the presence of metal seeds and their application in the formation of ruthenium aluminides

Submicron Al particles can be used in energy materials, as reducing agents, or for the formation of aluminides. Their standard electrode potential and their reactivity towards oxygen makes their synthesis a challenging task. Here we present a thermal decomposition approach starting from triisobutylaluminium (TIBAL) as a precursor. This compound can be decomposed in refluxing diphenylether as a high-boiling solvent and in the presence of metallic nanoparticles of Ni, Ru or Ag acting as seeds. The resulting particles revealed sizes of around 100 nm. Passivation of the Al particles is possible in an optional second step after the synthesis by adding oleic acid resulting in the formation of organically capped Al particles. The suitability of these submicron particles for the synthesis of aluminides was studied by reacting the synthesized particles with Ru powders, resulting in the formation of the respective aluminide.