Qualitative Differences in the Adsorption Chemistry of Acidic (CO2, SOx) and Amphiphilic (NOx) Species on the Alkaline Earth Oxides

Sunlight-Driven Nitrate-to-Ammonia Reduction with Water by Iron Oxyhydroxide Photocatalysts

The photocatalytic reduction of harmful nitrates (NO3-) in strongly acidic wastewater to ammonia (NH3) under sunlight is crucial for the recycling of limited nitrogen resources. This study reports that a naturally occurring Cl--containing iron oxyhydroxide (akaganeite) powder with surface oxygen vacancies (β-FeOOH(Cl)-OVs) facilitates this transformation. Ultraviolet light irradiation of the catalyst suspended in a Cl--containing solution promoted quantitative NO3--to-NH3 reduction with water under ambient conditions. The photogenerated conduction band electrons promoted the reduction of NO3--to-NH3 over the OVs. The valence band holes promoted self-oxidation of Cl- as the direct electron donor and eliminated Cl- was compensated from the solution. Photodecomposition of the generated hypochlorous acid (HClO) produced O2, facilitating catalytic reduction of NO3--to-NH3 with water as the electron donor in the entire system. Simulated sunlight irradiation of the catalyst in a strongly acidic nitric acid (HNO3) solution (pH ∼ 1) containing Cl- stably generated NH3 with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of ∼0.025%. This strategy paves the way for sustainable NH3 production from wastewater.

Deciphering Evolution Pathway of Supported NO3 • Enabled via Radical Transfer from •OH to Surface NO3 - Functionality for Oxidative Degradation of Aqueous Contaminants

NO₃ ^• can compete with omnipotent ^•OH/SO₄ ^•- in decomposing aqueous pollutants because of its lengthy lifespan and significant tolerance to background scavengers present in H₂O matrices, albeit with moderate oxidizing power. The generation of NO₃ ^•, however, is of grand demand due to the need of NO₂ ^•/O₃, radioactive element, or NaNO₃/HNO₃ in the presence of highly energized electron/light. This study has pioneered a singular pathway used to radicalize surface NO₃ ^- functionalities anchored on polymorphic α-/γ-MnO₂ surfaces (α-/γ-MnO₂-N), in which Lewis acidic Mn^2+/3+ and NO₃ ^- served to form ^•OH via H₂O₂ dissection and NO₃ ^• via radical transfer from ^•OH to NO₃ ^- (^•OH → NO₃ ^•), respectively. The elementary steps proposed for the ^•OH → NO₃ ^• route could be energetically favorable and marginal except for two stages such as endothermic ^•OH desorption and exothermic ^•OH-mediated NO₃ ^- radicalization, as verified by EPR spectroscopy experiments and DFT calculations. The Lewis acidic strength of the Mn^2+/3+ species innate to α-MnO₂-N was the smallest among those inherent to α-/β-/γ-MnO₂ and α-/γ-MnO₂-N. Hence, α-MnO₂-N prompted the rate-determining stage of the ^•OH → NO₃ ^• route (^•OH desorption) in the most efficient manner, as also evidenced by the analysis on the energy barrier required to proceed with the ^•OH → NO₃ ^• route. Meanwhile, XANES and in situ DRIFT spectroscopy experiments corroborated that α-MnO₂-N provided a larger concentration of surface NO₃ ^- species with bi-dentate binding arrays than γ-MnO₂-N. Hence, α-MnO₂-N could outperform γ-MnO₂-N in improving the collision frequency between ^•OH and NO₃ ^- species and in facilitating the exothermic transition of NO₃ ^- functionalities to surface NO₃ ^• analogues per unit time. These were corroborated by a greater efficiency of α-MnO₂-N in decomposing phenol, in addition to scavenging/filtration control runs and DFT calculations. Importantly, supported NO₃ ^• species provided 5-7-fold greater efficiency in degrading textile wastewater than conventional ^•OH and supported SO₄ ^•- analogues we discovered previously.

NOx Storage on BaTi0.8Cu0.2O3 Perovskite Catalysts: Addressing a Feasible Mechanism

The NOx storage mechanism on BaTi_0.8Cu_0.2O₃ catalyst were studied using different techniques. The results obtained by XRD, ATR, TGA and XPS under NOx storage-regeneration conditions revealed that BaO generated on the catalyst by decomposition of Ba₂TiO₄ plays a key role in the NOx storage process. In situ DRIFTS experiments under NO/O₂ and NO/N₂ show that nitrites and nitrates are formed on the perovskite during the NOx storage process. Thus, it seems that, as for model NSR catalysts, the NOx storage on BaTi_0.8Cu_0.2O₃ catalyst takes place by both "nitrite" and "nitrate" routes, with the main pathway being highly dependent on the temperature and the time on stream: (i) at T < 350 °C, NO adsorption leads to nitrites formation on the catalyst and (ii) at T > 350 °C, the catalyst activity for NO oxidation promotes NO₂ generation and the nitrate formation.

Oxidation and Storage Mechanisms for Nitrogen Oxides on Variously Terminated (001) Surfaces of SrFeO3-δ and Sr3Fe2O7-δ Perovskites

The Ruddlesden-Popper (RP)-type layered perovskite is a candidate material for a new nitrogen oxide (NO_x) storage catalyst. Here, we investigate the adsorption and oxidation of NO_x on the (001) surfaces of RP-type oxide Sr₃Fe₂O_7-δ for all of the terminations by comparing to those of simple perovskite SrFeO_3-δ by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The possible (001) cleavages of Sr₃Fe₂O₇ generate two FeO₂- and three SrO-terminated surfaces, and the calculated surface energies indicated that the SrO-terminated surface generated by the cleavage at the rock salt layer is the most stable one. The oxygen of the FeO₂-terminated surfaces could be removed with significantly low energy because the process involves the favorable reduction of the Fe⁴⁺ site. Consequently, the surface oxygen at the FeO₂ site could easily oxidize adsorbed NO to NO₂ by the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. The resulting oxygen vacancy in the surface would be filled easily with lattice oxygen in bulk. The oxidation of NO with adsorbed molecular O₂ was unfavorable by both the Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanisms because this process does not involve the reduction of the Fe⁴⁺ site. The oxygen of the SrO-terminated surfaces was tightly bound and acted as the adsorption site of NO and NO₂. An electron transfer strengthened the NO_x binding to the surface by forming nitrite (NO₂^-) or nitrate (NO₃^-) species. The DFT calculations revealed that the RP-type structure promoted NO_x oxidation and storage properties by forming active oxygen due to the Jahn-Teller distortion and by exposing SrO-terminated surfaces due to the cleavage at the rock salt layer.

Adsorption of CO2 on Heterostructures of Bi2O3 Nanocluster-Modified TiO2 and the Role of Reduction in Promoting CO2 Activation

The capture and conversion of CO₂ are of significant importance in enabling the production of sustainable fuels, contributing to alleviating greenhouse gas emissions. While there are a number of key steps required to convert CO₂, the initial step of adsorption and activation by the catalyst is critical. Well-known metal oxides such as oxidized TiO₂ or CeO₂ are unable to promote this step. In addressing this difficult problem, a recent experimental work shows the potential for bismuth-containing materials to adsorb and convert CO₂, the origin of which is attributed to the role of the bismuth lone pair. In this paper, we present density functional theory (DFT) simulations of enhanced CO₂ adsorption on heterostructures composed of extended TiO₂ rutile (110) and anatase (101) surfaces modified with Bi₂O₃ nanoclusters, highlighting in particular the role of heterostructure reduction in activating CO₂. These heterostructures show low coordinated Bi sites in the nanoclusters and a valence band edge that is dominated by Bi-O states, typical of the Bi³⁺ lone pair. The reduction of Bi₂O₃-TiO₂ heterostructures can be facile and produces reduced Bi²⁺ and Ti³⁺ species. The interaction of CO₂ with this electron-rich, reduced system can produce CO directly, reoxidizing the heterostructure, or form an activated carboxyl species (CO₂ ^-) through electron transfer from the reduced heterostructure to CO₂. The oxidized Bi₂O₃-TiO₂ heterostructures can adsorb CO₂ in carbonate-like adsorption modes, with moderately strong adsorption energies. The hydrogenation of the nanocluster and migration to adsorbed CO₂ is feasible with H-migration barriers less than 0.7 eV, but this forms a stable COOH intermediate rather than breaking C-O bonds or producing formate. These results highlight that a reducible metal oxide heterostructure composed of a semiconducting metal oxide modified with suitable metal oxide nanoclusters can activate CO₂, potentially overcoming the difficulties associated with the difficult first step in CO₂ conversion.

Theoretical investigation of the adsorption behaviors of CO and CO2 molecules on the nitrogen-doped TiO2 anatase nanoparticles: Insights from DFT computations

Over the past years, an interest has arisen in resolving the problems of the increased carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions, leading to the serious air pollution and many detrimental effects. A convenient solution would be a process that could utilize metal oxide nanoparticles such as TiO2 to control the concentration of atmospheric pollutants. The chemisorption of CO and CO2 molecules over the semiconductor titanium dioxide (TiO[Formula: see text] is such a process. In this way, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate CO and CO2 adsorptions on undoped and N-doped TiO2 anatase nanoparticles. The supercell approach is conducted to construct the considered nanoparticles and the adsorption of COx molecule was simulated by use of these chosen nanoparticles. By including van der Waals (vdW) interactions between COx molecule and TiO2 nanoparticle, we found that both CO and CO2 molecules can bind strongly to the N-doped nanoparticles. The adsorption on the five-fold coordinated titanium site of TiO2 nanoparticles including the bond lengths, bond angles, adsorption energies, density of states (DOSs), Mulliken population analysis and molecular orbitals has been broadly studied in this work. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the adsorption on the N-doped nanoparticle is more energetically favorable than the adsorption on the pristine one, representing the higher tendency of N-doped nanoparticles for COx detention, compared to the undoped ones. Therefore, the results indicate that the N-doped TiO2 would be an ideal COx gas sensor in the environment.

Initial stages of CO2 adsorption on CaO: a combined experimental and computational study

Room temperature adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on monocrystalline CaO(001) thin films grown on a Mo(001) substrate was studied by infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and quantum chemical calculations.

An innovative gas sensor system designed from a sensitive nanostructured ZnO for the selective detection of SOx molecules: a density functional theory study

The adsorption behaviors of SO_x molecules on pristine and N-doped ZnO nanoparticles were investigated using density functional theory calculations (DFT).

Insights into the mechanism of the capture of CO2 by K2CO3 sorbent: a DFT study

The adsorption and reactions of CO₂ and H₂O on both monoclinic and hexagonal crystal K₂CO₃ were investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) approach.

The adsorption of SO2 on TiO2 anatase nanoparticles: a density functional theory study

First-principles calculations have been carried out to investigate the adsorption properties of SO2 molecules on nitrogen-doped TiO2 anatase nanoparticles using the density functional theory method to fully exploit the gas-sensing capabilities of TiO2 particles. For this purpose, we have mainly studied the adsorption of the SO2 molecule on the dangling oxygen atom and doped nitrogen atom sites of the TiO2 nanoparticles because these sites are more active than other sites in the adsorption processes. The complex systems consisting of the SO2 molecule positioned toward the undoped and nitrogen-doped nanoparticles have been relaxed geometrically. The results presented include structural parameters such as bond lengths and bond angles and energetics of the systems such as adsorption energies. The electronic structure and its variations resulting from the adsorption process, including the density of states, molecular orbitals, and the charge transfer, are discussed. We found that the adsorption of the SO2 molecule on the nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanoparticles is energetically more favorable than the adsorption on the undoped ones. These results thus provide a theoretical basis for the potential applications of TiO2 nanoparticles in the removal and sensing of SO2 and give an explanation for helping in the optimization of improved gas removers and sensor devices.

Density functional theory study on the thermodynamics and mechanism of carbon dioxide capture by CaO and CaO regeneration

The bond length between the C atom in CO₂ and O atom in CaO was about 1.39–1.42 Å, and the bond length of C–O in adsorbed CO₂ was prolonged to 1.26–1.27 Å, while the O–C–O angle of adsorbed CO₂ was about 129°.

Improving the adsorption of sulfur trioxide on TiO2 anatase nanoparticles by N-doping: A DFT study

The adsorptions of sulfur trioxide molecule on undoped and N-doped TiO 2 anatase nanoparticles were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. N-doped nanoparticles were constructed by substitution of oxygen atoms of TiO2 by nitrogen atoms. The results showed that the adsorption energies of SO3 on the different nanoparticles following the order N-doped (N site)>N-doped ( O D site)>Undoped ( O D site). We provide the electronic structure of the nanoparticles, as well as complex systems containing the sulfur trioxide molecule and discuss the key issues that influence the adsorption process. The structural properties including the bond lengths, bond angles and adsorption energies and the electronic properties including the projected density of states (PDOSs) and molecular orbitals (MOs) have been mainly analyzed in detail. The obtained results indicate that the interaction between SO 3 molecule and N-doped TiO 2 nanoparticle is stronger than that between SO 3 and undoped nanoparticle, which suggests that N-doping helps to strengthen the interaction of SO 3 with TiO 2 anatase nanoparticles. It is shown that although SO 3 molecule has no significant interaction with undoped nanoparticle, it tends to be strongly adsorbed to N-doped anatase nanoparticles with considerable adsorption energies, being as an effective property to be utilized in gas sensing applications. We also note at this point that the titanium atom and the doped nitrogen atom sites are more active than the dangling oxygen site, which reveals that the titanium and doped nitrogen sites provide more stable adsorption geometries.

Surface Decoration of MgO Nanocubes with Sulfur Oxides: Experiment and Theory

We investigated the effect of surface sulfate formation on the structure and spectroscopic properties of MgO nanocubes using X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, several spectroscopic techniques, and ab initio calculations. After CS₂ adsorption and oxidative treatment at elevated temperatures the MgO particles remain cubic and retain their average size of ∼6 nm. Their low coordinated surface elements (corners and edges) were found to bind sulfite and sulfate groups even after annealing up to 1173 K. The absence of MgO corner specific photoluminescence emission bands at 3.4 and 3.2 eV substantiates that sulfur modifies the electronic properties of characteristic surface structures, which we attribute to the formation of (SO₃)^2- and (SO₄)^2- groups at corners and edges. Ab initio calculations support these conclusions and provide insight into the local atomic structures and spectroscopic properties of these groups.

Adsorption of Trinitrotoluene on a MgO(001) Surface Including Surface Relaxation Effects

A thorough investigation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) adsorption on a MgO(001) surface was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) combined with periodic boundary conditions. Four different initial orientations of the TNT molecule, adsorbed on two different representations of the MgO(001) surface, were investigated. In the first surface representation, there were two fixed layers of atoms and in the second the surface had three layers, with the uppermost fully relaxed in geometry optimizations. Electron density difference maps for each case were computed and provided a detailed picture of the interactions. The results showed a physical adsorption process for both surface representations. In the most favorable situation—TNT adsorbed on the surface with three layers—the computed adsorption energy was −9.89 kcal/mol. The importance of allowing the uppermost layer of the surface to fully relax upon molecular desorption was shown.

A molecular approach for unraveling surface phase transitions: sulfation of BaO as a model NO(x) trap

SO(3) -induced surface reconstruction: The SO(3) molecule as a multidentate ligand induces remarkable surface reconstruction phenomena on alkaline earth oxide surface. By using ab initio computations, adsorption properties are derived to elucidate the thermodynamics of the SO(3) -BaO system.

Periodic DFT study of acidic trace atmospheric gas molecule adsorption on Ca- and Fe-doped MgO(001) surface basic sites

The electronic properties of undoped and Ca- or Fe-doped MgO(001) surfaces, as well as their propensity toward atmospheric acidic gas (CO2, SO2, and NO2) uptake was investigated with an emphasis on gas adsorption on the basic MgO oxygen surface sites, O(surf), using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Adsorption energy calculations show that MgO doping will provide stronger interactions of the adsorbate with the O(surf) sites than the undoped MgO for a given adsorbate molecule. Charge transfer from the iron atom in Fe-doped MgO(001) to NO2 was shown to increase the binding interaction between adsorbate by an order of magnitude, when compared to that of undoped and Ca-doped MgO(001) surfaces. Secondary binding interactions of adsorbate oxygen atoms were observed with surface magnesium sites at distances close to those of the Mg-O bond within the crystal. These interactions may serve as a preliminary step for adsorption and facilitate further adsorbate transformations into other binding configurations. Impacts on global atmospheric chemistry are discussed as these adsorption phenomena can affect atmospheric gas budgets via altered partitioning and retention on mineral aerosol surfaces.

Computational investigation of the adsorption of carbon dioxide onto zirconium oxide clusters

A theoretical investigation of the adsorption of CO₂ onto ZrO₂ is presented. Various cluster models were used to mimic different basic and acidic sites on the surface. The method used was the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation and including Grimme's empirical model in order to properly describe the weak interactions that may occur between the adsorbate and the surface. We found that the adsorption at sites exhibiting two adjacent unsaturated zirconium atoms led to either the exothermic dissociation of CO₂ or to a strongly physisorbed state. By contrast, on a single unsaturated zirconium, CO₂ was adsorbed in an apical manner. In this case, the molecule is highly polarized and the adsorption energy amounts to -64.6 kJ mol⁻¹. Finally, the weakest adsorption of CO₂ occurred on the basic OH sites on the surface.

Promoter effect of BaO on CO oxidation on PdO surfaces

The effect of bulk BaO promoter on CO oxidation activity of palladium oxide phase was studied by density functional calculations. A series of BaO(100) supported Pd(x)O(y) thin layer models were constructed, and energy profiles for CO oxidation on the films were calculated and compared with corresponding profiles for the most stable PdO bulk surfaces PdO(100) and PdO(101). The most stable of the thin films typically exhibit the same PdO(100) and PdO(101) surface planes; the PdO(100) dominates already with double layer thickness. The supporting promoter improves the CO oxidation activity of the Pd(x)O(y) phase via a direct electronic effect and introduced structural strain and corrugation. Changes in CO adsorption strength are reflected in oxidation energy barriers, and the promoting effect of even 0.3 eV can be seen locally. Easier oxygen vacancy formation may partially facilitate the reaction.

Reactivity of a thick BaO film supported on Pt(111): adsorption and reaction of NO2, H2O, and CO2

Reactions of NO2, H2O, and CO2 with a thick (>20 monolayer equivalent (MLE)) BaO film supported on Pt(111) were studied with temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). NO2 reacts with a thick BaO layer to form surface nitrite-nitrate ion pairs at 300 K, while only nitrates form at 600 K. In the thermal decomposition process of nitrite-nitrate ion pairs, first nitrites decompose and desorb as NO. Then nitrates decompose in two steps: at lower temperature with the release of NO2 and at higher temperature, nitrates dissociate to NO+O2. The thick BaO layer converts completely to Ba(OH)2 following the adsorption of H2O at 300 K. Dehydration/dehydroxylation of this hydroxide layer can be fully achieved by annealing to 550 K. CO2 also reacts with BaO to form BaCO3 that completely decomposes to regenerate BaO upon annealing to 825 K. However, the thick BaO film cannot be converted completely to Ba(NOx)2 or BaCO3 under the experimental conditions employed in this study.

Nitrite and nitrate formation on model NOx storage materials: on the influence of particle size and composition

A well-defined model-catalyst approach has been utilized to study the formation and decomposition of nitrite and nitrate species on a model NO(x) storage material. The model system comprises BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles of different size and stoichiometry, prepared under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions on Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110). Adsorption and reaction of NO(2) has been investigated by molecular beam (MB) methods and time-resolved IR reflection absorption spectroscopy (TR-IRAS) in combination with structural characterization by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The growth behavior and chemical composition of the BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles has been investigated previously. In this work we focus on the effect of particle size and stoichiometry on the reaction with NO(2). Particles of different size and of different Ba(2+) : Al(3+) surface ion ratio are prepared by varying the preparation conditions. It is shown that at 300 K the reaction mechanism is independent of particle size and composition, involving initial nitrite formation and subsequent transformation of nitrites into surface nitrates. The coordination geometry of the surface nitrates, however, changes characteristically with particle size. For small BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles high temperature (800 K) oxygen treatment gives rise to particle ripening, which has a minor effect on the NO(2) uptake behavior, however. STM shows that the morphology of the particle system is largely conserved during NO(2) exposure at 300 K. The reaction is limited to the formation of surface nitrites and nitrates, which are characterized by low thermal stability and completely decompose below 500 K. As no further sintering occurs before decomposition, NO(2) uptake and release is a fully reversible process. For large BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles, aggregates with different Ba(2+) : Al(3+) surface ion ratio were prepared. It was shown that the stoichiometry has a major effect on the kinetics of NO(2) uptake. For barium-aluminate-like particles with high Al(3+) concentration, the formation of nitrites and nitrates on the BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles at 300 K is slow, and kinetically restricted to the formation of surface species. Only at elevated temperature (500 K) are surface nitrates converted into well-defined bulk Ba(NO(3))(2). This bulk Ba(NO(3))(2) exhibits substantially higher thermal stability and undergoes restructuring and sintering before it decomposes at 700 K. For Ba(2+)-rich BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles, on the other hand, nitrate formation occurs at a much higher rate than for the barium-aluminate-like particles. Furthermore, nitrate formation is not limited to the surface, but NO(2) exposure gives rise to the formation of amorphous bulk Ba(NO(3))(2) particles even at 300 K.

Competitive Adsorption of NO, NO2, CO2, and H2O on BaO(100): A Quantum Chemical Study

Density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations are used to determine adsorption energies and geometries of NO, NO(2), CO(2), and H(2)O on a barium oxide (100) surface. The study includes two adsorption geometries for NO(2). All species form thermodynamically stable adsorbates, and adsorption strength increases in the order NO(2) < H(2)O < NO </= CO(2). The influence of surface coverage on adsorption energy is investigated for all species, and a strong coverage dependence is observed. For CO(2), a chemisorbed, carbonate-type structure is identified; the adsorption from the gas phase is nonactivated. Numerical calculations of the competitive adsorption/desorption equilibria of the four species show that, under typical engine exhaust gas composition, the BaO surface is carbonated to a large extent. The results indicate that carbon dioxide plays an essential role in the surface processes during NO(x)() storage on BaO, where it can block a large part of available surface sites.