ABSTRACT
Amorphous zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) offer promising applications as novel functional materials. Herein, amorphization of ZIF-L through scanning-electron-beam exposure is demonstrated, based on amorphization of individual ZIF-L crystals. The amorphized ZIF product has drastically increased stability against dissolution in water. An electron dose that allows for complete preservation of amorphous particles after immersion in water is established, resulting in new shapes of amorphous ZIF-L with spatial control at the sub-micrometer length scale. Changed water stability as a consequence of scanning-electron-beam exposure is demonstrated for three additional metal-organic frameworks (ZIF-8, Zn(BeIm)OAc, MIL-101), highlighting the potential use of an electron beam for top-down MOF patterning. Lastly, recrystallization of ZIF-L in the presence of linker is studied and shows distinct differences for crystalline and amorphized material.
ABSTRACT
A two-step procedure for the post-synthetic preparation of Lewis acidic Sn-, Zr- and Ti-zeolite ß is reported. Dealumination of a commercially available Al-ß zeolite leads to the formation of highly siliceous material containing silanol nests, which can be filled in a second step via the solid-state ion-exchange or impregnation of an appropriate metal precursor. Spectroscopic studies indicate that each metal is subsequently coordinated within the zeolite framework, and that little or no bulk oxides are formed--despite the high metal loadings. The synthesised catalysts demonstrate excellent activity for the isomerisation of glyceraldehyde to dihydroxyacetone, a key model reaction for the upgrading of bio-renewable feedstocks, and the epoxidation of bulky olefins.
ABSTRACT
The volatile molecular precursors CrO2Cl2 and VOCl3 were grafted to thermally dehydrated silica in order to obtain site-isolated, monopodal ≡SiO-MO(x)Cl(y-1) species (M = V, Cr). Thermal restructuring under dynamic vacuum was investigated up to 450 °C with different spectroscopic techniques (viz., NMR, UV-Vis, IR, Raman and XPS). During this thermal restructuring, VOCl3 or CrO2Cl2 is partially eliminated from the surface, whilst the remaining surface species become multiply bound to the silica surface. This restructuring increases both the chemical and thermal stability of these materials, and has significant consequences for their performance as heterogeneous catalysts.
ABSTRACT
The economically viable oxidative upgrading of methane presents one of the most difficult but rewarding challenges within catalysis research. Its potential to revolutionalise the chemical value chain, coupled with the associated supremely challenging scientific aspects, has ensured this topic's high popularity over the preceeding decades. Herein, we report a non-exhaustive account of the current developments within the field of oxidative methane upgrading and summarise the pertaining challenges that have yet to be solved.
