Effects of Zr substitution on soot combustion over cubic fluorite-structured nanoceria: Soot-ceria contact and interfacial oxygen evolution.

Ceria is widely used as a catalyst for soot combustion, but effects of Zr substitution on the reaction mechanism is ambiguous. The present work elucidates effects of Zr substitution on soot combustion over cubic fluorite-structured nanoceria. The nanostructured CeO2, Ce0.92Zr0.08O2, and Ce0.84Zr0.16O2 composed of 5-6 nm crystallites display Tm-CO2 (the temperature at maximum CO2 yield) at 383, 355, and 375°C under 10 vol.% O2/N2, respectively. The size of agglomerate decreases from 165.5 to 51.9-57.3 nm, which is beneficial for the soot-ceria contact. Moreover, Zr increases the amount of surface oxygen vacancies, generating more active oxygen (O2- and O-) for soot oxidation. Thus, the activities of Ce0.92Zr0.08O2 and Ce0.84Zr0.16O2 in soot combustion are better than that of CeO2. Although oxygen vacancies promote the migration of lattice O2-, the enriched surface Zr also inhibits the mobility of lattice O2-. Therefore, the Tm-CO2 of Ce0.84Zr0.16O2 is higher than that of Ce0.92Zr0.08O2. Based on reaction kinetic study, soot in direct contact with ceria preferentially decomposes with low activation energy, while the oxidation of isolated soot occurs through diffusion with high activation energy. The obtained findings provide new understanding on the soot combustion over nanoceria.

Metabolites of Tobacco- and E-Cigarette-Related Nitrosamines Can Drive Cu2+-Mediated DNA Oxidation.

Nitrosamine metabolites resulting from cigarette smoking and E-cigarette (E-cig) vaping cause DNA damage that can lead to genotoxicity. While DNA adducts of metabolites of nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) are well-known tobacco-related cancer biomarkers, only a few studies implicate NNN and NNK in DNA oxidation in humans. NNK and NNN were found in the urine of E-cigarette users who never smoked cigarettes. This paper proposes the first chemical pathways of DNA oxidation driven by NNK and NNN metabolites in redox reactions with Cu2+ and NADPH leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS). A microfluidic array with thin films of DNA and metabolic enzymes that make metabolites of NNN and NNK in the presence of Cu2+ and NADPH was used to estimate relative rates of DNA oxidation. Detection by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) employed a new ECL dye [Os(tpy-benz-COOH)2]2+ that is selective for and sensitive to the primary DNA oxidation product 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in DNA. Enzyme-DNA films on magnetic beads were used to produce nitrosamine metabolites that enter ROS-forming redox cycles with Cu2+ and NADPH, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to quantify 8-oxodG and identify metabolites. ROS were detected by optical sensors. Metabolites of NNK and NNN + Cu2+ + NADPH generated relatively high rates of DNA oxidation. Lung is the exposure route in smoking and vaping, human lung tissue contains Cu2+ and NADPH, and lung microsomal enzymes gave the highest rates of DNA oxidation in this study. Also, E-cigarette vapor contains 6-fold more copper than that in cigarette smoke, which could exacerbate DNA oxidation.

Catalytic manganese oxide nanostructures for the reverse water gas shift reaction.

Understanding the fundamental structure-property relationships of nanomaterials is critical for many catalytic applications as they comprise of the catalyst designing principles. Here, we develop efficient synthetic methods to prepare various MnO2 structures and investigate their catalytic performance as applied to the reverse Water Gas Shift (rWGS) reaction. We show that the support-free MnO derived from MnO2 1D, 2D and 3D nanostructures are highly selective (100% CO2 to CO), thermally stable catalysts (850 °C) and differently effective in the rWGS. Up to 50% conversion is observed, with a H2/CO2 feed-in ratio of 1 : 1. From both experiments and DFT calculations, we find the MnO2 morphology plays a critical role in governing the catalytic behaviors since it affects the predominant facets exposed under reaction conditions as well as the intercalation of K+ as a structural building block, substantially affecting the gas-solid interactions. The relative adsorption energy of reactant (CO2) and product (CO), ΔE = Eads(CO2) -Eads(CO), is found to correlate linearly with the catalytic activity, implying a structure-function relationship. The strong correlation found between Eads(CO2) -Eads(CO), or more generally, Eads(R) -Eads(P), and catalytic activity makes ΔE a useful descriptor for characterization of efficient catalysts involving gas-solid interactions beyond the rWGS.

Lithium promoted mesoporous manganese oxide catalyzed oxidation of allyl ethers.

Herein we report the first example of the catalytic aerobic partial oxidation of allyl ether to its acrylate ester derivative. Many partial oxidations often need an expensive oxidant such as peroxides or other species to drive such reactions. In addition, selective generation of esters using porous catalysts has been elusive. This reaction is catalyzed by a Li ion promoted mesoporous manganese oxide (meso-Mn2O3) under mild conditions with no precious metals, a reusable heterogeneous catalyst, and easy isolation. This process is very attractive for the oxidation of allyl ethers. We report on the catalytic activity, selectivity, and scope of the reaction. In the best cases presented, almost complete conversion of allyl ether with near complete chemo-selectivity towards acrylate ester derivatives is observed. Based on results from controlled experiments, we propose a possible reaction mechanism for the case in which N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) is used in combination with trichloroacetonitrile (CCl3CN).

Niobium-substituted octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) materials in selective oxidation of methanol to dimethoxymethane.

Octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) refers to a one-dimensional 2 × 2 framework of octahedral manganese oxo units based on the cryptomelane-type framework. Herein, we describe a niobium (Nb) substituted mixed metal oxide of Nb and Mn where the cryptomelane-type framework is retained. These materials are hydrothermally synthesized from the reaction of potassium permanganate, manganese sulfate, and homogeneous niobium(v) precursors. Niobium incorporation up to 31 mol% can be achieved without destroying the one dimensional 2 × 2 framework. The yields of the materials vary between 70 and 90%. These materials are analyzed by powder XRD, BET isotherm, TEM, SEM, XRF, and XPS studies. The synthesized materials show promising activity in selective oxidation of methanol to dimethoxymethane (DMM) at 200 °C. Normalized activity correlations followed the trend 21% Nb-OMS-2 > 15% Nb-OMS-2 > 31% Nb-OMS-2 > 68% Nb-OMS-2 > K-OMS-2. A fluctuation in methanol conversion was observed around 125-150 °C in most samples, suggesting this to be a catalytically important temperature regime when forming active sites for DMM production.

Ultrasmall Au nanocatalysts supported on nitrided carbon for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: the role of the carbon support in high selectivity.

Au is one of the most promising electrocatalysts to convert CO2 into CO in an aqueous-phase electrochemical reduction. However, ultrasmall Au nanocatalysts (AuNCs, <2 nm) have proven to be favorable for water reduction over CO2, although they possess a large surface-to-volume ratio and potentially are ideal for CO2 reduction. We herein report that ultrasmall AuNCs (1.9 ± 0.3 nm) supported on nitrided carbon are remarkably active and selective for CO2 reduction. The mass activity for CO of AuNCs reaches 967 A g-1 with a faradaic efficiency for CO of ∼83% at -0.73 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) that is an order of magnitude more active than the state-of-the-art results. The high activity is endowed by the large surface area per unit weight and the high selectivity of ultrasmall AuNCs for CO2 reduction originates from the cooperative effect of Au and the nitrided carbon support where the surface N sites act as Lewis bases to increase the surface charge density of AuNCs and enhance the localized concentration of CO2 nearby catalytically active Au sites. We show that our results can be applied to other pre-synthesized Au catalysts to largely improve their selectivity for CO2 reduction by 50%. Our method is expected to illustrate a general guideline to effectively lower the cost of Au catalysts per unit weight of the product while maintaining its high selectivity for CO2 reduction.

Synthesis of Large Mesoporous-Macroporous and High Pore Volume, Mixed Crystallographic Phase Manganese Oxide, Mn2O3/Mn3O4 Sponge.

The controlled synthesis of mixed crystallographic phase Mn2O3/Mn3O4 sponge material by varying heating rates and isothermal segments provides valuable information about the morphological and physical properties of the obtained sample. The well-characterized Mn2O3/Mn3O4 sponge and applicability of difference in reactivity of H2 and CO2 desorbed during the synthesis provide new developments in the synthesis of metal oxide materials with unique morphological and surface properties. We report the preparation of a Mn2O3/Mn3O4 sponge using a metal nitrate salt, water, and Dextran, a biopolymer consisting of glucose monomers. The Mn2O3/Mn3O4 sponge prepared at 1 °C·min-1 heating rate to 500 °C and held isothermally for 1 h consisted of large mesopores-macropores (25.5 nm, pore diameter) and a pore volume of 0.413 mL/g. Furthermore, the prepared Mn2O3/Mn3O4 and 5 mol %-Fe-Mn2O3/Mn3O4 sponges provide potential avenues in the development of solid-state catalyst materials for alcohol and amine oxidation reactions.

Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Activity of Ammonium Nickel Phosphate, [NH4]NiPO4·6H2O, and ß-Nickel Pyrophosphate, ß-Ni2P2O7: Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Decomposition of Urea.

Electrocatalytic decomposition of urea for the production of hydrogen, H2, for clean energy applications, such as in fuel cells, has several potential advantages such as reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector and environmental applications to remove urea from animal and human waste facilities. The study and development of new catalyst materials containing nickel metal, the active site for urea decomposition, is a critical aspect of research in inorganic and materials chemistry. We report the synthesis and application of [NH4]NiPO4·6H2O and ß-Ni2P2O7 using in situ prepared [NH4]2HPO4. The [NH4]NiPO4·6H2O is calcined at varying temperatures and tested for electrocatalytic decomposition of urea. Our results indicate that [NH4]NiPO4·6H2O calcined at 300 °C with an amorphous crystal structure and, for the first time applied for urea electrocatalytic decomposition, had the greatest reported electroactive surface area (ESA) of 142 cm2/mg and an onset potential of 0.33 V (SCE) and was stable over a 24-h test period.