Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “ADSORBENTS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 631 records · Page 35

Anions in Corrosion: Influence of Polymer Electrolytes on the Interfacial Ion Transfer Kinetics of Cu at Au(111) Surfaces

The corrosion kinetics of metals in the presence of polymer electrolytes—which are often used in devices for the electrochemical production of hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and alcohols—is convoluted by transport and ill-defined reactive interfaces which mask the fundamental reaction kinetics. Underpotential-deposited monolayers of Cu at Au(111) surfaces provide a structurally welldefined active site for interfacial ion transfer, with a fixed number of sites available for adsorption. Here, we investigate the adsorption behavior of Cu at Au(111) surfaces across a series of sulfate and sulfonate electrolytes, to understand how anion structure influences the kinetics of elementary interfacial ion-transfer reactions. The influence of anion structure is most significant at high adsorbate coverage, with similar adsorption isotherms and kinetics observed for all three molecular sulfates and sulfonates. In contrast, a suspended perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer reduced both the equilibrium coverage of Cu as well as the standard exchange rate at Au(111) at low coverages of Cu. These results suggest that electrocatalyst corrosion is inhibited for metal nanoparticles supported at polymer electrolytes due to changes in adsorbate coverage as well as suppressed kinetics for interfacial ion transfer.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Lead Adsorption and Desorption at the Barite (001) Surface in the Presence of EDTA

Scaling minerals, such as barite, can cause detrimental consequences for oil/gas pipelines and water systems, but their formation can be inhibited by organic chelators such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Here, we resolve how EDTA affects sorption and desorption of Pb at the barite (001) surface using a combination of X-ray scattering and microscopy measurements. In the presence of EDTA, Pb incorporated in the topmost part of the barite surface and adsorbed as inner-sphere complexes on the surface. In barite saturated solutions containing [Pb] ≥ 100 μM, overgrowth films grew along step edges. These films were exclusively monolayer thick, indicating that their growth was a self-limiting process. Approximately half of the Pb was removed after 14.5 h reaction with a Pb-free EDTA solution where most of the desorption occurred to adsorbed Pb rather than incorporated Pb. Dissolution proceeded primarily via step retreat and etch pit formation in EDTA, but in deionized water, the secondary phase was quickly removed within 3 min. Together these results suggest EDTA binds to both the surface and Pb in solution, which limits Pb sorption. However, EDTA binding to the surface also inhibits removal of the secondary phase that formed at higher Pb concentrations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Discrimination of Hexane Isomers by Temperature Swing Adsorption in a Rigid Aluminum Metal–Organic Framework

The efficient separation of alkane isomers with similar physicochemical properties remains a persistent challenge for the petrochemical industry. Adsorptive separation using metal− organic frameworks (MOFs) offers an energy-efficient alternative to conventional distillation. Herein, we report temperature swing discrimination of hexane isomers with different degrees of branching using MIL-120, a rigid aluminum pyromellitate-based MOF. MIL-120 features uniform one-dimensional channels with an aperture of ∼5.5 Å. At 30 °C, it selectively adsorbs linear and monobranched hexanes while excluding the dibranched isomer. Upon heating to 120 °C, both mono- and dibranched isomers are completely excluded, whereas linear hexane remains strongly adsorbed. Breakthrough experiments validate the temperature swing separation performance. Adsorption heat analysis combined with ab initio calculations provides a quantitative measure of distinct differences in adsorption enthalpies, binding energies, and diffusion barriers responsible for the observed separation efficiency, highlighting the potential of this MOF for efficient separation of alkane isomers via temperature swing adsorption.

Adsorption↗

Morphology Dependent Reactivity of CsO $x$ Nanostructures on Au(111): Binding and Hydrogenation of CO 2 to HCOOH

Cesium oxide (CsO $x$ ) nanostructures grown on Au(111) behave as active centers for CO 2 binding and hydrogenation reactions. The morphology and reactivity of these CsO $x$ systems were investigated as a function of alkali coverage using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. STM results show that initially (0.05 - 0.10 ML) cesium oxide clusters (Cs 2 O 2 ) grow at the elbow sites of the herringbone of Au(111), subsequently transforming into two-dimensional islands with increasing cesium coverage (> 0.15 ML). XPS measurements reveal the presence of suboxidic (Cs $y$ O; $y$ ≥ 2) species for the island structures. The higher coverages of cesium oxide nanostructures contain a lower O/Cs ratio resulting in a stronger binding of CO 2 . Moreover, the O atoms in the Cs $y$ O structure undergo a rearrangement upon the adsorption of CO 2 which is a reversible phenomenon. Under CO 2 hydrogenation conditions, the small Cs 2 O 2 clusters are hydroxylated, thereby preventing the adsorption of CO 2 . However, the hydroxylation of the higher coverages of Cs $y$ O did not prevent CO 2 adsorption, and the adsorbed CO 2 transformed to HCOO species that eventually yield HCOOH. DFT calculations further confirm that the dissociated H 2 attacks the C in the adsorbate to produce formate, which is both thermodynamically and kinetically favored during the CO 2 reaction with hydroxylated Cs $y$ O. These results demonstrate that cesium oxide by itself is an excellent catalyst for CO 2 hydrogenation that could produce formate, an important intermediate for the generation of value-added species. The role of the alkali oxide nanostructures as active centers, not merely as promoters, may have broad implications wherein the alkali oxides can be considered in the design of materials tuned for specific applications in heterogeneous catalysis.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

A Transferable Force Field for Predicting Adsorption and Diffusion of Water in Cationic Zeolites with Coupled Cluster Accuracy

We present a transferable force field for water in proton-exchanged, alkali (Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) metal-exchanged, and alkaline-earth (Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) metal-exchanged zeolites. The fitting methodology is based on adsorbate–adsorbent interaction energies obtained from periodic density functional theory calculations and corrected using the coupled-cluster method applied to small model clusters. To ensure an accurate prediction of both adsorption and diffusion properties of water, sets of configurations that sample both adsorption sites and intracrystalline hopping transition states were used in the fitting. The quality of the force field is assessed for a wide range of zeolites with different topologies and chemical compositions, demonstrating good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of water adsorption and diffusion.

Adsorption↗

Advanced Porous Materials as Designer Platforms for Sequestering Radionuclide Pertechnetate

Technetium-99 ( 99 Tc), predominantly present as pertechnetate ( 99 TcO 4 – ), is a challenging contaminant in nuclear waste from artificial nuclear fission. The selective removal of 99 TcO 4 – from nuclear waste and contaminated groundwater is complex due to (i) the acidic and intricate nature of high-level liquid wastes; (ii) the highly alkaline environment in low-activity level tank wastes, such as those at Hanford, and in high-level wastes at locations like Savannah River; and (iii) the potential for 99 TcO 4 – to leak into groundwater, risking severe water pollution due to its high mobility. This Review focuses on recent developments in advanced porous materials, including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and their amorphous counterparts, porous organic polymers (POPs). These materials have demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in adsorbing 99 TcO 4 – and similar oxyanions. We comprehensively review the adsorption mechanisms of these anions with the adsorbents, employing macroscopic batch/column experiments, microscopic spectroscopic analyses, and theoretical calculations. In conclusion, we present our perspectives on potential future research directions, aiming to overcome current challenges and explore new opportunities in this area. Our goal is to encourage further research into the development of advanced porous materials for efficient 99 TcO 4 – management.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ambient-Temperature Hydrogen Storage via Vanadium(II)-Dihydrogen Complexation in a Metal-Organic Framework

In this report, the widespread implementation of H 2 as a fuel is currently hindered by the high pressures or cryogenic temperatures required to achieve reasonable storage densities. In contrast, the realization of materials that strongly and reversibly adsorb hydrogen at ambient temperatures and moderate pressures could transform the transportation sector and expand adoption of fuel cells in other applications. To date, however, no adsorbent has been identified that exhibits a binding enthalpy within the optimal range of -15 to -25 kJ/mol for ambient-temperature hydrogen storage. Here, we report the hydrogen adsorption properties of the metal-organic framework (MOF) V 2 Cl 2.8 (btdd) (H 2 btdd, bis(1 H -1,2,3-triazolo[4,5- b ],[4',5'- i ])dibenzo[1,4]dioxin), which features exposed vanadium(II) sites capable of backbonding with weak π acids. Significantly, gas adsorption data reveal that this material binds H 2 with an enthalpy of -21 kJ/mol. This binding energy enables usable hydrogen capacities that exceed that of compressed storage under the same operating conditions. The Kubas-type vanadium(II)-dihydrogen complexation is characterized by a combination of techniques. From powder neutron diffraction data, a V-D 2 (centroid) distance of 1.966(8) Å is obtained, the shortest yet reported for a MOF. Using in situ infrared spectroscopy, the H-H stretch was identified, and it displays a red shift of 242 cm -1 . Electronic structure calculations show that a main contribution to bonding stems from the interaction between the vanadium d π and H 2 σ* orbital. Ultimately, the pursuit of MOFs containing high densities of weakly π-basic metal sites may enable storage capacities under ambient conditions that far surpass those accessible with compressed gas storage.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Overcoming Metastable CO 2 Adsorption in a Bulky Diamine-Appended Metal-Organic Framework

We report carbon capture at fossil fuel-fired power plants is a critical strategy to mitigate anthropogenic contributions to global warming, but widespread deployment of this technology is hindered by a lack of energy-efficient materials that can be optimized for CO 2 capture from a specific flue gas. As a result of their tunable, step-shaped CO 2 adsorption profiles, diamine-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of the form diamine-Mg 2 (dobpdc) (dobpdc 4- = 4,4'-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3'-dicarboxylate) are among the most promising materials for carbon capture applications. Here, we present a detailed investigation of dmen-Mg 2 (dobpdc) (dmen = 1,2-diamino-2-methylpropane), one of only two MOFs with an adsorption step near the optimal pressure for CO 2 capture from coal flue gas. While prior characterization suggested that this material only adsorbs CO 2 to half capacity (0.5 CO 2 per diamine) at 1 bar, we show that the half-capacity state is actually a metastable intermediate. Under appropriate conditions, the MOF adsorbs CO 2 to full capacity, but conversion from the half-capacity structure happens on a very slow time scale, rendering it inaccessible in traditional adsorption measurements. Data from solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, coupled with van der Waals-corrected density functional theory, indicate that ammonium carbamate chains formed at half capacity and full capacity adopt opposing configurations, and the need to convert between these states likely dictates the sluggish post-half-capacity uptake. By use of the more symmetric parent framework Mg 2 (pc-dobpdc) (pc-dobpdc 4- = 3,3'-dioxidobiphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate), the metastable trap can be avoided and the full CO 2 capacity of dmen-Mg 2 (pc-dobpdc) accessed under conditions relevant for carbon capture from coal-fired power plants.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Elucidation of the Roles of Water on the Reactivity of Surface Intermediates in Carboxylic Acid Ketonization on TiO 2

The effects of water on the carboxylic acid ketonization reaction over solid Lewis-acid catalysts were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and kinetic measurements. Acetic acid and propanoic acid were used as model compounds, and P25 TiO 2 was used as a model catalyst to represent the anatase TiO 2 since the rutile phase only contributes to <2.5% of the overall ketonization activity of P25 TiO 2 . The kinetic measurement showed that introducing H 2 O vapor in gaseous feed decreases the ketonization reaction rate by increasing the intrinsic activation barrier of gas-phase acetic acid on anatase TiO 2 . Quantitative TPD of acetic acid indicated that H 2 O does not compete with acetic acid for Lewis sites. Instead, as indicated by combined approaches of NMR and DRIFTS, H 2 O associates with the adsorbed acetate or acetic acid intermediates on the catalyst surface and alters their reactivities for the ketonization reaction. There are multiple species present on the anatase TiO 2 surface upon carboxylic acid adsorption, including molecular carboxylic acid, monodentate carboxylate, and chelating/bridging bidentate carboxylates. The presence of H 2 O vapor increases the coverage of the less reactive bridging bidentate carboxylate associated with adsorbed H 2 O, leading to lower ketonization activity on hydrated anatase TiO 2 . In conclusion, surface hydroxyl groups, which are consumed by interaction with carboxylic acid upon the formation of surface acetate species, do not impact the ketonization reaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Elucidating the Roles of Local and Nonlocal Rate Enhancement Mechanisms in Plasmonic Catalysis

Plasmonic metal nanoparticles (e.g., Ag, Au, and Cu) constitute a class of materials that interact with light via the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Numerous studies have reported substantial enhancements in the rates of chemical reactions on illuminated plasmonic nanoparticle catalysts compared to corresponding systems in the absence of illumination. There are two mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the LSPR-induced chemical reactivity. One mechanism assumes a local plasmon-induced hot charge-carrier-mediated activation of the reactants, while the other assumes an LSPR-induced equilibrium heating of the catalyst, which leads to energy transfer to and chemical reaction of the adsorbed reactants. Here, in this contribution, we developed a setup amenable to accurate in situ catalyst temperature and kinetic reaction rate measurements. We employed this setup to study the LSPR-induced rate enhancement in a case study of the CO oxidation reaction on plasmonic, monometallic Ag nanoparticle catalysts supported on α-Al 2 O 3 . We explored various Ag loadings and clustering levels. Our data show that the equilibrium heating of the catalyst cannot fully explain the illumination-induced plasmonic rate enhancements. This is the case even for high loading and clustering of Ag nanoparticles, where the equilibrium heating significantly increases. Based on the analysis, we propose that local effects, related to the plasmon-induced activation of adsorbates (reactants) via electronic excitation of the reactant or photothermal heating of the reactants that is highly localized to the individual nanoparticles, play a critical role in driving LSPR-induced chemical reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pt Atomic Single-Layer Catalyst Embedded in Defect-Enriched Ceria for Efficient CO Oxidation

The local coordination structure of metal sites essentially determines the performance of supported metal catalysts. Here, using a surface defect enrichment strategy, we successfully fabricated Pt atomic single-layer (Pt ASL ) structures with 100% metal dispersion and precisely controlled local coordination environment (embedded vs adsorbed) derived from Pt single-atoms (Pt 1 ) on ceria-alumina supports. The local coordination environment of Pt 1 not only governs its catalytic activity but also determines the Pt 1 structure evolution upon reduction activation. For CO oxidation, the highest turnover frequency can be achieved on the embedded Pt ASL in the CeO 2 lattice, which is 3.5 times of that on the adsorbed Pt ASL on the CeO 2 surface and 10–70 times of that on Pt1. The favorable CO adsorption on embedded Pt ASL and improved activation/reactivity of lattice oxygen within CeO 2 effectively facilitate the CO oxidation. This work provides new insights for the precise control of the local coordination structure of active metal sites for achieving 100% atomic utilization efficiency and optimal intrinsic catalytic activity for targeted reactions simultaneously.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nature of Zirconia on a Copper Inverse Catalyst Under CO 2 Hydrogenation Conditions

The growing concern over the escalating levels of anthropogenic CO 2 emissions necessitates effective strategies for its conversion to valuable chemicals and fuels. In this research, we embark on a comprehensive investigation of the nature of zirconia on a copper inverse catalyst under the conditions of CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol. We employ density functional theory calculations in combination with the Grand Canonical Basin Hopping method, enabling an exploration of the free energy surface including a variable amount of adsorbates within the relevant reaction conditions. Our focus centers on a model three-atom Zr cluster on a Cu(111) surface decorated with various OH, O, and formate ligands, noted Zr 3 O x (OH) y (HCOO) z /Cu(111), revealing major changes in the active site induced by various reaction parameters such as the gas pressure, temperature, conversion levels, and CO 2 /H 2 feed ratios. Further, through our analysis, we have unveiled insights into the dynamic behavior of the catalyst. Specifically, under reaction conditions, we observe a large number of composition and structures with similar free energy for the catalyst, with respect to changing the type, number, and binding sites of adsorbates, suggesting that the active site should be regarded as a statistical ensemble of diverse structures that interconvert.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Adsorption of Natural Gas in Metal–Organic Frameworks: Selectivity, Cyclability, and Comparison to Methane Adsorption

Evaluation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technology employs pure methane as a surrogate for natural gas (NG). This approximation is problematic, as it ignores the impact of other heavier hydrocarbons present in NG, such as ethane and propane, which generally have more favorable adsorption interactions with MOFs compared to methane. Herein, using quantitative Raman spectroscopic analysis and Monte Carlo calculations, we demonstrate the adsorption selectivity of high-performing MOFs, such as MOF-5, MOF-177, and SNU-70, for a methane and ethane mixture (95:5) that mimics the composition of NG. The impact of selectivity on the storage and deliverable capacities of these adsorbents during successive cycles of adsorption and desorption, simulating the filling and emptying of an ANG tank, is also demonstrated. Finally, the study reveals a gradual reduction in the storage performance of MOFs, particularly with smaller pore volumes, due to ethane accumulation over long-term cycling, until a steady state is reached with substantially degraded storage performance.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Efficient Capture and Release of the Rare-Earth Element Neodymium in Aqueous Solution by Recyclable Covalent Organic Frameworks

Rare-earth elements (REEs) are present in a broad range of critical materials. The development of solid adsorbents for REE capture could enable the cost-effective recycling of REE-containing magnets and electronics. In this context, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising candidates for REE adsorption due to their exceptionally high surface area. Despite having attractive physical properties, COFs are heavily underutilized for REE capture applications due to their limited lifecycle in aqueous acidic environments, as well as synthetic challenges associated with the incorporation of ligands suitable for REE capture. Here, in this work, we show how the Ugi multicomponent reaction can be leveraged to postsynthetically modify imine-based COFs for the introduction of a diglycolic acid (DGA) moiety, an efficient scaffold for REE capture. The adsorption capacity of the DGA-functionalized COF was found to be more than 40 times higher than that of the pristine imine COF precursor and more than four times higher than that of the next-best reported DGA-functionalized solid support. This rationally designed COF has appealing characteristics of high adsorption capacity, fast and efficient capture and release of the REE ions, and reliable recyclability, making it one of the most promising adsorbents for solid–liquid REE ion extractions reported to date.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Fano Resonance in CO 2 Reduction Catalyst Functionalized Quantum Dots

Molecular catalyst functionalized semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are a promising modular platform for developing novel hybrid photocatalysts. The interaction between adsorbed catalyst vibrations and the QD electron intraband absorption can influence the photophysical properties of both the QD and the catalysts and potentially their photocatalysis. In CdSe QDs functionalized by the CO 2 reduction catalyst, Re(CO) 3 (4,4’-bipyridine-COOH)Cl, we observe that the transient Fano resonance signal resulting from coupling of the catalyst CO stretching mode and the QD conduction band electron mid-IR intraband absorption appears on an ultrafast time scale and decays with the electron population, irrespective of the occurrence of photoreduced catalysts. The Fano asymmetry factor increases with an increase in the adsorbed catalyst number and a decrease in QD sizes. The latter can be attributed to an enhanced charge transfer interaction between the more strongly quantum-confined QD conduction band and catalyst LUMO levels. These results provide a more in-depth understanding of interactions in excited QD-catalyst hybrid photocatalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ir(hkl) Surface Electrochemistry in a Nonadsorbing Acidic Medium

The fundamental properties of electrochemical materials depend on the multiple and often complex interactions between electrode surface sites and electrolyte species at the electrochemical interface. Despite Iridium use in electrolyzer systems, much of its surface electrochemistry remains underexplored. This study investigates the surface electrochemistry of Ir(111), Ir(100), and Ir(110) surfaces in acidic media. Using cyclic voltammetry and CO charge displacement experiments, we establish the charge states and adsorbate coverages as a function of the electrode potential, revealing the presence of hydrogen and hydroxyl co-adsorption at low potentials on (111), and almost no coverage of H ad on (110) facet. In situ Shell Isolated Nanoparticle Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy experiments provide direct evidence of the formation of key adsorbate species, such as hydrogen, hydroxyl, and oxygen, but most importantly, their interactions with interfacial water, confirmed by Density Functional Theory calculations. Our findings highlight the role of co-adsorption and interspecies interactions, with microkinetic adsorption voltammetry simulations corroborating the influence of lateral interactions on adsorption dynamics, particularly for Ir(100) where the OHad formation occurs as a sharp adsorption/desorption current. Our results underscores the importance of interfacial water and hydrogen bonding networks in shaping the electrochemical behavior on Ir surfaces, refining our baseline understanding of the Ir surface electrochemistry necessary for the development of advanced Ir-based electrochemical materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Interactions of Polar and Nonpolar Groups of Alcohols in Zeolite Pores

Understanding the quantitative interactions among zeolite pore walls, Bro̷nsted acid sites, and molecules with both polar and nonpolar regions is essential for scoping out the potential of zeolites as sorbents and catalysts. Purely siliceous zeolites (MFI and Beta in the present study) are hydrophobic, whereas those containing aluminum are considered hydrophilic, preferentially adsorbing organic molecules even in aqueous environments. To characterize these interactions, we use primary alcohols of increasing molecular weight, quantifying their specific interactions in the confined pore space of the alkyl (CH x ) and OH groups. Three types of interactions were identified: (i) alkyl CH x groups interacting with the zeolite pore walls (approximately 10 kJ mol −1 per carbon), (ii) alcohol OH groups interacting with the pore walls (30−35 kJ mol −1 ), and (iii) alcohol OH groups interacting with Bro̷nsted acid sites (37 kJ mol −1 ). All three interactions were well mirrored by computational simulations. The contribution of the alkyl CH x groups was inferred from the incremental increase in sorption enthalpy with increasing molecular weight; the interaction strength of the OH groups was determined by extrapolating the global adsorption enthalpy of the alcohols to a hypothetical OH group without an alkyl group. This value was identical to the adsorption enthalpy of water. The experiments demonstrated that only water has an adsorption enthalpy on zeolite pore walls lower than its condensation enthalpy (30−35 kJ mol −1 vs 45 kJ mol −1 ), limiting the concentration of water that can be adsorbed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗