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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.

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At least 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Efficient Polyester Hydrogenolytic Deconstruction via Tandem Catalysis

Abstract Using a mechanism‐based solvent‐free tandem catalytic approach, commodity polyester plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) are rapidly and selectively deconstructed by combining the two air‐ and moisture‐stable catalysts, Hf(OTf) 4 and Pd/C, under 1 atm H 2 , affording terephthalic acid (or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid for PEN) and ethane (or butane for PBT) in essentially quantitative yield. This process is effective for both laboratory grade and waste plastics, and comingled polypropylene remains unchanged. Combined experimental and DFT mechanistic analyses indicate that Hf(OTf) 4 catalyzes a mildly exergonic retro‐hydroalkoxylation reaction in which an alkoxy C−O bond is first cleaved, yielding a carboxylic acid and alkene, and this process is closely coupled to an exergonic olefin hydrogenation step, driving the overall reaction forward.

Kratish, Yosi↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Metal‐Organic Framework (MOF)‐Based Multifunctional Cargo Vehicle for Reactive‐Gas Delivery and Catalysis

Abstract The efficient delivery of reactive and toxic gaseous reagents to organic reactions was studied using metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs). The simultaneous cargo vehicle and catalytic capabilities of several MOFs were probed for the first time using the examples of aromatization, aminocarbonylation, and carbonylative Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions. These reactions highlight that MOFs can serve a dual role as a gas cargo vehicle and a catalyst, leading to product formation with yields similar to reactions employing pure gases. Furthermore, the MOFs can be recycled without sacrificing product yield, while simultaneously maintaining crystallinity. The reported findings were supported crystallographically and spectroscopically (e.g., diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy), foreshadowing a pathway for the development of multifunctional MOF‐based reagent‐catalyst cargo vessels for reactive gas reagents as an attractive alternative to the use of toxic pure gases or gas generators.

Kittikhunnatham, Preecha↗
DOE OSTI2023

Single‐Site Carbon‐Supported Metal‐Oxo Complexes in Heterogeneous Catalysis: Structure, Reactivity, and Mechanism

Abstract When early transition metal complexes are molecularly grafted onto catalyst supports, well‐defined, surface‐bound species are created, which are highly active and selective single‐site heterogeneous catalysts (SSHCs) for diverse chemical transformations. In this minireview, we analyze and summarize a less conventional type of SSHC in which molybdenum dioxo species are grafted onto unusual carbon‐unsaturated scaffolds, such as activated carbon, reduced graphene oxide, and carbon nanohorns. The choice of earth‐abundant, low‐toxicity, versatile metal constituents, and various carbon supports illustrates “catalyst by design” principles and yields insights into new catalytic systems of both academic and technological interest. Here, we summarize experimental and computational investigations of the bonding, electronic structure, reaction scope, and mechanistic pathways of these unusual catalysts.

Liu, Yiqi↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solar‐Driven CO 2 Conversion via Optimized Photothermal Catalysis in a Lotus Pod Structure

Abstract Photothermal CO 2 reduction is one of the most promising routes to efficiently utilize solar energy for fuel production at high rates. However, this reaction is currently limited by underdeveloped catalysts with low photothermal conversion efficiency, insufficient exposure of active sites, low active material loading, and high material cost. Herein, we report a potassium‐modified carbon‐supported cobalt (K + −Co−C) catalyst mimicking the structure of a lotus pod that addresses these challenges. As a result of the designed lotus‐pod structure which features an efficient photothermal C substrate with hierarchical pores, an intimate Co/C interface with covalent bonding, and exposed Co catalytic sites with optimized CO binding strength, the K + −Co−C catalyst shows a record‐high photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation rate of 758 mmol g cat −1 h −1 (2871 mmol g Co −1 h −1 ) with a 99.8 % selectivity for CO, three orders of magnitude higher than typical photochemical CO 2 reduction reactions. We further demonstrate with this catalyst effective CO 2 conversion under natural sunlight one hour before sunset during the winter season, putting forward an important step towards practical solar fuel production.

Wang, Hongmin↗
DOE OSTI2021

Efficient Polyester Hydrogenolytic Deconstruction via Tandem Catalysis

Using a mechanism-based solvent-free tandem catalytic approach, commodity polyester plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) are rapidly and selectively deconstructed by combining the two air- and moisture-stable catalysts, Hf(OTf) 4 and Pd/C, under 1 atm H 2 , affording terephthalic acid (or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid for PEN) and ethane (or butane for PBT) in essentially quantitative yield. This process is effective for both laboratory grade and waste plastics, and comingled polypropylene remains unchanged. Combined experimental and DFT mechanistic analyses indicate that Hf(OTf) 4 catalyzes a mildly exergonic retro-hydroalkoxylation reaction in which an alkoxy C-O bond is first cleaved, yielding a carboxylic acid and alkene, and this process is closely coupled to an exergonic olefin hydrogenation step, driving the overall reaction forward.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Latent Catalysis as a Platform for Accessing Diverse Material Properties in Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing

Vat photopolymerization (VP) 3D printing is an attractive strategy to manufacture customized polymer parts. The properties of printed materials are limited by the need to employ a low viscosity liquid resin and achieve rapid polymerization kinetics. To circumvent this limitation, dual‐cure methods have been developed using reagents embedded in the liquid resin formulation; however, the reagent‐based approach requires the discovery and optimization of new chemistry for each desired material. Here, in this work, we demonstrate a catalytic, dual‐cure platform that enables access to both Nylon‐6 and polyester interpenetrating networks through VP 3D printing under a universal approach. Structure–reactivity relationships of the latent NHC catalysts led to the identification of a magnesium chloride–NHC adduct as a latent catalyst that is orthogonal to radical polymerization and can be unmasked at elevated temperatures post‐printing to initiate ring‐opening polymerization of lactones and lactams. This strategy results in access to semicrystalline materials, which are a challenging morphology to access via VP 3D printing, that have attractive mechanical properties and can be printed at high resolution. This work represents the first photochemical‐based 3D printing of Nylon‐based materials and demonstrates the value of catalytic approaches to access new material properties in VP 3D printing.

Colliver, Cali N. [University of North Carolina, C↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydrothermal catalysis of waste greases into green gasoline, jet, and diesel biofuels in continuous flow supercritical water

Production of green gasoline, jet, and diesel biofuels from waste greases was achieved using a novel hydrothermal, continuous-flow catalytic process operating under supercritical water conditions, with recycled water the only added chemical. Thermally and chemically stable catalysts were explored to optimize yields of liquid biofuels and to minimize production of gases and acidic compounds. A 50:50 mixture of brown and yellow waste greases converted into 76.6 wt% liquid biocrude (BC); the remainder converted to water and gases. Less than 0.2% of the FS formed carbon char (mainly amongst catalyst particles). Various tubular reactors (Inconel, ® Hastelloy®, titanium, stainless) showed no interior defects, erosion, or mass loss after runs. Here, the titanium catalyst was fully recovered and regenerated back to its original potency. The BC was further refined into 28%, 48%, 20%, and 4 wt%, respectively for green gasoline, jet, diesel, and bunker. Biofuels were analyzed for compound class compositions and reaction mechanisms were proposed. The hundreds of identified fuel products (C3-C35) from processing oleic acid as a pure model compound were identified. The neat green gasoline and diesel biofuels along with a 50% green jet blend (with petroleum Jet A) were tested in appropriate spark ignition, turbine, and diesel engines at University of MN Engine Labs. Biofuels achieved 107.7%, 97.2%, and 101.3% engine power performance levels relative to petroleum fuels (91-Octane, Jet A, #2 Diesel) along with lower CO and pollutant emissions. Biofuels passed ASTM fuel specifications (D4814, D7566, D975) including mandated corrosion and low sulfur limits of all three biofuels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Quantitative Z-Contrast Imaging of Supported Metal Complexes and Clusters - A Gateway to Understanding Catalysis on the Atomic Scale

Z-contrast imaging in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope can be used to observe and quantify the sizes, shapes, and compositions of the metal frames in supported mono-, bi-, and multimetallic metal clusters and can even detect the metal atoms in single-metal-atom complexes, as well as providing direct structural information characterizing the metal-support interface. Herein, we assess the major experimental challenges associated with obtaining atomic resolution Z-contrast images of the materials that are highly beam-sensitive, that is, the clusters readily migrate and sinter on support surfaces, and the support itself can drastically change in structure if the experiment is not properly controlled. Calibrated and quantified Z-contrast images are used in conjunction with exsitu analytical measurements and larger-scale characterization methods such as extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy to generate an atomic-scale understanding of supported catalysts and their function. Examples of the application of these methods include the characterization of a wide range of sizes and compositions of supported clusters, primarily those incorporating Ir, Os, and Au, on highly crystalline supports (zeolites and MgO).

cluster compounds↗
DOE OSTI2017

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Platinum-Group-Metal-Free Catalysts: Structural Elucidation and Oxygen Reduction Catalysis

In this paper, a hydrothermal approach to generate a platinum-group-metal-free (PGM-free) Fe-N-C catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is introduced. The process involves partial carbonization by hydrothermal means followed by thermal treatment to obtain the final catalysts. Detailed X-ray scattering analysis of the glucose-imidazole catalysts (termed as GLU-IMID-C catalysts), obtained for the first time with the use of CarbonXS GUI program, reveals the presence of face-centered cubic (FCC) iron nanoparticles embedded in partially graphitic carbon in all catalyst variations. We also report the physical characterization of these catalysts by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic behavior of the catalysts towards oxygen reduction is studied separately in acidic and alkaline electrolytes by rotating ring disk electrode measurements. The catalysts exhibit high ORR activity in acidic (0.5 M H 2 SO 4 ) and alkaline (0.1 M KOH) electrolytes. Lastly, a precursor structure-performance relationship of these catalysts and their performance trends in both electrolytes has been discussed in this work.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Exploring the Potential of Fulvalene Dimetals as Platforms for Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage: Computations, Syntheses, Structures, Kinetics, and Catalysis

A study of the scope and limitations of varying the ligand framework around the dinuclear core of FvRu(2) in its function as a molecular solar thermal energy storage framework is presented. It includes DFT calculations probing the effect of substituents, other metals, and CO exchange for other ligands on Delta H-storage. Experimentally, the system is shown to be robust in as much as it tolerates a number of variations, except for the identity of the metal and certain substitution patterns. Failures include 1,1',3,3'-tetra-tert-butyl (4), 1,2,2',3'-tetraphenyl (9), diiron (28), diosmium (24), mixed iron-ruthenium (27), dimolybdenum (29), and di-tungsten (30) derivatives. An extensive screen of potential catalysts for the thermal reversal identified AgNO3-SiO2 as a good candidate, although catalyst decomposition remains a challenge.

Borjesson, K↗
DOE OSTI2016

Single-Site Osmium Catalysts on MgO: Reactivity and Catalysis of CO Oxidation

MgO-supported osmium dioxo species, described as Os(=O) 2 {-Osupport} 1 or 2 (the brackets denote O atoms of the MgO surface), formed from Os 3 (CO) 12 via supported Os(CO) 2 , and characterized by spectroscopy, microscopy, and theory, react with ethylene at 298 K to form osmium glycol species or with CO to give osmium mono- and di-carbonyls. Os(=O) 2 {-Osupport} 1 or 2 is the precursor of a CO oxidation catalyst characterized by a turnover frequency of 4.0×10 -3 (molecules of CO)/(Os atom×s) at 473 K; the active species are inferred to be osmium monocarbonyls. The structures and frequencies calculated at the level of density functional theory with the B3LYP functional bolster the experimental results and facilitate structural assignments. The lowest-energy structures have various osmium oxidation and spin states. The results demonstrate not only new chemistry of the supported single-site catalysts but also their complexity and the value of complementary techniques used in concert to unravel the chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Coordination-Supported Imidazolate Networks: Water- and Heat-Stable Mesoporous Polymers for Catalysis

The poor water stability of most porous coordination polymers (PCPs) or metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is widely recognised as a barrier hampering their practical applications. Herein, a facile and scalable route to prepare metal-containing polymers with a good stability in boiling water (100°C, 24 h) and air (up to 390°C) is presented. The bifunctional 1-vinylimidazole (VIm) with both a coordinating site and a polymerizable organic group is introduced as the building block. This core strategy includes the synthesis of a rigid monomer with four VIm branches via a coordination process at room temperature, followed by a radical polymerization. Here we call this material Coordination-supported Imidazolate Networks (CINs). Interestingly, CINs are composed of rich mesopores from 2 to 15 nm, as characterized by low-energy (60 kV) STEM-HAADF images. Especially, the stable CINs illustrate a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 779 h -1 in the catalytic oxidation of phenol with H 2 O as the green solvent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Hydrazone-Linked Heptazine Polymeric Carbon Nitrides for Synergistic Visible-Light-Driven Catalysis

Heptazine-based conjugated polymeric carbon nitrides (PCNs) are promising metal-free photocatalysts, yet their synthesis is challenging due to the electron-deficiency and insolubility of heptazine units. Indeed, heptazine-containing polymers have only been prepared through nucleophilic substitution with amines by using toxic cyameluric chloride as the starting material. Herein, we report the novel and environmentally friendly method for preparing heptazine-based mesoporous PCNs with hydrazone links formed through a simple Schiff base condensation of melem-NH 2 and aldehydes. Unlike cyameluric chloride, melem-NH 2 is non-toxic, stable, and can be readily obtained from melem and hydrazine in solution. We demonstrate that the hydrazone linkages and the heptazine units synergistically enhance the photocatalytic activity of PCNs in visible-light-driven aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. In particular, the polymer constructed from melem-NH2 and p-phthalaldehyde shows 17 times more activity than graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Size‐Controlled Cobalt Nanoplates and Their Impact on Oxygen Evolution Catalysis

Controlling the size of nanoparticles is important in catalytic reactions, not only for tuning the surface area but also for modifying the electronic structure. However, achieving precise size control in 2D structures remains challenging. In this work, we demonstrate precise size control of cobalt nanoplates, ranging from 19 nm to 80 nm, which is achieved by tuning the ratio of two surfactants used in the synthesis. The 19 nm of Co nanoplates exhibit higher oxygen evolution reaction activity due to a higher proportion of {10$\overline{1}$1} to {0001} facets. In conclusion, this size control allows systematic investigation into how nanoplate dimensions influence catalytic performance in the oxygen evolution reaction, offering new insights into structure-activity relationships of cobalt nanocatalysts.

defect↗
DOE OSTI2017

Application of Pulse Radiolysis to Mechanistic Investigations of Catalysis Relevant to Artificial Photosynthesis

Taking inspiration from natural photosystems, the goal of artificial photosynthesis is to harness solar energy to convert abundant materials, such as CO 2 and H 2 O, into solar fuels. Catalysts are required to ensure that the necessary redox half-reactions proceed in the most energy-efficient manner. It is thus critical to gain a detailed mechanistic understanding of these catalytic reactions in order to develop new and improved catalysts. Many of the key catalytic intermediates are short-lived transient species, requiring time-resolved spectroscopic techniques for their observation. The two main methods for rapidly generating such species on the sub-microsecond timescale are laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis. These methods complement one another, and both can provide important spectroscopic and kinetic information. However, pulse radiolysis proves to be superior in systems with significant spectroscopic overlap between photosensitizer and other species present during the reaction. In this paper, we review the pulse radiolysis technique and how it has been applied to mechanistic investigations of half-reactions relevant to artificial photosynthesis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗