Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 16086

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Materials for Energy and Environment, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Interests: nanomaterials; metal nanoparticles; nanostructures; solar fuels; green energy; photocatalytic; electrocatalytic; photoelectrochemical; physical chemistry; surface modification; surface plasmon resonance; charge transfer mechanism; water splitting; solar cells

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With growing awareness of environmental pollution and an increasing energy crisis, a great deal of effort has been put into the development of various catalysts with improved catalytic activity for sustainable energy and the abatement of pollutants, which are mainly dependent on water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, and contaminant degradation reactions.

Metal nanoparticles, such as nanospheres, nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, and hierarchical structures, have attracted more and more interest in the past few years due to their unique properties and significant role alone or when coupled with other materials in the photocatalytic, electrochemical, thermalcatalytic, and photoelectrochemical fields. As is well known, morphologies, architectures, and environments seriously affect their physical, chemical and catalytic properties.

In order to summarize and emphasize the recent advances in the rational design of various metallic nanoparticles by different prepared methods and their catalytic applications, we propose a Special Issue entitled Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles in the journal Nanomaterials, considering that it is an important journal publishing reviews, regular research papers, communications and short notes that are relevant to any field of study that involves nanomaterials. The Special Issue is in line with the publication requirements, contents, and standards of Nanomaterials.

This Special Issue aims to publish recent original research articles, communications, and review articles relevant to the rational design of various metallic nanoparticles in the catalytic field, including morphologies, the architectures of metallic nanoparticles influencing their catalytic properties, and catalytic mechanism analysis.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Design and assembly of metal nanostructures;
  • Metal nanoparticles for catalytic applications;
  • Metal nanoparticles for energy applications;
  • Metal nanoparticles for photocatalytic applications;
  • Metal nanoparticles for electrochemical applications;
  • Metal nanoparticles for thermal catalytic applications;
  • Catalytic mechanism in metal nanoparticle catalysis.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Zhengbo Jiao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • nanoparticles
  • photocatalysis
  • electrochemical catalysis
  • thermal catalysis
  • charge carriers
  • heterostructures
  • functionalization

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3988 KiB  
Article
Highly Efficient Photo-Fenton Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI Z-Scheme Heterojunction for the Promoted Degradation of Tetracycline
by Jingjing Zheng, Guoxia Liu and Zhengbo Jiao
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131991 - 1 Jul 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1531
Abstract
Novel Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI Z-scheme heterostructures are first fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method. The composition and properties of as-synthesized Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI nanocomposites are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis diffuse [...] Read more.
Novel Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI Z-scheme heterostructures are first fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method. The composition and properties of as-synthesized Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI nanocomposites are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, etc. The Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI systems exhibit remarkable degradation performance for tetracycline (TC). In particular, the composite (Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI-2) shows the highest efficiency when the contents of Ag and α-Fe2O3 are 2 wt% and 15%, respectively. The effects of operating parameters, including the solution pH, H2O2 concentration, TC concentration, and catalyst concentration, on the degradation efficiency are investigated. The photo-Fenton mechanism is studied, and the results indicated that •O2− is the main active specie for TC degradation. The enhanced performance of Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI heterostructures may be ascribed to the synergic effect between photocatalysis and the Fenton reaction. The formation of Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI heterojunction is beneficial to the transfer and separation of charge carriers. The photo-generated electrons accelerate the Fe2+/Fe3+ cycle and create the reductive reaction of H2O2. This research reveals that the Ag/Fe2O3/BiOI composite possesses great potential in wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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18 pages, 3462 KiB  
Article
Potential of 3D Hierarchical Porous TiO2-Graphene Aerogel (TiO2-GA) as Electrocatalyst Support for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
by Siti Hasanah Osman, Siti Kartom Kamarudin, Sahriah Basri and Nabila A. Karim
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(12), 1819; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13121819 - 7 Jun 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
Fuel cells have already demonstrated their potential for green energy generation. However, the low reaction performance becomes an obstacle in terms of large-scale commercial manufacturing. Accordingly, this work focuses on a new unique fabrication of three-dimensional pore hierarchy TiO2-graphene aerogel (TiO [...] Read more.
Fuel cells have already demonstrated their potential for green energy generation. However, the low reaction performance becomes an obstacle in terms of large-scale commercial manufacturing. Accordingly, this work focuses on a new unique fabrication of three-dimensional pore hierarchy TiO2-graphene aerogel (TiO2-GA) supporting PtRu catalyst for anodic catalyst direct methanol fuel cell, which is facile, ecologically benign, and economical. In this work, a hydrothermal technique was used, followed by a freeze-drying technique and a microwave-assisted ethylene reduction technique. The structural properties of the studied materials were confirmed by UV/visible spectroscopy, XRD, Raman spectrum, FESEM TEM, and XPS. Based on existing structural advantages, the performance of PtRu/TiO2-GA has been investigated on DMFC anode catalysts. Furthermore, electrocatalytic stability performance with the same loading (~20%) was compared to commercial PtRu/C. Experimental outcomes show that the TiO2-GA support offered a significantly high surface area value of 68.44 m2g−1, mass activity/specific activity (608.17 mAmg−1/0.45 mA/cm2PtRu) that is higher than commercial PtRu/C (79.11 mAmg−1/0.19 mA/cm2PtRu). In passive DMFC mode, PtRu/TiO2-GA showed a maximum power density of 3.1 mW cm−2, which is 2.6 times higher than that of the PtRu/C commercial electrocatalyst. This suggests that PtRu/TiO2-GA has a promising possibility for methanol oxidation and may be used as an anodic element in DMFC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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11 pages, 1887 KiB  
Article
Co3O4 Supported on Graphene-like Carbon by One-Step Calcination of Cobalt Phthalocyanine for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction under Alkaline Medium
by Huang Tan, Xunyu Liu, Miaohui Wang, Hui Huang and Peipei Huang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071241 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1690
Abstract
Exploiting cost-effective and durable non-platinum electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for the development of abundant renewable energy conversion and storage technologies. Herein, a series of Co3O4 supported on graphene-like carbon (Co3O4/C) [...] Read more.
Exploiting cost-effective and durable non-platinum electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for the development of abundant renewable energy conversion and storage technologies. Herein, a series of Co3O4 supported on graphene-like carbon (Co3O4/C) samples were firstly effectively synthesized by one-step calcination of cobalt phthalocyanine and their electrocatalytic performances were measured for ORR under an alkaline medium. By systematically adjusting the calcination temperature of cobalt phthalocyanine, we found that the material pyrolyzed at 750 °C (Co3O4/C−750) shows the best ORR electrocatalytic performance (half-wave potentials of 0.77 V (vs. RHE) in 0.1 M KOH) among all the control samples. Moreover, it displays better stability and superior methanol tolerance than commercial 20% Pt/C. The further electrochemical test results reveal that the process is close in characteristics to the four-electron ORR process on Co3O4/C−750. In addition, Co3O4/C−750 applied in the zinc–air battery presents 1.34 V of open circuit potential. Based on all the characterizations, the enhanced electrocatalytic performances of Co3O4/C−750 composite should be ascribed to the synergistic effect between Co3O4 and the graphene-like carbon layer structure produced by pyrolysis of cobalt phthalocyanine, as well as its high specific surface area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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16 pages, 3774 KiB  
Article
Cobalt–Graphene Catalyst for Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Guaiacol to Cyclohexanol
by Qichang Guo, Jingbo Mao, Shenmin Li, Jingmei Yin, Yang Lv and Jinxia Zhou
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3388; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193388 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2513
Abstract
Herein, cobalt-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) catalyst was synthesized with a practical impregnation–calcination approach for the selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of guaiacol to cyclohexanol. The synthesized Co/rGO was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman [...] Read more.
Herein, cobalt-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) catalyst was synthesized with a practical impregnation–calcination approach for the selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of guaiacol to cyclohexanol. The synthesized Co/rGO was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) analysis. According to the comprehensive characterization results, the catalyst contains single Co atoms in the graphene matrix and Co oxide nanoparticles (CoOx) on the graphene surface. The isolated Co atoms embedded in the rGO matrix form stable metal carbides (CoCx), which constitute catalytically active sites for hydrogenation. The rGO material with proper amounts of N heteroatoms and lattice defects becomes a suitable graphene material for fabricating the catalyst. The Co/rGO catalyst without prereduction treatment leads to the complete conversion of guaiacol with 93.2% selectivity to cyclohexanol under mild conditions. The remarkable HDO capability of the Co/rGO catalyst is attributed to the unique metal–acid synergy between the CoCx sites and the acid sites of the CoOx nanoparticles. The CoCx sites provide H while the acid sites of CoOx nanoparticles bind the C-O group of reactants to the surface, allowing easier C-O scission. The reaction pathways were characterized based on the observed reaction–product distributions. The effects of the process parameters on catalyst preparation and the HDO reaction, as well as the reusability of the catalyst, were systematically investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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17 pages, 6441 KiB  
Article
Regulation of Kinetic Properties of Chemical Hydrogen Absorption and Desorption by Cubic K2MoO4 on Magnesium Hydride
by Xinglin Yang, Jiaqi Zhang, Quanhui Hou and Xintao Guo
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2468; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142468 - 19 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
Transition metal catalysts are particularly effective in improving the kinetics of the reversible hydrogen storage reaction for light metal hydrides. Herein, K2MoO4 microrods were prepared using a simple evaporative crystallization method, and it was confirmed that the kinetic properties of [...] Read more.
Transition metal catalysts are particularly effective in improving the kinetics of the reversible hydrogen storage reaction for light metal hydrides. Herein, K2MoO4 microrods were prepared using a simple evaporative crystallization method, and it was confirmed that the kinetic properties of magnesium hydride could be adjusted by doping cubic K2MoO4 into MgH2. Its unique cubic structure forms new species in the process of hydrogen absorption and desorption, which shows excellent catalytic activity in the process of hydrogen storage in MgH2. The dissociation and adsorption time of hydrogen is related to the amount of K2MoO4. Generally speaking, the more K2MoO4, the faster the kinetic performance and the shorter the time used. According to the experimental results, the initial dehydrogenation temperature of MgH2 + 10 wt% K2MoO4 composite is 250 °C, which is about 110 °C lower than that of As-received MgH2. At 320 °C, almost all dehydrogenation was completed within 11 min. In the temperature rise hydrogen absorption test, the composite system can start to absorb hydrogen at about 70 °C. At 200 °C and 3 MPa hydrogen pressure, 5.5 wt% H2 can be absorbed within 20 min. In addition, the activation energy of hydrogen absorption and dehydrogenation of the composite system decreased by 14.8 kJ/mol and 26.54 kJ/mol, respectively, compared to pure MgH2. In the cycle-stability test of the composite system, the hydrogen storage capacity of MgH2 can still reach more than 92% after the end of the 10th cycle, and the hydrogen storage capacity only decreases by about 0.49 wt%. The synergistic effect among the new species MgO, MgMo2O7, and KH generated in situ during the reaction may help to enhance the absorption and dissociation of H2 on the Mg/MgH2 surface and improve the kinetics of MgH2 for absorption and dehydrogenation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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11 pages, 2992 KiB  
Article
Expired Cefalexin Loaded into Mesoporous Nanosilica for Self-Healing Epoxy Coating on 304 Stainless Steel
by Beibei Yang, Jiayu Dong, Haifeng Bian, Haimin Lu, Duan Bin, Shaochun Tang, Yaqiong Song and Hongbin Lu
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2406; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142406 - 14 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1644
Abstract
A self-healing epoxy coating is creatively prepared by employing expired cefalexin loaded into mesoporous silica nanomaterials (MSNs) for corrosion protection of 304 stainless steel (304SS). A series of physical characterizations, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and N2 [...] Read more.
A self-healing epoxy coating is creatively prepared by employing expired cefalexin loaded into mesoporous silica nanomaterials (MSNs) for corrosion protection of 304 stainless steel (304SS). A series of physical characterizations, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, verified that the cefalexin successfully filled porous MSN. The corrosion resistance of the epoxy (EP) coating incorporated with the cefalexin@MSNs is investigated using a Tafel polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. It is found that the EP-Cefalexin@MSNs coating has a higher self-corrosion voltage and a lower self-corrosion current density than EP coating. Moreover, the charge transfer resistance (Rct) value of Cefalexin@MSNs coating is twice that of EP coating after immersion for 24 h, indicating that the cefalexin@MSNs significantly enhance the corrosion resistance of the coating under long-duration immersion. The improved corrosion resistance is attributed to the densified adsorption of the cefalexin inhibiting the cathode corrosion reaction, providing a self-healing long-duration corrosion protection for 304SS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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10 pages, 22152 KiB  
Article
Oxidation of Supported Nickel Nanoparticles at Low Exposure to O2: Charging Effects and Selective Surface Activity
by Andrey K. Gatin, Sergey Y. Sarvadii, Nadezhda V. Dokhlikova, Vasiliy A. Kharitonov, Sergey A. Ozerin, Boris R. Shub and Maxim V. Grishin
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(7), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12071038 - 22 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1727
Abstract
The oxidation of Ni nanoparticles supported on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite was investigated under conditions of low exposure to oxygen by methods of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. It was found that charge transfer effects at the Ni-C interface influenced the surface activity [...] Read more.
The oxidation of Ni nanoparticles supported on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite was investigated under conditions of low exposure to oxygen by methods of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. It was found that charge transfer effects at the Ni-C interface influenced the surface activity of the nanoparticles. The O2 dissociation and the Ni oxidation were shown to occur only at the top of the nanoparticle, while the border of the Ni-C interface was the less preferable area for these processes. The O2 dissociation was inhibited, and atomic oxygen diffusion was suppressed in the given nanosystem, due to the decrease in holes concentration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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13 pages, 32811 KiB  
Article
Ti3AlC2/Pd Composites for Efficient Hydrogen Production from Alkaline Formaldehyde Solutions
by Xiaogang Liu, Wenjie Chen and Xin Zhang
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(5), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12050843 - 2 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2655
Abstract
Research on catalytic oxidation in a promising but mild manner to remove formaldehyde and produce hydrogen is rarely reported. Here, the use of the Ti3AlC2 MAX phase as support for palladium nanoparticles was explored for the hydrogen generation from alkaline [...] Read more.
Research on catalytic oxidation in a promising but mild manner to remove formaldehyde and produce hydrogen is rarely reported. Here, the use of the Ti3AlC2 MAX phase as support for palladium nanoparticles was explored for the hydrogen generation from alkaline formaldehyde solution at room temperature. The results showed that Ti3AlC2/Pd catalyst with 3 wt% Pd loading had a much higher capability for hydrogen production than conventional Pd nanoparticles. In addition, by further optimizing the formaldehyde concentration, NaOH concentration, and the reaction temperature, the hydrogen production rate could be further increased to 291.6 mL min−1g−1. Moreover, the obtained apparent activation energy of the Ti3AlC2/Pd catalyzed hydrogen production reaction is 39.48 kJ mol−1, which is much lower than that of the literature results (65 kJ mol−1). The prepared Ti3AlC2/Pd catalysts as well as the catalytic process could act as a “two birds with one stone” effect, that is, they not only eliminate noxious formaldehyde but also generate clean hydrogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Applications of Metal Nanoparticles)
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