Toward millimeter thick cellulose nanofiber/epoxy laminates with good transparency and high flexural strength.

While cellulose nanofiber-based bioplastics are of great interest for replacing synthetic polymer and glass materials, the main limitation is their low thickness, which makes them difficult for various applications. In this study, we fabricated millimeter-scale thick bioplastic composites, based on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TEMPO-CNF) and epoxy resin, via sequential lamination processes. The glycerol as softener was added to TEMPO-CNF dispersion to prepare a thick TEMPO-CNF layer without shrinkage.

Effect of Ag doping on Pd/Ag-CeO catalysts for CO and CH oxidation.

To achieve high fuel efficiency and low emission in automobiles, it is necessary to develop highly active diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs). Pd/CeO catalysts have been widely used as active catalysts for CO and CH oxidation reactions. Additionally, Ag has been reported to enhance the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of CeO, which contributes to the oxidation ability of Pd/CeO.

Double-crosslinked cellulose nanofiber based bioplastic films for practical applications.

While green bioplastic based on carbohydrate polymers have showed considerable promise, the methods typically used to prepare them in a single material have remained a significant challenge. In this study, a simple approach is proposed to fabricate high performance cellulose films composed of chemically and physically dual-crosslinked 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (DC TEMPO-CNFs). The hydroxyl groups of TEMPO-CNF suspensions were firstly crosslinked chemically with epichlorohydrin (ECH), and subsequently TEMPO-CNF matrices were crosslinked physically via the strong electrostatic interaction between carboxylate and Ca ions.

Effects of La incorporation in catalytic activity of Ag/La-CeO catalysts for soot oxidation.

Owing to strengthened regulations toward vehicle emissions, the use of diesel particulate filter technology to reduce particulate matter emissions has attracted significant attention. To achieve low temperature oxidation of particulate matter, numerous studies on Ag/CeO catalysts for soot oxidation have been reported. Herein, Ag/La-CeO catalysts with different La contents are synthesized and compared to analyze the effect of La.

Roles of noble metals (M = Ag, Au, Pd, Pt and Rh) on CeO in enhancing activity toward soot oxidation: Active oxygen species and DFT calculations.

The effects of noble metal (M = Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, and Rh) on CeO in enhancing the activity toward soot oxidation were studied through experimental methods and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Each noble metal (3 mol.%) was supported on CeO (M/CeO) and the properties of the catalysts were verified by XRD, HRTEM, N physisorption, CO chemisorption, XPS, and H-TPR results.

CeO promoted Ag/TiO catalyst for soot oxidation with improved active oxygen generation and delivery abilities.

To evaluate the usability of TiO support for silver in soot oxidation, Ag/TiO and Ag/CeO catalysts were prepared and soot oxidation experiment was performed. The catalytic activity of silver was more enhanced on P25 and rutile than on anatase and CeO in tight contact, as evidenced from comparing the activities of supports and silver impregnated catalysts. The reasons for the difference in active metal enhancement were elucidated by various characterization methods (TEM, H TPR, and XPS), and it is verified that it resulted not from dispersion of silver but from oxidation ability.

A combinatorial chemistry method for fast screening of perovskite-based NO oxidation catalyst.

A fast parallel screening method based on combinatorial chemistry (combichem) has been developed and applied in the screening tests of perovskite-based oxide (PBO) catalysts for NO oxidation to hit a promising PBO formulation for the oxidation of NO to NO2. This new method involves three consecutive steps: oxidation of NO to NO2 over a PBO catalyst, adsorption of NOx onto the PBO and K2O/Al2O3, and colorimetric assay of the NOx adsorbed thereon. The combichem experimental data have been used for determining the oxidation activity of NO over PBO catalysts as well as three critical parameters, such as the adsorption efficiency of K2O/Al2O3 for NO2 (α) and NO (β), and the time-average fraction of NO included in the NOx feed stream (ξ).