N as an Efficient IR Probe Molecule for the Investigation of Ceria-Containing Materials.

Ceria and ceria-based catalysts are very important in redox and acid-base catalysis. Nanoceria have also been found to be important in biomedical applications. To design efficient materials, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the surface chemistry of ceria, and one of the techniques that provides such information about the surface is the vibrational spectroscopy of probe molecules.

Effect of calcium on enhanced carbon capture potential of coal fly ash zeolites. Part II: a study on the adsorption mechanisms.

Coal fly ash zeolites (CFAZs) of type X with low (Na-X) and medium (Na-Ca-X) content of calcium were synthesized by alkaline conversion of lignite coal fly ash generated by combustion of lignite with lower and higher limestone amounts, extracted from different coal deposits and burned in separate thermal power plants. The concentration and state of Ca in the zeolites were investigated by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). CFAZs Na-Ca-X with a medium Ca-content were found to outperform their lower calcium counterparts Na-X in terms of carbon capture capacity.

Purification of Hydrogen from CO with Cu/ZSM-5 Adsorbents.

The transition to a hydrogen economy requires the development of cost-effective methods for purifying hydrogen from CO. In this study, we explore the possibilities of Cu/ZSM-5 as an adsorbent for this purpose. Samples obtained by cation exchange from aqueous solution (AE) and solid-state exchange with CuCl (SE) were characterized by in situ EPR and FTIR, H-TPR, CO-TPD, etc.

Nickel-Decorated Mesoporous Iron-Cerium Mixed Oxides: Microstructure and Catalytic Activity in Methanol Decomposition.

Nickel-decorated mesoporous cerium-iron oxide composites were synthesized by a combination of incipient wetness impregnation and template-assisted hydrothermal techniques. The effects of the Fe/Ce ratio and the calcination temperature of cerium-iron oxides on the phase composition, texture, structure, and redox properties of the composites were studied by a combination of N physisorption, XRD, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, SEM, Mössbauer, Raman, XPS, ultraviolet-visible and FTIR spectroscopies, H-temperature-programmed reduction, and total oxidation of ethyl acetate as a catalytic test. The combined physicochemical characterization and FTIR investigation of methanol decomposition was used for a proper understanding of the microstructure of the Ni/FeCe oxide composites and the mechanism of the reaction occurring on them.

Power of Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies to Characterize Metal-Organic Frameworks and Investigate Their Interaction with Guest Molecules.

The variety of functionalities and porous structures inherent to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) together with the facile tunability of their properties makes these materials suitable for a wide range of existing and emerging applications. Many of these applications are based on processes involving interaction of MOFs with guest molecules. To optimize a certain process or successfully design a new one, a thorough knowledge is required about the physicochemical characteristics of materials and the mechanisms of their interaction with guest molecules.