Ultrasonically assisted surface modified CeO nanospindle catalysts for conversion of CO and methanol to DMC.

This study developed a facile and effective approach to engineer the surface properties of cerium oxide (CeO) nanospindle catalysts for the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO and methanol. CeO nanospindles were first prepared by a simple precipitation method followed by wet chemical redox etching with sodium borohydride (NaBH) under high intensity ultrasonication (ultrasonic horn, 20 kHz, 150 W/cm). The ultrasonically assisted surface modification of the CeO nanospindles in NaBH led to particle collisions and surface reduction that resulted in an increase in the number of surface-active sites of exposed Ce and oxygen vacancies.

Soft template-assisted copper-doped sodium dititanate nanosheet/graphene oxide heterostructure for photoreduction of carbon dioxide to liquid fuels.

Photoreduction of CO to a high-value product is an interesting approach that not only captures CO but also converts it into other products that can be sold or used in industry. The mechanism for the CO conversion relies strongly on photo-generated electrons that further couple with CO and form active radicals for the reaction. In this research, we synthesized a heterostructure of copper-doped sodium dititanate nanosheets and graphene oxide (CTGN) following a one-step hydrothermal process with assistance from a sodium hydroxide soft template.

One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Precious Metal-Doped Titanium Dioxide-Graphene Oxide Composites for Photocatalytic Conversion of CO to Ethanol.

We utilized a one-step hydrothermal process for the synthesis of precious metal-doped titanium dioxide (TiO)/graphene oxide (GO) composites. The metal-doped TiO/GO composites, including silver-TiO/GO (Ag-TiO/GO), palladium-TiO/GO (Pd-TiO/GO), and copper-TiO/GO (Cu-TiO/GO), were synthesized by mixing a metal precursor, titanium butoxide, and graphene oxide in a water-ethanol mixture in an autoclave hydrothermal reactor. The photocatalytic performance of the composites was tested in the photoreduction of carbon dioxide (CO) to ethanol.

Property improvement of biodegradable citric acid-crosslinked rice starch films by calcium oxide.

Due to several important limitations for packaging applications of starch film such as strength and hydrophilicity, rice starch (Oryza sativa) film was crosslinked with citric acid and modified by different contents of calcium oxide. FTIR spectra showed the evidence of crosslinking by citric acid and the presence of calcium oxide in the modified rice starch films. After the crosslinking, the decrease of degree of crystallinity and swelling including the increase of film smoothness and strain at maximum load were observed.

CeO/CuO/TiOheterojunction photocatalysts for conversion of COto ethanol.

An attempt to reduce COemissions has led to the development of CeO/CuO/TiOheterojunction photocatalysts for photoconversion of COto useful products, e.g. ethanol.

Ultrasonically-assisted surface modified TiO/rGO/CeO heterojunction photocatalysts for conversion of CO to methanol and ethanol.

Converting CO to usable fuel may contribute to lowering of global warming, thus this study developed effective heterojunction photocatalysts for the photoreduction of CO with water into methanol and ethanol fuels. The photocatalysts were prepared from combining surface modified titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and cerium oxide (CeO). The TiO surfaces were firstly modified via the sono-assisted exfoliation, with high intensity ultrasonic waves (ultrasonic horn, 20 kHz, 150 W/cm) in 10 M NaOH for 1 h.

Surface modification of TiO particles with the sono-assisted exfoliation method.

This study reported a novel approach to optimize the photocatalytic property of anatase TiO particles by delaminating their outer surface into highly reactive nanosheets via the sono-assisted exfoliation method. To modify the surface, TiO particles were dispersed in aqueous solution of 10M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH), followed by irradiation with high intensity ultrasonic wave (20kHz, 150W/cm) for 60min. The intercalation and exfoliation processes were accelerated with the driving force of the extreme acoustic cavitation leading to the delamination of TiO nanosheets with highly reactive exposed {001} facets from the mother TiO crystals.