Electrocatalytic properties of Cu-Zr amorphous alloy towards the electrochemical hydrogenation of nitrobenzene

The Cu-Zr amorphous alloy was studied as an electrocatalyst towards the electrochemical hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. The electrocatalyst was activated by chemical etching in HF solution. Resulted changes in the morphology, chemical composition and crystalline structure of the electrocatalyst surface were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic properties of the Cu-Zr amorphous alloy were assessed by voltammetric measurements. Due to the formation and aggregation of Zr residue modified Cu nanocrystals on the surface caused by the selective dissolution of Zr components in the chemical etching, the activated amorphous alloy is an effective electrocatalyst for the electrochemical reduction reaction of nitrobenzene with aniline as the main product. The positive shift of the peak potential and accompanying increase in the value of peak current in voltammograms with increasing Cu content and decreasing Zr content of the alloy surface in the chemical etching are indicative of improved electrocatalytic activity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct conversion of methane under nonoxidative conditions

Direct conversion of methane into hydrogen and valuable chemicals under nonoxidative conditions is a process severely limited thermodynamically. However, the movement from the present era of fossil fuels into the coming hydrogen energy age makes it an interesting and important approach compared with the direct conversion of methane under the aid of oxidants. This paper gives a brief overview of the direct conversion of CH4 under nonoxidative conditions. At the same time, our understanding of methane dehydroaromatization over Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts for the simultaneous formation of hydrogen and light aromatics is discussed in general, while the bifunctionality of Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts and the role of carbonaceous deposits formed during the reaction are reviewed in more detail. A perspective of the topic from both academic points of view and potential industrial applications is also presented. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Theoretical study on the mechanism of the reaction of CH4+MgO

The reactions of (1) CH4 + MgO --> MgOH. + CH3. and (2) CH4 + MgO --> Mg + CH3OH have been studied on the singlet spin state potential energy surface at the MP2/6-311+G(2d,2p) level. These two reaction channels, both involving intermediates and transition states, have been rationalized by the structures of the species involved, natural bond orbital (NBO), and vibrational frequency analysis. We have considered two initial interacting models between CH4 and MgO: a collinear C-H approach to the O end of the MgO forming the MgOCH4 complex with C-3nu symmetry and three hydrogen atoms of the methane point to the Mg end of the MgO forming the OMgCH4 complex with C-1 symmetry. The calculations predict that reactions 1 and 2 are exothermic by 39.8 and 86.5 kJ mol(-1), respectively. Also, the former reaction proceeds more easily than the latter, and the complex HOMgCH3 is energetically preferred in the reaction of MgO + CH4.

An alternative approach to ascertain the rate-determining steps of TiO2 photoelectrocatalytic reaction by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

In an attempt to ascertain the rate-determining steps (RDS) of TiO2 photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reaction, the PEC oxidation of sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) solution in a TiO2-coated electrode reactor system was monitored by applying the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. In the meantime, an EIS mathematical model was first established to theoretically simulate the PEC reaction. Based on the EIS model, the theoretical simulation indicates three typical reactions in a PEC oxidation process, which include the charge-transfer-dominated reaction, both the charge-transfer- and adsorption-dominated reaction, and the adsorption-dominated reaction. The experimental results of EIS measurement showed that there was only one arc/semicircle on the EIS plane display when the external bias applied was below 200 mV (vs SCE) in the SSA PEC degradation whereas there were two arcs/semicircles when the externally applied bias exceeded 200 mV (vs SCE). The experimental results have a good agreement with the model simulation. The EIS method in this study provides an easier way to determine the RDS in a PEC oxidation process, which would be helpful to better control the reaction in practice.

Accurate quantum mechanical calculation for the N+OH reaction

Accurate three-dimensional time-dependent quantum wave packet calculations for the N+OH reaction on the (3)A' potential energy surface [Guadagnini, Schatz, and Walch, J. Chem. Phys. 102, 774 (1995)] have been carried out. The calculations show for the first time that the initial state-selected reaction probabilities are dominated by resonance structures, and the lifetime of the resonance is generally in the subpicosecond time scale. The calculated reaction cross sections indicate that they are a decreasing function of the translational energy, which is in agreement qualitatively with the quasiclassical trajectory calculations. The rate constants obtained from the quantum mechanical calculations are consistent with the quasiclassical trajectory results and the experimental measurements. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Quantum dynamics study of isotope effect for H+CH4 reaction using the SVRT model

The semirigid vibrating rotor target model is applied to study the isotope effect in reaction H + CH4-->H-2 + CH3 using time-dependent wave-packet method. The reaction probabilities for producing H-2 and HD product channels are calculated. The energy dependence of the reaction probabilities shows oscillating structures for both reaction channels. At low temperature or collision energies, the H atom abstraction is favored due to tunnelling effect. In partially deuterated CHxDy (x + y = 4), the breaking of the C-H bond is favored over that of the C-D bond in the entire energy range studied. In H + CHD3 reaction at high energies, the HD product dominates simply due to statistical factor. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.