Painting anatase (TiO2) nanocrystals on long nanofibers to prepare photocatalysts with large active surface for dye degradation and organic synthesis

Anatase TiO2 nanocrystals were painted on H-titanate nanofibers by using an aqueous solution of titanyl sulfate. The anatase nanocrystals were bonded solidly onto the titanate fibers through formation of coherent interfaces at which the oxygen atoms were shared by the nanocrystals and the fiber. This approach allowed us to create large anatase surfaces on the nanofibers, which are active in photocatalytic reactions. This method was also applied successfully to coat anatase nanocrystals on surfaces of fly ash and layered clay. The painted nanofibers exhibited a much higher catalytic activity for the photocatalytic degradation of sulforhodamine B and the selective oxidation of benzylamine to the corresponding imine (with a product selectivity >99%) under UV irradiation than both the parent H-titanate nanofibers and a commercial TiO2 powder, P25. We found that gold nanoparticles supported on H-titanate nanofibers showed no catalytic activity for the reduction of nitrobenzene to azoxybenzene, whereas the gold nanoparticles supported on the painted nanofibers and P25 could efficiently reduce nitrobenzene to azoxybenzene as the sole product under visible light irradiation. These results were different from those from the reduction on the gold nanoparticles photocatalyst on ZrO2, in which the azoxybenzene was the intermediate and converted to azobenzene quickly. Evidently, the support materials significantly affect the product selectivity of the nitrobenzene reduction. Finally, the new photocatalysts could be easily dispersed into and separated from a liquid because of their fibril morphology, which is an important advantage for practical applications.

One-pot synthesis of imines from benzyl alcohol and amines on Au/ZrO2 catalyst

Imines were synthesized from benzyl alcohol and amines by using catalysts of gold nanoparticles supported on ZrO2 (Au/ZrO2). The effects of reaction time, temperature, gold loadings and base were investigated. High yields were achieved under moderate conditions (60 °C) in the presence of KOCH3. For instance, the yield of N-benzylidenebenzylamine produced from benzyl alcohol and benzylamine on 3 wt% Au/ZrO2 is 87 %. The synthesis of imine involves two reaction steps: selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and the coupling reaction of amines with benzaldehyde. In the first step, the base promotes the selective oxidation. The reactions of benzyl alcohol with three different amines, aniline, n-butylamine and benzylamine, were conducted to produce corresponding imines. The results show that the amine with stronger nucleophilicity has better ability to react with benzaldehyde in the second step, resulting in higher yield of the corresponding imine. We proposed a tentative mechanism for the synthesis process.

Visible light enhanced oxidant free dehydrogenation of aromatic alcohols using Au-Pd alloy nanoparticle catalysts

We find that visible light irradiation of gold–palladium alloy nanoparticles supported on photocatalytically inert ZrO2 significantly enhances their catalytic activity for oxidant-free dehydrogenation of aromatic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes at ambient temperatures. Dehydrogenation is also the dominant process in the selective oxidation of the alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes with molecular oxygen. The alloy nanoparticles strongly absorb light and exhibit superior catalytic and photocatalytic activity when compared to either pure palladium or gold nanoparticles. Analysis with a free electron gas model for the bulk alloy structure reveals that the alloying increases the surface charge heterogeneity on the alloy particle surface, which enhances the interaction between the alcohol molecules and the metal NPs. The increased surface charge heterogeneity of the alloy particles is confirmed with density function theory applied to small alloy clusters. Optimal catalytic activity was observed with a Au : Pd molar ratio of 1 : 186, which is in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The rate-determining step of the dehydrogenation is hydrogen abstraction. The conduction electrons of the nanoparticles are photo-excited by the incident light giving them the necessary energy to be injected into the adsorbed alcohol molecules, promoting the hydrogen abstraction. The strong chemical adsorption of alcohol molecules facilitates this electron transfer. The results show that the alloy nanoparticles efficiently couple thermal and photonic energy sources to drive the dehydrogenation. These findings provide useful insight into the design of catalysts that utilize light for various organic syntheses at ambient temperatures.

Catalytic transformation of aliphatic alcohols to corresponding esters in O2 under neutral conditions using visible-light irradiation

Selective oxidation of aliphatic alcohols under mild and base-free conditions is a challenging process for organic synthesis. Herein, we report a one-pot process for the direct oxidative esterification of aliphatic alcohols that is significantly enhanced by visible-light irradiation at ambient temperatures. The new methodology uses heterogenerous photocatalysts of gold–palladium alloy nanoparticles on a phosphate-modified hydrotalcite support and molecular oxygen as a benign oxidant. The alloy photocatalysts can absorb incident light, and the light-excited metal electrons on the surface of metal nanoparticles can activate the adsorbed reactant molecules. Tuning the light intensity and wavelength of the irradiation can remarkably change the reaction activity. Shorter wavelength light (<550 nm) drives the reaction more efficiently than light of longer wavelength (e.g., 620 nm), especially at low temperatures. The phosphate-exchanged hydrotalcite support provides sufficient basicity (and buffer) for the catalytic reactions; thus, the addition of base is not required. The photocatalysts are efficient and readily recyclable. The findings reveal the first example of using “green” oxidants and light energy to drive direct oxidative esterification of aliphatic alcohols under base-free, mild conditions.

Photonic switch and NOT logic gate based on the hybrid integration of a GaAsVCSEL and a GaAs MISS

The hybrid integrated photonic switch and not logic gate based on the integration of a GaAs VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers) and a MISS (Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Switches) device are reported. The GaAs VCSEL is fabricated by selective etching and selective oxidation. The Ultra-Thin semi-Insulating layer (UTI) of the GaAs MISS is formed by using oxidation of A1As that is grown by MBE. The accurate control of UTI and the processing compatibility between VCSEL and MISS are solved by this procedure. Ifa VCSEL is connected in series with a MISS, the integrated device can be used as a photonic switch, or a light amplifier. A low switching power (10 mu W) and a good on-off ratio (17 dB contrast) have been achieved. If they are connected in parallel, they perform a photonic NOT gate operation.

磷酸盐催化剂上气相选择氧化的研究

有机化合物的选择氧化反应，特别是烃类的选择氧化，在石油化工中占有极其重要的地位。由于目标产物通常具有较高的活泼性，所以很难在高转化率条件下获得高选择性的氧化产物。因此对于催化研究者来说，如何控制深度氧化，提高目的产物的选择性始终是选择氧化，特别是烃类选择氧化研究中最具挑战性的技术难题。磷酸盐具有高度热稳定性，制备条件简单方便，原料价格低廉，而且其催化活性位区域易于与大分子反应等优点。其中磷酸钒、磷酸铁及其它过渡金属磷酸盐既具有氧化一还原性又有良好的表面酸性，在烃类等选择氧化反应中已表现出良好的催化性能，因而，研究磷酸钒、磷酸铁等磷酸盐催化剂在选择氧化中的催化作用具有重要的学术意义和应用前景。本论文主要在几个方面的工作研究了磷酸盐催化剂在气相选择氧化中的催化作用。探讨了过渡金属对层状磷酸钒的修饰，并以它们为催化剂前驱体，以甲苯气相选择氧化为探针反应，研究了过渡金属修饰对磷酸钒催化性能的影响。利用简单的方法直接合成了一个新的乙酞丙酮铜插层的层状磷酸钒，并用XRD、FTIR、ICP-MS、TGA和HRTEM对其进行了表征，确定合成的化合物分子式为：［Cu（acac）」0.5?VOH0.5PO4?0.5H2O。利用十二烷基胺通过简单直接的方法合成了中孔层状磷酸钒，并用XRD、FTIR?ICP一MS和TGA对其进行了表征，确定所合成的化合物主体磷酸钒为VOHPO4，十二烷基胺在VOHPo4的结构中通过与主体HPo4中的一H形成RNH3＋和与VoHPO4层内的V＝O形成氢键（V=O…H2NR）构成双层排列结构。利用烷基胺形成中孔层状结构的方法引入过渡金属钻和镍进入磷酸钒。以合成铜、钻和镍修饰的磷酸钒为前驱体，经焙烧后得到催化剂，甲苯气相选择氧化反应的结果表明，铜、钻和镍的修饰促进了磷酸钒的催化性能，提高了苯甲醛的选择性。发现了控制气相选择氧化产物选择性的新途径。以磷酸钒为催化剂，在环己烷、环己烯气相氧化反应中，通过在原料中加入醋酸改变了反应产物的分布，抑制了中间产物的深度氧化，可获得高选择性的目标产物。在反应温度450℃，当醋酸与环己烷、环己烯摩尔比为12.9：1和12.1：1时，分别获得了100％选择性的不稳定中间产物环己烯和1，3-环己二烯。研究了不同磷酸钒相对环己烷氧化脱氢反应的催化性能，表明在醋酸体存在条件下，催化性能顺序为：QI一OPO4＞aII-VOPO4＞pVOPO4＞（VO）2P2O7。发现催化剂表面酸性强度不同和醋酸之间的相互作用力也不同，表面酸性越强；抗醋酸能力越强，活性中心与醋酸作用越弱，未与醋酸相互作用的活性中心数目越多，因此催化活性相对越高。同时，研究了不同载体对环己烯氧化脱氢的影响，比表面积越大，有利于提高催化剂的活性，但不利于获得高选择性的1，3-环己二烯；碱性载体有利于1，3-环己二烯的生成，但易于与醋酸反应而使催化剂失活。提出了醋酸在环己烷和环己烯氧化脱氢中作用机制：醋酸优于环己烷（烯）吸附在VPO催化剂表面活性位，这将导致在反应物吸附活性位周围几乎没有相邻的活性中心。即加入醋酸使催化剂表面形成了孤立的活性位，有利于中间物种不被继续氧化。利用上面的方法，以磷酸铁和磷酸钒为催化剂，实现了对甲酚气相选择氧化，获得100％选择性的对轻基苯甲醇、对经基苯甲醛和／或对轻基苯甲酸的混合物。与磷酸钒相比较，磷酸铁催化剂更温和，得到主要产物为对轻基苯甲醇和对经基苯甲醛；而磷酸钒催化剂更易产生深度氧化的产物对经基苯甲酸。这主要是由于他们表面酸性和氧化一还原性能的不同引起的。以磷酸铁、磷酸铜和磷酸秘为催化剂，探索了苯甲醇的气相选择氧化。研究了不同Fe（II）／Fe（III）比磷酸铁的催化活性。对于磷酸铁、磷酸铜和磷酸秘催化剂，最佳苯甲醛收率分别是在反应温度320℃、275℃和325℃，苯甲醛选择性分别为92.3％、97.1％、92.6％，相应苯甲醇的转化率为96.5％、60.9％和98.6％。

Visible vertical cavity surface emitting laser

We have designed and fabricated the visible vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's) by using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). We use the 8 lambda optical cavities with 3 quantum wells in AlGaInP/AlGaAs red VCSEL's to reduce the drift leakage current and enhance the model gain in AlGaInP active region. The structure has a p-type stack with 36 DBR pairs on the top and an n-type with 55-1/2 pairs on the bottom. Using micro-area reflectance spectrum, we try to get a better concordance between the center wavelength of DBR and the emitting wavelength of the active region. We used a component graded layer of 0.05 lambda thick (x = 0.5 similar to 0.9) at the p-type DBR AlGaAs/AlAs interface to reduce the resistance of p-type DBR. We use selective oxidation to define the current injection path. Because the oxidation rate of a thick layer is faster than a thinner one, we grown a thick AlAs layer close to the active region. In this way, we got a smaller active region for efficient confinement of injected carriers (the aperture area is 3 x 3 mu m) to reduce the threshold and, at the same time, a bigger conductive area in the DBR layers to reduce the resistance. We employ Zn doping on the p-side of the junction to improve hole injection and control the Zn dopant diffusion to get proper p-i-n junction. At room temperature, pulse operation of the laser has been achieved with the low threshold current of 0.8mA; the wavelength is about 670nm.

Facile synthesis of ginsenoside Ro

Two concise synthetic routes, being different in the glycosylation sequence, toward ginsenoside Ro (1) are developed. These syntheses feature the elaboration of the glucuronide residue at a later stage via the TEMPO-mediated selective oxidation and the installation of AZMB as a benzoylic neighboring participating group capable of being selectively removed afterward.

Novel cobalt-free oxygen permeable membrane

A series of cobalt-free and low cost perovskite oxygen permeable membranes based on BaCexFe1-xO3-delta (BCF) oxides was successfully synthesized and the membrane showed both high oxygen permeability and high stability under reductive atmosphere, which will be most suitable for constructing a membrane reactor for selective oxidation of light hydrocarbons to syngas or high value corresponding oxygenates.