Color tunable upconversion emission in CeO_2:Yb,Er three-dimensional ordered macroporous materials

The three-dimensional ordered macroporous CeO2：Yb,Er materials were prepared, and the influence of doping concentra- tion of Yb3＋ or Er3＋ ions on upconversion property was investigated. Green and red upconversion emissions were observed under the excitation of 980 nm at room temperature. It was found that the ratio of red to green upconversion emission intensity increased with increasing of concentration of the Yb3＋ or Er3＋ ions in the three-dimensional ordered macroporous CeO2：Yb,Er materials. When the concentration of Yb3＋ was 10 mol%, pure red upconversion emission was obtained. The varied mechanism of ratio of red to green upconversion emission intensity was discussed with the concentration of Yb3＋ or Er3＋ ions.

Highly Ordered Macroporous Au and Pd by Colloidal Crystal Templating

The highly ordered macroporous Au and Pd with regular arrays of spherical pores have been synthesized by poly (styrene-co-acrylic) (PSA) colloidal crystal template. The pore size is tuneable in the range of 100-400 nm according to the size of PSA latex. The mechanism is based on the in-situ impregnating and reducing of metal ions in the interspaces of the PSA spheres then removing the template.

Three-dimensional ordered macroporous perovskite-type La_(1-x)K_xNiO_3 catalysts with enhanced catalytic activity for soot combustion: the Effect of K-substitution

Three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) La1?xKxNiO3 perovskite-type catalysts were successfully prepared by a colloidal crystal template method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray scattering elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction of H2. Further, their catalytic activity in soot combustion was determined by temperature-programmed oxidation reaction. K substitution into the LaNiO3 lattice led to remarkably improved catalytic activity of this catalyst in soot combustion. Amongst various catalysts, La0.95K0.05NiO3 exhibited the highest activity in soot combustion (with its T50 and CO2 S values being 338 °C and 98.2%, respectively), which is comparable to the catalytic activities of Pt-based catalysts under the condition of poor contact between the soot and the catalyst. K-substitution improves the valence state of Ni and increases the number of oxygen vacancies, thereby leading to increased density of surface-active oxygen species. The active oxygen species play a vital role in catalyzing the elimination of soot. The perovskite-type La1?xKxNiO3 nanocatalysts with 3DOM structure without noble metals have potential for practical applications in the catalytic combustion of diesel soot particles.

Ordered macroporous boron phosphate crystals as metal-free catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Ordered macroporous materials with rapid mass transport and enhanced active site accessibility are essential for achieving improved catalytic activity.In this study,boron phosphate crystals with a three-dimensionally interconnected ordered macroporous structure and a robust framework were fabricated and used as stable and selective catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation(ODH)of propane.Due to the improved mass diffusion and higher number of exposed active sites in the ordered macroporous structure,the catalyst exhibited a remarkable olefin productivity of^16 golefin gcat^-1 h^-1,which is up to 2–100 times higher than that of ODH catalysts reported to date.The selectivity for olefins was 91.5%(propene:82.5%,ethene:9.0%)at 515℃,with a propane conversion of 14.3%.At the same time,the selectivity for the unwanted deep-oxidized CO2 product remained less than 1.0%.The tri-coordinated surface boron species were identified as the active catalytic sites for the ODH of propane.This study provides a route for preparing a new type of metal-free catalyst with stable structure against oxidation and remarkable catalytic activity,which may represent a potential candidate to promote the industrialization of the ODH process.

Fabrication of ultrafine Pd nanoparticles on 3D ordered macroporous TiO_2 for enhanced catalytic activity during diesel soot combustion

Nanocatalysts consisting of three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous(3DOM)TiO2‐supported ultrafine Pd nanoparticles(Pd/3DOM‐TiO2‐GBMR)were readily fabricated by gas bubbling‐assisted membrane reduction(GBMR)method.These catalysts had a well‐defined and highly ordered macroporous nanostructure with an average pore size of 280 nm.In addition,ultrafine hemispherical Pd nanoparticles(NPs)with a mean particle size of 1.1 nm were found to be well dispersed over the surface of the 3DOM‐TiO2 support and deposited on the inner walls of the material.The nanostructure of the 3DOM‐TiO2 support ensured efficient contact between soot particles and the catalyst.The large interface area between the ultrafine Pd NPs and the TiO2 also increased the density of sites for O2 activation as a result of the strong metal(Pd)‐support(TiO2)interaction(SMSI).A Pd/3DOM‐TiO2‐GBMR catalyst with ultrafine Pd NPs(1.1 nm)exhibited higher catalytic activity during diesel soot combustion compared with that obtained from a specimen having relatively large Pd NPs(5.0 nm).The T10,T50 and T90 values obtained from the former were 295,370 and 415°C.Both the activity and nanostructure of the Pd/3DOM‐TiO2‐GBMR catalyst were stable over five replicate soot oxidation trials.These results suggest that nanocatalysts having a 3DOM structure together with ultrafine Pd NPs can decrease the amount of Pd required,and that this approach has potential practical applications in the catalytic combustion of diesel soot particles.

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous CeO_2/Al_2O_3-supported Au nanoparticle catalysts: Effects of CeO_2 nanolayers on catalytic activity in soot oxidation

A series of catalysts consisting of three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous(3DOM)x‐CeO2/Al2O3‐supported Au nanoparticles(x=2,10,20,and40wt%)were successfully synthesized using a reduction‐deposition method.These catalysts were characterized using scanning electron microscopy,the Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller method,X‐ray diffraction,transmission electron microscopy,ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy,and temperature‐programmed reduction by H2.Au nanoparticles of mean particle size5nm were well dispersed and supported on the inner walls of uniform macropores.The3DOM structure improved the contact efficiency between soot and the catalyst.An Al‐Ce‐O solid solution was formed in the multilayer support,i.e.,x‐CeO2/Al2O3,by the incorporation of Al3+ions into the CeO2lattice,which resulted in the creation of extrinsic oxygen vacancies.Strong interactions between the metal(Au)and the support(Ce)increased the amount of active oxygen species,and this promoted soot oxidation.The catalytic performance in soot combustion was evaluated using a temperature‐programmed oxidation technique.The presence of CeO2nanolayers in the3DOM Au/x‐CeO2/Al2O3catalysts clearly improved the catalytic activities in soot oxidation.Among the prepared catalysts,3DOM Au/20%CeO2/Al2O3showed high catalytic activity and stability in diesel soot oxidation.

MESO-STRUCTURED POLYMERIC HYDROGELS

Meso-structured (opal and inverse opal) polymeric hydrogels of varied morphology and composition wereprepared by using two methods: post-modification of the template-synthesized structured polymers and template-polymerization of functional monomers. A polyacrylic acid based inverse opal hydrogel was chosen to demonstrate its fastpH response by changing color, which is important in designing tunable photonic crystals. Template effects of the hydrogelson controlling structure of the template-synthesized inorganic materials were discussed. The catalytic effect of acid groups inthe templates was emphasized for a preferential formation of TiO_2 in the region containing acid groups, which allowedduplicating inorganic colloidal crytals from colloidal crystal hydrogels (or macroporous products from macroporoushydrogels) via one step duplication.

Effects of Au-Ce strong interactions on catalytic activity of Au/CeO_2/3DOM Al_2O_3 catalyst for soot combustion under loose contact conditions

Au/3DOM（three-dimensionally ordered macroporous） Al2O3 and Au/CeO2/3DOM Al2O3 were prepared using a reduction-deposition method and characterized using scanning electron microscopy,N2 adsorption-desorption,X-ray diffraction,transmission electron microscopy,ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy,temperature-programmed hydrogen reduction,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.Au nanoparticles of similar sizes were well dispersed and supported on the inner walls of uniform macropores.The norminal Au loading is 2%.Al-Ce-O solid solution in CeO2/3DOM Al2O3 catalysts can be formed due to the incorporation of Al^3＋ ions into the ceria lattice,which causes the creation of extrinsic oxygen vacancies.The extrinsic oxygen vacancies improved the oxygen-transport properties.The strong metal-support interactions between Au and CeO2 increased the amount of active oxygen on the Au nanoparticle surfaces,and this promoted soot oxidation.The activities of the Au-based catalysts were higher than those of the supports（Al2O3 or CeO2/3DOM Al2O3） at low temperature.Au/CeO2/3DOM Al2O3 had the highest catalytic activity for soot combustion,with T（10）,T（50）,and T（90） values of 273,364,and 412℃,respectively.

Facile Fabrication of Hierarchically Porous Carbonaceous Monoliths with Ordered Mesostructure via an Organic Organic Self-Assembly

A simple strategy for the synthesis of macro-mesoporous carbonaceous monolith materials has been demonstrated through an organic organic self-assembly at the interface of an organic scaffold such as polyurethane(PU)foam.Hierarchically porous carbonaceous monoliths with cubic(Im m)or hexagonal(p6mm)mesostructure were prepared through evaporation induced self-assembly of the mesostructure on the three-dimensional(3-D)interconnecting struts of the PU foam scaffold.The preparation was carried out by using phenol/formaldehyde resol as a carbon precursor,triblock copolymer F127 as a template for the mesostructure and PU foam as a sacrificial monolithic scaffold.Their hierarchical pore system was macroscopically fabricated with cable-like mesostructured carbonaceous struts.The carbonaceous monoliths exhibit macropores of diameter 100450μm,adjustable uniform mesopores(3.87.5 nm),high surface areas(200870 m2/g),and large pore volumes(0.170.58)cm3/g.Compared with the corresponding evaporation induced self-assembly(EISA)process on a planar substrate,this facile process is a time-saving,labor-saving,space-saving,and highly effi cient pathway for mass production of ordered mesoporous materials.