Engineering three-layer core–shell S-1/TS-1@dendritic-SiO_(2) supported Au catalysts towards improved performance for propene epoxidation with H_(2) and O_(2)

The advocacy of green chemical industry has led to the development of highly efficient catalysts for direct gas-phase propene epoxidation with green,sustainable and simple essence.The S-1/TS-1@dendritic-SiO_(2) material with three-layer core–shell structure was developed and used as the support for Au catalysts,which showed simultaneously fantastic PO formation rate,PO selectivity and stability(over 100 h)for propene epoxidation with H_(2) and O_(2).It is found that silicalite-1(S-1)core and the middle thin layer of TS-1 offer great mass transfer ability,which could be responsible for the excellent stability.The designed dendritic SiO_(2) shell covers part of the acid sites on the external surface of TS-1,inhibiting the side reactions and improving the PO selectivity.Furthermore,three kinds of SiO_(2) shell morphologies(i.e.,dendritic,net,mesoporous shell)were designed,and relationship between shell morphology and catalytic performance was elucidated.The results in this paper harbour tremendous guiding significance for the design of highly efficient epoxidation catalysts.

Enhancing the dynamic electron transfer of Au species on wormhole-like TS-1 for boosting propene epoxidation performance with H_(2) and O_(2)

Engineering unique electronic structure of catalyst to boost catalytic performance is of prime scientific and industrial importance.Herein,the identification of intrinsic electronic sensitivity for direct propene epoxidation was first achieved over highly stable Au/wormhole-like TS-1 catalyst.Results show that the electron transfer of Au species can be regulated by manipulating the dynamic evolutions and contents of Au valence states,thus resulting in different catalytic performance in 100 h time-on-stream.By DFT calculations,kinetic analysis and multicharacterizations,it is found that the Au^(0) species with higher electronic population can easily transfer more electrons to activate surface O_(2) compared with Au^(1+) and Au^(3+) species.Moreover,there is a positive correlation between Au^(0) content and activity.Based on this correlation,a facile strategy is further proposed to boost Au^(0) percentage,resulting in the reported highest PO formation rate without adding promoters.This work harbors tremendous guiding significance to the design of highly efficient Au/Ti-containing catalyst for propene epoxidation with H_(2) and O_(2).

Synergetic photo-epoxidation of propylene with molecular oxygen over bimetallic Au–Ag/TS-1 photocatalysts

Au-Ag bimetallic nanoparticle‐supported microporous titanium silicalite‐1catalysts were prepared via a hydrothermal‐immersion method,and their structures were examined.These materials serve as efficient catalysts for the photosynthesis of propylene oxide via the epoxidation of propene.The Au/Ag mass ratio and reaction temperature were demonstrated to have significant effects on the catalytic activity and selectivity of propylene oxide.The optimal formation rate(68.3μmol/g·h)and selectivity(52.3%)toward propylene oxide were achieved with an Au:Ag mass ratio of4:1.Notably,the strong synergistic effect between Au and Ag resulted in superior photocatalysis of the bimetallic systems compared with those of the individual systems.A probable reaction mechanism was proposed based on the theoretical and experimental results.

Theoretical Investigations of the Catalytic Role of Water in Propene Epoxidation on Gold Nanoclusters： A Hydroperoxyl- Mediated Pathway

We report a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the catalytic reaction mechanisms of propene epoxidation on gold nanoclusters using density functional theory （DFT）. We have shown that water acts as a catalytic promoter for propene epoxidation on gold catalysts. Even without reducible supports, hydroperoxyl （OOH） and hydroxyl （OH） radicals are readily formed on small-size gold clusters from co-adsorbed H20 and 02, with energy barriers as low as 4-6 kcal/mol （1 cal = 4.186 J）. Propene epoxidation occurs easily through reactions between C3H6 and the weakened O-O bond of the OOH radicals on the surfaces of gold clusters.