Scientists at tokyo Institute of Technology Haven That Copper Oxide Particles on the Sub-Nascale Are More Powerful Catalysts Than Those on the Nanoscale. These subnanoparticles can also catalyze the oxidation reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons far more effectively than catalysts currently used in industry.
This Study (ACS Nano, "Enhanced Catalytic Performance of Subnano Copper Oxide Particles") paves the way to better and more efficient utilization of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, which are important Materials for Both Research and Industry.
The Selective Oxidation of Hydrocarbons is important in Many Chemical Reactions and Industrial Processes, and AS Such, Scientists have been on the look for more efficient way to carry out this oxidization. COPPER OXIDE (CUNOX) NANOPARTICALs have been found useful as a catalyst for processing aromatic hydrocarbons, but the quest of even more effective compound has continued.
In the recent past, scientists Applied Noble Metal-Based Catalysts including Particles at the Sub-Nano Level. At this level, Particles Measure Less Than a Nanometer and when placed on appropriate substrate, they can offer Even Higher surface areas Than Nanoparticle catalysts to promote reactivityin this trend, a team of scientists included prof. kimihisa yamamoto and dr. makoto tanabe from technology (Tokyo Tech) Investigated Chemical Reactions Catalyzed by Cunox Subnanoparticles (SNPS) to Evaluate Their Performance in the Oxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons.
Cunox Snps of Three Specific Sizes (With 12, 28, and 60 COPPER ATOMS) WERE Produced Within Tree-Like Frameworks Called Dendrimers. Supported on a zirconia substrate, they were applied to the aerobic oxidation of an organic compound with an aromatic benzene ring.
COPPER OXIDE SOUNNANOPARTICULES OF THREE SPECIFIC SIZES WERE SYNTHESIZED WITH IN TREE-LIKE CALLED DENDRIMERS.
X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) WERE USED TO Analyze The Synthesized SNPS 'Structures, and the Results Were supported by Density Functionality Theory (DFT) Calculations.
The XPS Analysis and DFT Revealed Increasement Ionicity of the Copper - Oxygen (CU - o) Bonds as SNP size Decreased. This bond polarization was greater that that seen in bulk cu - o bonds, and the greater polarization was the cause of the enhanced catalytic activity of the cunox snps.
Tanabe and the Team Members Observed that the cunox snps sit up the oxidation of the ch3 groups attached to the aromatic ring, thereby leading to the formation of products. When the Cunox SNP Catalyst was not used, no product were formed. The Catalyst with the Smallest Cunox SNPS, Cu12ox, Had the Best Catalytic Performance and Proven To Be the Longest Lasting.
As Tanabe Explains, "The Enhancement of the Ionicity of the Cu - O Bonds With Decrease in Size of the Cunox Snps Enables Their Better Catalytic Activity for Aromatic Hydrocarbon Oxidations. »
Their Research Supports The Contention that there is Great Potential for Using Copper Oxide SNPS AS Catalysts In Industrial Applications.
"The Catalytic Performance and Mechanism of These Size-Controlled Synthesized Cunox Snps Would Beter Than Those of Noble Metal Catalysts, Which Are Most Commonly Used in Industry at present," Yamamoto Say, hinting at What Cunox Snps Can Achieve in the Future.
Source: Tokyo Tech