Structural and spectroscopic characterisation of C4 oxygenates relevant to structure/activity relationships of the hydrogenation of α,ß-unsaturated carbonyls.

In the present work, we have investigated the conformational isomerism and calculated the vibrational spectra of the C4 oxygenates: 3-butyne-2-one, 3-butene-2-one, 2-butanone and 2-butanol using density functional theory. The calculations are validated by comparison to structural data where available and new, experimental inelastic neutron scattering and infrared spectra of the compounds. We find that for 3-butene-2-one and 2-butanol the spectra show clear evidence for the presence of conformational isomerism and this is supported by the calculations. Complete vibrational assignments for all four molecules are provided and this provides the essential information needed to generate structure/activity relationships for the sequential catalytic hydrogenation of 3-butyne-2-one to 2-butanol.

Understanding CeO2 as a Deacon catalyst by probe molecule adsorption and in situ infrared characterisations.

CeO(2) has been identified as an efficient catalyst for HCl oxidation in the temperature range of 623-723 K provided that the oxygen content in the feed mixture was sufficiently high to avoid bulk chlorination and thus deactivation. Here we characterise ceria in its fresh and post-reaction states by adsorption of CO(2), NH(3) and CO. Micro-calorimetry, FTIR and TPD experiments are complemented by DFT calculations, which assess adsorption energies and vibrational frequencies. The calculations were performed on the lowest energy surface, CeO(2)(111), with perfect termination and with various degrees of hydroxylation and/or chlorination. Both experiments and calculations suggest that the basic character of the ceria surface has been eliminated upon reaction in HCl oxidation, indicating that most of the basic lattice O sites are exchanged by chlorine and that the OH groups formed are rather acidic. The density and the strength of surface acidic functions increased significantly upon reaction. An in situ FTIR reaction cell has been designed and constructed to study the evolution of OH group density of the ceria surface during HCl oxidation. The effect of experimental variables, such as pO(2), pHCl and temperature, has been investigated. We found that the OH group density positively correlated with the reactivity in the pO(2) and temperature series, whereas negative correlation was observed when pHCl was varied. Implications of the above observations to the reaction mechanism are discussed.

Application of inelastic neutron scattering to studies of CO2 reforming of methane over alumina-supported nickel and gold-doped nickel catalysts.

The methane reforming reaction with carbon dioxide as the oxidant over alumina-supported nickel and gold-doped nickel catalysts is studied using a variety of techniques such as reaction testing, vibrational spectroscopy (inelastic neutron scattering (INS), Raman scattering and infrared absorption), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The quantities of retained carbon and hydrogen are determined by TPO and INS, respectively. Minimal hydrogen retention indicates these catalysts to be very efficient at cycling hydrogen. The relative partitioning of hydrogen within the reaction media is used to formulate a qualitative description of the reaction kinetics. The presence of the gold modifier does not appear to provide any improvement in catalyst performance under the specified reaction conditions.

Characterization of C5 hydrocarbons relevant to catalysis.

A recent in situ infrared study on the selective hydrogenation of C5 dienes and monoenes over a Pd/Al(2)O(3) catalyst only reported incomplete vibrational assignments for some of the reagents, intermediates, and products encountered in that study. This work uses a combination of infrared absorption spectroscopy, Raman, and inelastic neutron scattering to characterize the vibrational spectra of pentane, 1-pentene, cis- and trans-2-pentene, cis- and trans-1,3-pentadiene, 1,4-pentadiene, cyclopentane, and cyclopentene. Ab initio calculations of the potential energy surface, geometry, and vibrational transition energies were performed and simulations of the vibrational spectra compared to the experimental data. Complete vibrational assignments for the majority of the molecules are presented. The potential for using gas-phase infrared measurements for studying heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase reactions is also briefly considered.

Experimental arrangements suitable for the acquisition of inelastic neutron scattering spectra of heterogeneous catalysts.

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) is increasingly being used for the characterization of heterogeneous catalysts. As the technique is uniquely sensitive to hydrogen atoms, vibrational spectra can be obtained that emphasize a hydrogenous component or hydrogen-containing moieties adsorbed on to an inorganic support. However, due to sensitivity constraints, the technique typically requires large sample masses (∼10 g catalyst). A reaction system is hereby described that enables suitable quantities of heterogeneous catalysts to be appropriately activated and operated under steady-state conditions for extended periods of time prior to acquisition of the INS spectrum. In addition to ex situ studies, a cell is described which negates the need for a sample transfer stage between reaction testing and INS measurement. This cell can operate up to temperatures of 823 K and pressures up to 20 bar. The apparatus is also amenable to adsorption experiments at the gas-solid interface.

Quantification of surface species present on a nickel/alumina methane reforming catalyst.

An alumina-supported nickel catalyst has been used to effect the 'dry' reforming of methane, using CO(2) as the oxidant. After 6 hours on-stream, reaction was stopped and the sample analysed by inelastic neutron scattering (INS). The INS spectrum reveals the presence of hydrocarbonaceous species as well as hydroxyl species present at the catalyst surface. Through the use of appropriate reference compounds, calibration procedures have been developed to determine the concentration of the retained hydrocarbon and hydroxyl moieties. Ancillary temperature programmed oxidation experiments establish the total carbon content. This approach not only enables the extent of overall carbon laydown to be determined but it also identifies the degree to which hydrogen is associated with carbon and oxygen atoms. The methodology described is generic and should be applicable to a wide number of heterogeneously catalysed systems.