The growth of epitaxial Si nanowires by a metal-catalyst-free process has been investigated as an alternative to the more common metal-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid process. The well-aligned Si nanowires are successfully grown on a (111)-oriented Si substrate without any metal catalysts by a thermal treatment using silicon sulfide as a Si source at approximately 1200 °C. The needle-shaped Si nan...

A new solid phase catalyst, poly(N-4-vinylbenzyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) copper(I) complex, grafted onto polystyrene particles, has been employed for the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol using an aqueous biphasic (water/toluene) solvent system. The solid catalyst was synthesized by first grafting N-(4-vinylbenzyl)-1,4,7-triaza-cyclononane onto polystyrene particles using a radica...

Reduced porous graphene oxide as a metal free catalyst was selected for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene. It showed the best catalytic performance compared with other carbon materials (routinely reduced graphene oxide, graphite powder and oxidized carbon nanotubes) and commercial iron oxide.

Conventional supported metal catalysts are metal nanoparticles deposited on high surface area oxide supports with a poorly defined metal-support interface. Typically, the traditionally prepared Pt/ceria catalyzes both methanation (H2/CO to CH4) and water-gas shift (CO/H2O to CO2/H2) reactions. By using simple nanochemistry techniques, we show for the first time that Pt or PtAu metal can be crea...

Molecular catalysts are known for their high activity and tunability, but their solubility and limited stability often restrict their use in practical applications. Here we describe how a molecular iridium catalyst for water oxidation directly and robustly binds to oxide surfaces without the need for any external stimulus or additional linking groups. On conductive electrode surfaces, this hete...

We show that the activity and selectivity of Cu catalyst can be promoted by a Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF), Zr6O4(OH)4(BDC)6 (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), UiO-66, to have a strong interaction with Zr oxide [Zr6O4(OH)4(-CO2)12] secondary building units (SBUs) of the MOF for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. These interesting features are achieved by a catalyst composed of 18 nm single...

Light, inexpensive, effective: Nanostructured Co(3)O(4) clusters (see picture) in mesoporous silica are the first example of a nanometer-sized multielectron catalyst made of a first-row transition-metal oxide that evolves oxygen from water efficiently. The nanorod bundle structure of the catalyst results in a very large surface area, an important factor contributing to the high turnover frequency.

Rechargeable metal-air batteries are considered a promising energy storage solution owing to their high theoretical energy density. The major obstacles to realising this technology include the slow kinetics of oxygen reduction and evolution on the cathode (air electrode) upon battery discharging and charging, respectively. Here, we report non-precious metal oxide catalysts based on spinel-type ...

The catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide over several binary (MxOy/TiO2) and ternary (V2O5/MXOY/TiO2) supported metal oxide catalysts was systematically investigated. The supported metal oxide components were essentially 100% dispersed as surface metal oxide species, as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy characterization. The sulfur dioxide oxidation turnover frequencies of the...