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Graduation date: 1997

The partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde with air as oxidant has been studied with supported monometallic and bimetallic catalysts of copper and silver over a range of temperature and contact times. This was done to investigate the influence the bimetallics could possibly have on either the reaction pathways and/or the product(s) selectivity of the oxidation of methanol. Characterisation of these catalysts was performed by nitrogen adsorption and porosity measurements, XRD, and IR spectroscopy of adsorbed methanol and of adsorbed CO. These results indicated no crystalline phases of the loaded metals to be present. CO adsorption showed the presence of small cluster metal atoms on the surface of the catalysts. The reduction peaks from TPR also revealed the presence of partially oxidised and dispersed metal atoms. Infra-red studies of methanol adsorbed on these sample catalysts revealed the presence of intermediate methoxy and formate species which are believed to be formed in the course of the reactions. Results showed the monometallic copper and silver catalyst to be more active than the bimetallics. Although formaldehyde selectivities and yields were generally low, they were highest for the bimetallics supported on the silica catalyst than the monometalics and alumina supported samples. Copper-silver interaction in the bimetallic was proposed to enhance the reduction of the silver that enhanced the selectivity to formaldehyde. In particular under conditions, low conversions of methanol saw highest selectivities to formaldehyde. There was also a pronounced effect of the supports on product distribution and activities with the alumina based samples being more active than the silica supported ones, with the product distributions on the alumina supported significantly showing high yields of DME while the silica showed high yield for methyl formate with COx and CH4 detected in small quantities on all the catalysts within the parameters investigated.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-01-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:53:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 godoi_drm_me_araiqprot.pdf: 1888669 bytes, checksum: 97ef8f5fb705d56d91e867132a48afa3 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Nanopartículas de Pt-Ru, com composição atômica nominal 50:50, foram preparadas utilizando-se microelmulsões de AOT (dietilhexilsulfosuccinato de sódio)/n-heptano/água e suportadas sobre carbono de alta área superficial (20% Pt-Ru/C em massa). Os precursores metálicos, dissolvidos na fase aquosa, foram reduzidos pela adição de NaBH4 sólido e, posteriormente, o carbono foi adicionado à mistura para a ancoragem das partículas. O material foi filtrado, lavado e seco a 75 °C. Os catalisadores suportados obtidos foram caracterizados por difração de raios X, espectroscopia de raios X por energia dispersiva, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, termogravimetria e calorimetria exploratória diferencial. Os resultados das análises comprovaram os valores nominais de composição e mostraram que as nanopartículas estão uniformemente dispersas sobre o carbono e que o tamanho médio de cristalito variou de ~2,6 a 3,4 nm, dependendo da razão molar w = [água]/[surfactante]. Verificou-se ainda que o parâmetro de rede dos catalisadores preparados é menor, comparado ao da Pt suportada sobre carbono, indicando a formação de liga e que fração de Ru na liga aumentou com o tamanho de partícula. O tratamento térmico, em todos os casos, promoveu um aumento do tamanho de partícula e do grau de liga. Experimentos de oxidação de CO mostraram que os catalisadores preparados com diferentes valores de w apresentam diferenças significativas na estrutura e composição da superfície. A oxidação de metanol foi estudada por voltametria cíclica e cronoamperometria. O melhor desempenho eletrocatalítico foi observado para catalisadores preparados por microemulsão com w = 8. / Pt-Ru nanoparticles, with nominal atomic composition 50:50, were prepared in AOT/nheptane/water microemulsions and supported on high surface area carbon (20% Pt-Ru/C weight). The metallic precursors, dissolved in the aqueous phase, were reduced by NaBH4 added as a solid. The carbon was directly incorporated into the mixture for the anchorage of the particles. The material was then filtered, washed, and dried at 75 °C. The supported catalysts obtained have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (DRX), energy dispersive Xray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of these analyses confirmed the nominal chemical composition and showed an uniform dispersion of the particles on the carbon support. The average crystallite size was found to vary from ~2.6 to 3.4 nm, depending on the water to surfactant molar ratio w = [water]/[surfactant]. The lattice parameter of the prepared catalysts was found to be smaller than that for carbon supported Pt, indicating formation of a solid solution phase. The fraction of the alloyed Ru increased with particle size. In all cases, the heat treatment promoted an increase in the particle size and in the amount of alloying. CO stripping measurements showed that the surface properties of the prepared Pt-Ru/C catalysts are significantly different, depending on w values used in the synthesis. The methanol oxidation reaction was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The best performance was observed for catalysts prepared by microemulsions with w = 8.

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published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A sociedade moderna depende integralmente da produção e consumo de energia em seu dia a dia desde cozinhar, ter energia elétrica, transporte, e para processos industriais. O aumento da demanda de energia elevou também os níveis de poluição, o que produz efeitos diretos na saúde do homem. Desta forma, o homem tem que pesquisar novas formas de energia, que em condições ideais, deve ser gerada de forma limpa. Uma alternativa para que se possa enfrentar este problema é a conversão eletroquímica de energia, a qual pode ser realizada de forma eficiente e limpa através das células a combustível. Existe um interesse muito grande em células que oxidam metanol como combustível, para a aplicação em veículos e equipamentos portáteis. No entanto, para se implementar estas células, é necessário um grande progresso na caracterização dos fenômenos eletródicos associados a esta reação, tanto em nível fundamental quanto tecnológico. No presente trabalho foram desenvolvidos catalisadores de PtW, PtOs, PtRuW, PtWOs, suportados em carbono de alta área superficial, para a oxidação de metanol. Os catalisadores foram preparados através da redução por ácido fórmico e através do método de Bonnëmann. As composições dos materiais foram determinadas por EDX. O tamanho médio das partículas foi obtido por TEM, e foi comparado ao tamanho médio dos cristalitos à partir dos difratogramas de raios X. Os estudos eletroquímicos foram realizados através de voltametrias cíclicas e curvas corrente potencial de estado estacionário utilizando-se a técnica do eletrodo de camada fina porosa. Foram feitas também medidas de EXAFS nos catalisadores mais promissores. Os catalisadores possuem atividade na faixa de potencial de interesse, e foram feitos alguns testes em células a combustível. / Modern society integrally depends on the production and consumption of energy for its activities like cooking, lighting and transportation and also for industrial processes. The increase in the demand for energy increases the levels of pollution, which has a direct negative effect in human health. Thus, it is imperative to search for new power sources which, under ideal conditions, do not pollute the environment. One of the alternatives to attack this problem is the electrochemical energy conversion of chemical energy into electricity which can be carried out in an efficient and clean way with fuel cells. Presently, there is a great interest in fuel cells that oxidize methanol directly, for application in vehicles, portable devices and distributed generation. To make these cells a reality it is still necessary much progress in the understanding of the electrodic phenomena associated to the oxidation of methanol, and in the development of suitable electrocatalysts, at both the fundamental and the technological levels. In this work, PtW; PtOs, PtRuW and PtWOs eletrocatalysts, supported on high surface area carbon, for the direct oxidation of methanol were developed. The catalysts were prepared by reduction with formic acid of the corresponding precursors and by Bonnëmann´s method. Their composition was determined by XRD. The average particle size was determined from TEM, and the results compared to crystallite sizes determined from x-ray diffractograms. The electrochemical studies were carried out with cyclic voltammetry and steady state polarization curves using the thin porous coating electrode technique. Some catalysts were also studied by the EXAFS technique. The catalysts prepared show activity in the potential region of interest, and some of then were tested in single fuel cells.

Neste trabalho o carbono comercial Vulcan XC72 foi modificado com heteroátomos de N, S e P por meio do tratamento térmico a 800 °C com ureia, ácido sulfúrico e ácido fosfórico, respectivamente. Os carbonos modificados foram utilizados na preparação de eletrocatalisadores Pt/C e PtRu/C e aplicados na oxidação eletroquímica do metanol. Os materiais obtidos foram caracterizados por espectroscopia dispersiva de raios X, difração de raios X, espectroscopia Raman, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e voltametria cíclica. A oxidação eletroquímica do metanol foi estudada por voltametria cíclica e cronoamperometria. Os espectros Raman mostraram que as razões de intensidades das bandas D e G dos suportes de carbono modificados com heteroátomos foram maiores que a observada para o carbono Vulcan XC72 sugerindo a incorporação na estrutura do carbono. As análises por difração de raios X mostraram para todos os eletrocatalisadores Pt/C a estrutura cúbica de face centrada (cfc) e as micrografias eletrônicas de transmissão que todos materiais apresentaram tamanhos de partícula na faixa 4-5 nm. Para os eletrocatalisadores PtRu/C preparados com os suportes de carbono modificados com N e S, os difratogramas de raios-X apresentaram apenas a fase Pt (cfc) não havendo deslocamento dos picos desta fase. Nestes materiais os picos referentes a fases de Ru não foram identificados sugerindo que o Ru apresenta-se como uma fase amorfa. Por outro lado, para o material modificado com P, observou-se um deslocamento dos picos da fase Pt(cfc) para ângulos maiores, sugerindo a formação de liga Pt-Ru e também foi observado a presença da fase Ru hexagonal compacta. Os eletrocatalisadores Pt/C e PtRu/C preparados com os suportes contendo heteroátomos apresentaram uma melhora significativa na atividade eletrocatalítica quando comparados aos materiais preparados com o suporte não modificado. A melhora na atividade pode estar relacionada a modificações na interação metal-suporte, bem como, as diferentes espécies Pt e Ru presentes no caso do eletrocatalisador PtRu/C preparado utilizando o suporte modificado com P. / In this work, commercial Vulcan XC72 carbon was modified with heteroatoms like N, S and P by thermal treatment at 800 ° C in the presence of urea, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, respectively. The modified carbons were used in the preparation of Pt/C and PtRu/C electrocatalysts and tested for methanol electro-oxidation. The materials were characterized by dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The methanol electro-oxidation was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The Raman spectra showed that the intensity ratios of D- and G- bands of the carbon supports modified with heteroatoms were higher than that observed for Vulcan XC72 carbon suggesting the incorporation in the structure. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that Pt/C electrocatalysts have face-centered cubic structure (fcc) and transmission electron micrographs presented particle sizes in the range 4-5 nm. For PtRu/C electrocatalysts made with carbon supports modified with N and S, the X-ray diffraction patterns showed only the presence of Pt(fcc) phase with no shift of the Pt peaks. Peaks of Ru crystalline phases were not identified suggesting that in these materials Ru appears as an amorphous phase. On the other hand, for PtRu/C electrocatalyst prepared with carbon support modified with P, there was a shift of Pt(fcc) peaks to higher angles suggesting Pt-Ru alloy formation and the presence of Ru hexagonal close-packed phase was also observed. Pt/C and PtRu/C electrocatalysts prepared with carbon support modified with heteroatoms showed a significant improvement of electrocatalytic activity when compared to the unmodified material. The improvement in electrocatalytic activity can be related to changes in the metal-support interaction, as well as to the different Pt and Ru species for PtRu/C electrocatalyst prepared with carbon support modified with P.