Faculty of Science School of Chemistry 9911467t EMMA.MOKOENA@sasol.com / The objective of the study was to prepare novel silica materials and then use them as supports/binders for the Fisher-Tropsch (F-T) reaction. Hence the thesis is divided into two parts - (i) the synthesis of silica materials (ii) use of silica materials as supports. PART I The studies that were carried out in this thesis evaluated the effect of templates and synthesis conditions on the nano- and microstructure and properties of silica materials that are obtained by the sol-gel method. The studies with DL-tartaric acid and citric acid as templates revealed that synthesis conditions (temperature, NH4OH concentration, water/ethanol concentration, time before NH4OH addition, static versus stirred conditions, stirring rate and solvent) all have an effect on the microstructure of the silica and influence the formation of particular silica morphologies. DL-tartaric acid produced longer and more uniform tubes when compared to citric acid. Tubes that are formed by DL-tartaric acid are hollow and open ended; however the ones formed in citric acid are a mixture of filled and hollow but closed tubes. Hollow spheres are exclusively formed when citric acid is used under certain conditions while only filled spheres are formed when DL-tartaric iii acid is used. The surface areas of the silicas formed from DL-tartaric acid are lower that the surface areas obtained for materials produced by citric acid. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of silica materials obtained from both templates showed that the materials were mesoporous with some microporosity present in them. Studies with mucic and tartronic acids as templates also showed that the template as well as the synthesis conditions (such as solvent, temperature and stirring) affect the resulting silica morphology. Mucic acid produced silica materials with high surface areas, mesopores and a morphology that reveals fragmented tubes. Tartronic acid produced hollow tube materials with low surface areas and a combination of micro- and mesopores. The yield of the tubes was higher at lower temperatures for both templates. When sugars (e.g. glucose) were used only spherical particles were obtained and some sugars gave particle sizes that are smaller than the ones that are normally obtained by the sol-gel method. PART II Catalysts (Fe/Cu/K) supported on a range of silica materials with different morphologies (hollow nanotubes, hollow spheres, Stöber/closed spheres) were evaluated in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction (8 bar, 250 °C, 400 h-1 GHSV). The supported iron catalysts modified the physico-chemical properties and activity of iv the catalysts but not the catalyst selectivity. A Ruhrchemie catalyst (known F-T catalyst standard) was also evaluated under the same reaction conditions as the new catalysts for comparison purposes. The Ruhrchemie catalyst was found to be the most active catalyst followed by the catalyst supported on nanotubes, Stöber spheres and hollow spheres respectively. Catalysts containing 18% silica showed the best activity compared to the 9% and 27% silica catalysts. The product distribution and WGS activity were largely influenced by the potassium that is present in the samples and not the support type. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that some active catalysts contained χ' – Fe2.5C and some superparamagnetic iron oxides or carbides while other catalysts also contained α – Fe and Fe3O4 in addition to χ' – Fe2.5C and some superparamagnetic iron oxides or carbides species. This finding supports the hypothesis that carbide formation is a requirement for active F-T catalysts. It also suggests that metallic iron is necessary for carbiding to occur, hence the need for a reduction pre-treatment.

Linear alkylbenzenes (LAB) are key intermediates in the synthesis of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants that are used in the manufacture of detergents. Production of LAB with traditional Lewis acids as catalysts, such as hydrofluoric acid, results in the formation of large amounts of toxic wastes and corrosion of industrial equipment. Phosphotungstic acid (PTA) has gained much attention in recent years as a solid catalyst for various alkylation reactions. This research work aims to develop a novel material based on PTA-containing silica gel, which can effectively catalyze LAB synthesis. Sol-gel synthesis of silica gel in the presence of PTA and tetraethyl orthosilicate as precursors produced a mesoporous aterial containing covalently embedded PTA clusters. Obtained superacidic catalyst demonstrated high catalytic activity in liquid-phase alkylation of benzene by various alkenes. Covalent embedding of catalytically active HPA clusters prevents their leaching from the catalyst surface, which enabled its excellent catalytic properties.

The objective of this work was to synthesize functionalized mesoporous silsesquioxanes with high concentrations of amine groups. During typical sol-gel syntheses, these materials are obtained by co-condensation of organic precursors with suitable linkers, such as tetraethoxysilane, necessary to prevent the mesoporous structure from collapsing. Thus, concentrations of amine groups in organosilicas usually do not exceed 2.7-3.4 mmol g -1. The use of bridged bis-trimethoxysilanes, however, allowed formation of mesoporous materials with no linker. Polycondensation of bis-trimethoxysilanes containing amine groups was conducted in acidic, neutral and basic media, resulting in high yields of solid bridged silsesquioxanes. Gelation occurred quickly if no acid or base was added to the reaction mixture. The hybrid organic/ inorganic nature of obtained materials was confirmed by FT-IR and MAS CP NMR spectroscopy. Elemental analysis showed that amino group concentration in the products was 3.3-4.1 mmol g -1. Measurement of particle size distribution confirmed that choice of reaction media significantly affects particle sizes and agglomeration degrees, with the largest agglomerates (up to 50 μm) formed in basic media. A morphology study, using smallangle X-Ray scattering, displayed two-level fractal structures composed of aggregated 6.5-10.5 nm particles. Reactions in the presence of a surfactant resulted in formation of mesoporous structures. Furthermore, the obtained bridged silsesquioxanes were thermally stable down to 260 °C, but could reversibly absorb water and CO 2 at temperatures below 120 °C. Thus, condensation of the bridged precursor without a linker resulted in formation of a highly functionalized mesoporous material.

Abstract: Silica gels containing embedded heteropolyacids were synthesized in acidic media by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane with phosphotungstic or phosphomolybdic acids using the sol-gel technique. Surfactants dodecylamine, sodium dodecylsulfate, trimethylstearylammonium chloride, and Pluronic P123 were used as templates. The effect of the synthesis conditions on their structure and morphology was studied. All materials were mesoporous but contained micropores in their structures. Presence of bands of Keggin structures in fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra along with absence of X-ray diffraction patterns of crystalline heteropolyacids confirmed their fine incorporation into silica network. Particle sizes of modified materials were 500–1100 nm except for the W-containing sample obtained with trimethylstearylammonium chloride, which was significantly lower. This unusual effect was attributed to stabilization of primary silica nanoparticles by interactions between the surfactant and heteropolyacid. High ratio heteropolyacid/tetraethoxysilane resulted in partial loss of porosity. Obtained results might be used for optimization of synthesis of effective catalysts and adsorbents containing heteropolyacids in mesoporous structure. Graphical Abstract: [InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.]

Effective adsorbents for polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were obtained and successfully tested in adsorption of perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctanesulfonic acids. Bridged silsesquioxanes containing secondary and tertiary amino groups were synthesized by sol-gel condensation of bis[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]amine and N-methyl-3,3′-bis(trimethoxysilyl)dipropylamine in acidic media in the presence of surfactants. Obtained materials were mesoporous with high BET surface area. They combine high structural stability with high concentration of surface amino groups serving as adsorption sites. Batch adsorption tests demonstrated their high adsorption capacity on PFCs: in some experiments it reached up to 88% of the adsorbent weight. Adsorption of PFCs changed the surfaces of the adsorbent nanoparticles from hydrophilic to hydrophobic thus providing their agglomeration and floatability. Column tests showed fast adsorption of PFCs even at high concentrations and high flow rates. Obtained results can be used in the development of an effective filtration device for clean-up of water contaminated by PFCs.

Šiame darbe vienfazis perovskito struktūros gadolinio aliuminatas GdAlO3 zolių-gelių metodu buvo gautas 1000 oC temperatūroje, gadolinio jonų šaltiniu naudojant Gd2O3, kompleksus sudarančiu reagentu – 1,2 etandiolį, natūralią vyno rūgštį, citrinų rūgštį arba citrinų rūgšties ir etanolamino mišinį. Sintetinant GdAlO3, gautų tyrimų rezultatai parodė, kaip yra svarbu zolių gelių procese pasirinkti tinkamas pradines medžiagas bei kompleksus su metalais sudarančius reagentus: gadolinio jonų šaltiniu naudojant Gd2O3 buvo gauti geresni rezultatai nei naudojant Gd(NO3)3•6H2O, vienfazis GdAlO3 gali būti sėkmingai susintetintas kompleksus sudarančiu reagentu naudojant tiek natūralią vyno rūgštį, tiek 1,2 etandiolį, tiek citrinų rūgštį, tiek citrinų rūgšties ir etanolamino mišinį. Nustatyta, kad sintetinant stronciu pakeistus gadolinio aliuminatus Gd1–xSrxAlO3– (x = 0,10, 0,25, 0,50, 0,75), tinkamesnis gadolinio jonų šaltinis yra gadolinio oksidas nei gadolinio nitratas heksahidratas, kompleksus sudarantis reagentas – EDTA nei natūrali vyno rūgštis. Vienfazis perovskito struktūros stronciu pakeistas gadolinio aliuminatas Gd0,90Sr0,10AlO3– buvo susintetintas zolių-gelių metodu 1000 oC temperatūroje, gadolinio jonų šaltiniu naudojant Gd2O3, stroncio jonų šaltiniu – Sr(NO3)2, kompleksus sudarančiu reagentu – EDTA. Be to, 800 ºC iškaitinimo temperatūra yra per maža šiems junginiams sintetinti. Pirmą kartą pasiūlytas vandeninis zolių gelių metodas lantano ir gadolinio kobaltatams... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In the present thesis the reported results let us to conclude that the developed aqueous sol–gel procedure could be successfully used for the low-temperature synthesis of monophasic perovskite gadolinium aluminate ceramics. It was also demonstrated that the selection of raw materials for the sol–gel processing should be done with care. Monophasic perovskite structure gadolinium aluminate GdAlO3 has been synthesized by sol gel synthesis method at 1000 oC, using gadolinium oxide as gadolinium raw material and 1.2 ethanediol, natural tartaric acid, citric acid or mixture of citric acid and ethanolamine as complexing agent. According to the XRD results, the Gd2O3 instead of Gd(NO3)36H2O preferably should be used as starting material for the preparation of GdAlO3. Monophasic perovskite structure strontium substituted gadolinium aluminate Gd0.90Sr0.10AlO3– was synthesized by the same sol gel synthesis method at 1000 oC, using gadolinium oxide as gadolinium raw material, strontium nitrate as strontium ion source and EDTA as complexing agent. It was proved that better gadolinium ion source is gadolinium oxide than gadolinium nitate hexahydrate, better complexing agent – EDTA than natural tartaric acid in the synthesis of GdAlO3 and strontium substituted Gd1–xSrxAlO3– (x = 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) samples. According to the XRD results, increasing amount of strontium reduces amount of peaks of perovskite structure gadolinium aluminate. Besides, 800 ºC temperature is too low for the... [to full text]

In the present thesis the reported results let us to conclude that the developed aqueous sol–gel procedure could be successfully used for the low-temperature synthesis of monophasic perovskite gadolinium aluminate ceramics. It was also demonstrated that the selection of raw materials for the sol–gel processing should be done with care. Monophasic perovskite structure gadolinium aluminate GdAlO3 has been synthesized by sol gel synthesis method at 1000 oC, using gadolinium oxide as gadolinium raw material and 1.2 ethanediol, natural tartaric acid, citric acid or mixture of citric acid and ethanolamine as complexing agent. According to the XRD results, the Gd2O3 instead of Gd(NO3)36H2O preferably should be used as starting material for the preparation of GdAlO3. Monophasic perovskite structure strontium substituted gadolinium aluminate Gd0.90Sr0.10AlO3– was synthesized by the same sol gel synthesis method at 1000 oC, using gadolinium oxide as gadolinium raw material, strontium nitrate as strontium ion source and EDTA as complexing agent. It was proved that better gadolinium ion source is gadolinium oxide than gadolinium nitate hexahydrate, better complexing agent – EDTA than natural tartaric acid in the synthesis of GdAlO3 and strontium substituted Gd1–xSrxAlO3– (x = 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) samples. According to the XRD results, increasing amount of strontium reduces amount of peaks of perovskite structure gadolinium aluminate. Besides, 800 ºC temperature is too low for the... [to full text] / Šiame darbe vienfazis perovskito struktūros gadolinio aliuminatas GdAlO3 zolių-gelių metodu buvo gautas 1000 oC temperatūroje, gadolinio jonų šaltiniu naudojant Gd2O3, kompleksus sudarančiu reagentu – 1,2 etandiolį, natūralią vyno rūgštį, citrinų rūgštį arba citrinų rūgšties ir etanolamino mišinį. Sintetinant GdAlO3, gautų tyrimų rezultatai parodė, kaip yra svarbu zolių gelių procese pasirinkti tinkamas pradines medžiagas bei kompleksus su metalais sudarančius reagentus: gadolinio jonų šaltiniu naudojant Gd2O3 buvo gauti geresni rezultatai nei naudojant Gd(NO3)3•6H2O, vienfazis GdAlO3 gali būti sėkmingai susintetintas kompleksus sudarančiu reagentu naudojant tiek natūralią vyno rūgštį, tiek 1,2 etandiolį, tiek citrinų rūgštį, tiek citrinų rūgšties ir etanolamino mišinį. Nustatyta, kad sintetinant stronciu pakeistus gadolinio aliuminatus Gd1–xSrxAlO3– (x = 0,10, 0,25, 0,50, 0,75), tinkamesnis gadolinio jonų šaltinis yra gadolinio oksidas nei gadolinio nitratas heksahidratas, kompleksus sudarantis reagentas – EDTA nei natūrali vyno rūgštis. Vienfazis perovskito struktūros stronciu pakeistas gadolinio aliuminatas Gd0,90Sr0,10AlO3– buvo susintetintas zolių-gelių metodu 1000 oC temperatūroje, gadolinio jonų šaltiniu naudojant Gd2O3, stroncio jonų šaltiniu – Sr(NO3)2, kompleksus sudarančiu reagentu – EDTA. Be to, 800 ºC iškaitinimo temperatūra yra per maža šiems junginiams sintetinti. Pirmą kartą pasiūlytas vandeninis zolių gelių metodas lantano ir gadolinio kobaltatams... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

The potential use of 3D aluminium nanorod structures as current collectors and negative electrodes for 3D Li-ion micro-batteries was studied based on the use of relatively simple and cost-effective electrochemical and sol-gel deposition techniques. Aluminium rod structures were synthesised by galvanostatic electrodeposition using commercial porous membranes as templates. It was shown that the use of a short (i.e., 50 ms long) potential pulse (i.e., -0.9 V vs. Al3+/Al) applied prior to a pulsed current electrochemical deposition gave rise to homogeneous deposits with more even rod heights.  Electrophoretic and sol-gel deposition of TiO2 on the same substrates were also studied. The use of the sol-gel technique successfully resulted in a thin coating of amorphous TiO2 on the Al nanorod current collector, but with relatively small discharge capacities due to the amorphous character of the deposits. Electrophoretic deposition was, however, successful only on 2D substrates. Anodisation of titanium was used to prepare 3D TiO2 nanotube electrodes, with a nanotube length of 9 um and wall thickness of 50 nm. The electrodes displayed high and stable discharge capacities of 460 µAh/cm2 at a 0.1 C rate upon prolonged cycling with good rate capability. The 3D aluminium nanorod structures were tested as negative electrodes for Li-ion cells and the observed capacity fading was assigned to trapping of LiAl alloy inside the aluminium electrode caused by the diffusion of lithium into the electrode, rather than to pulverisation of the aluminium rods. The capacity fading effect could, however, be eliminated by decreasing the oxidation potential limit from 3.0 to 1.0 V vs. Li+/Li. A model for the alloying and dealloying of lithium with aluminium was also proposed. Finally, a proof-of-concept for a full 3D Li-ion micro-battery with electrodes of different geometries was demonstrated. The cell comprised a positive electrode, based on LiFePO4 deposited on a carbon foam current collector, with an area gain factor an order of magnitude larger than that for the Al nanorod negative electrode. This concept facilitates the balancing of 3D Li-ion cells as the positive electrode materials generally have significant lower specific energy densities than the negative electrodes.

As far as the replacement of fossil fuels with more environmentally friendly options is concerned, hydrogen is considered as the most promising source of energy. Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced through the method of methane reforming. This method requires the utilisation of catalysts made of precious metals. This master's degree thesis therefore investigates perovskite materials SmCoO3, Sm0,8Ca0,2CoO2,9, SmCo0,8Al0,2O3 and Sm0,8Ca0,2Co0,8Al0,2O2,9, which could be utilised as catalysts in the production of hydrogen by methane reforming. Methane reformation occurs on the surface of a catalyst. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure that the specific surface area of a catalyst material is as large as possible. For that reason, the aforementioned perovskite materials were prepared by two sol-gel methods, which are expected to create perovskites with large specific surface areas. It was investigated in the course of the work how the method of synthesis affects the structure and catalytic properties of individual materials. The SmCo0,8Al0,2O3 material prepared by a sol-gel synthesis with propylene oxide as a gelation agent demonstrated the best results - the measurement of catalytic activity showed that the methane conversion had achieved the value of 99%.

Superacidic mesoporous materials containing covalently embedded PTA were synthesized by sol-gel method. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and phosphotungstic acid (PTA) were used as precursors in the synthesis, ionic and nonionic surfactants were used as pore-forming agents, the reaction proceeded in acidic media. TEM images revealed mesoporous structure with embedded PTA clusters. FT-IR spectra of obtained materials contained characteristic bands of PTA at 957 cm-1. Synthesized catalysts had high BET surface area and high concentration of acidic sites. Alkylation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene by 1-decene demonstrated high catalytic activity. The catalyst obtained with Pluronic P123 as a template was the most effective and resulted in highest conversion of 1-decene into alkylated products. Covalent embedding of PTA clusters in addition to thermal and chemical stability of synthesized catalysts enabled their recyclability. Catalysts remained active during subsequent cycles of alkylation.