Materials World Network: Catalyst Materials Synthesis at Accessible High Temperatures and Pressures

利哈伊大学和卡迪夫大学（英国）之间的合作项目旨在为生产一些重要的氧化物基催化剂材料开发更高效、更环保的替代制备策略。制备混合氧化物非均相催化剂的主要方法是沉淀法、熔合法和浸渍法，几十年来一直保持不变。然而，有一组广泛的反应条件（即在200摄氏度的高温下）和压力（50巴）仍然相对未被探索。该项目的目的是研究使用可接近的高温和高压来控制一步氧化结晶，使用(i)高压灭菌器，使用低于临界点的三相（气/液/固）系统和高于临界点的两相系统；（二）高压-高温管流式反应器。首先，研究人员将研究这组制备钒磷氧化物（VPO）的反应条件。VPO体系是研究最广泛的非均相氧化物催化剂之一，VPO材料用于正丁烷选择性氧化制马来酸酐。对VPO材料的概念验证研究已经证明，在这种高温高压反应体系中，可以产生不寻常的相和形态，在某些情况下具有高度催化活性。这种新的制备方法以后将扩展到合成铌和钼磷酸盐。该研究项目将结合两个团队的专业知识，这两个团队在进行合作研究方面有着长期而非常成功的记录。由卡迪夫大学的哈钦斯教授领导的英国研究小组将率先研究新的催化剂制备方法，并将评估作为烷烃氧化和氧化氢化反应催化剂的新材料。在Kiely教授的指导下，美国小组将使用尖端的电子显微镜和光谱学技术对所生产的催化剂进行详细的结构表征，目的是建立结构-功能关系。这个项目将教育年轻人进行跨学科和国际研究。来自两国的学生将在大西洋彼岸的合作机构进行长时间的访问，从而促进对另一个国家文化差异和研究环境的理解。

This collaborative program between Lehigh University and the University of Cardiff (UK) is directed towards developing alternative, more efficient and greener, preparation strategies for the production of some important oxide based catalyst materials. The major methodologies of mixed oxide heterogeneous catalyst preparation, which have remained unchanged for decades, are precipitation, fusion and impregnation. There are however, an extensive set of reaction conditions (i.e. at elevated temperature 200oC) and pressure (50 bar) that have remained relatively unexplored. The aim of this project is to investigate the use of accessible high temperatures and pressures for controlled one-step oxide crystallization using (i) an autoclave utilizing three phase (gas/liquid/solid) systems below the critical point and two phase systems above the critical point; and (ii) a high pressure - high temperature tubular flow reactor. In the first instance, the researchers will investigate this set of reaction conditions for the preparation of vanadium phosphorus oxides (VPO). The VPO system represents one of the most extensively studied heterogeneous oxide catalysts and VPO materials are utilized commercially for the selective oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. Proof-of-concept studies on VPO materials have already demonstrated that unusual phases and morphologies, which in some cases are highly catalytically active, can be generated in this high temperature, high pressure reaction regime. This new preparation methodology will be later extended to synthesize niobium and molybdenum phosphates. The research program will combine the expertise of two groups that have a long and very successful record of performing collaborative research together. The UK group, led by Professor Hutchings at Cardiff University, will spearhead research into the new catalyst preparation methodologies and will evaluate the new materials produced as catalysts for alkane oxidation and oxidative hydrogenation reactions. The US group, under the direction of Professor Kiely, using cutting edge electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques will perform detailed structural characterization of the catalysts produced, with the aim of establishing structure-function relationships. This project will educate young people in interdisciplinary and international research. Students from both countries will visit the partner institutions across the Atlantic for extended periods thus fostering an understanding of cultural nuances and research environments in another country.