Intermetallic Compounds as Highly Selective Catalysts in Microstructured Reactors

在该项目中，将研究将高选择性半加氢催化剂GaPd、GaPd2和Al13Fe4集成到微结构反应器中的创新途径，以产生一种新的加氢技术。微结构反应器中良好的热传递允许在广泛的工艺参数范围内对材料进行精确的催化测试。这对金属间化合物的加氢动力学有了重要的认识，特别是与传统的合金体系的区别。在技术实施中，可以实现更高的温度，从而能够利用工艺热来产生蒸汽。通过这种方式，可以改善工艺能量平衡。将开发三种不同的方法来合成或填充反应堆中的金属间化合物：i)将无载体的Ga-Pd纳米颗粒填充到用作参比系统的交叉流动微反应器中；ii)在微通道中喷墨打印Ga-Pd纳米颗粒；以及iii)溅射合成金属间化合物Ga-Pd化合物以及直接进入微通道的无贵金属金属间化合物Al13Fe4。后者代表了一种替代和经济的方法，可以获得具有高比表面积的化合物的薄涂层。该项目的工作包括合成Ga-Pd纳米粒子，对其进行表征，以及开发用于印刷微结构薄膜的油墨。此外，还将对印刷或溅射涂层的物相组成、附着力和形貌进行表征。在现有技术之外，对乙炔半氢化反应的反应器系统进行大范围参数的全面催化测试，可以确定动力学数值。这些都是建立动力学模型和从理论上评价加氢新技术的基础。此外，应测试所制备的催化涂层对丙炔或1，4-丁二烯等其他不饱和碳氢化合物的加氢反应，以得出一般性结论。

Within the project innovative pathways to integrate the highly selective semi-hydrogenation catalysts GaPd, GaPd2 as well as Al13Fe4 into microstructured reactors will be investigated, to result in a new hydrogenation technology. The excellent heat transport in microstructured reactors allows exact catalytic testing of the materials in a wide range of process parameters. This results in important insights about the kinetics of the hydrogenation on intermetallic compounds, especially concerning the differences to conventional alloy-based systems. In the technical implementation higher temperatures could then be realized, enabling the use of the process heat to generate steam. By this, the process energy balance can be improved. Three different methods to synthesize or fill the intermetallic compounds in the reactors will be developed: i) unsupported Ga-Pd nanoparticles will be filled in a cross-flow microreactor which is used as reference system; ii) inkjet-printing of Ga-Pd nanoparticles in microchannels and iii) sputter-synthesis of the intermetallic Ga-Pd compounds as well as the noble metal-free intermetallic compound Al13Fe4 directly into the microchannels. The latter represents an alternative and economic pathway to thin coatings with high specific surface areas of the compounds.Work within the project comprises the synthesis of the Ga-Pd nanoparticles, their characterisation as well as the development of the ink for printing the microstructured foils. In addition, the printed or sputtered coatings will be characterised concerning their phase composition, adhesion and morphology. Comprehensive catalytic tests of the reactor systems in the semihydrogenation of ethyne in a large range of parameters - beyond the established technology - allow determination of kinetic values. These form the basis to model the kinetics and to theoretically evaluate the new hydrogenation technology. Furthermore, the prepared catalytic coatings shall be tested for the hydrogenation of other unsaturated hydrocarbons like propyne or 1,4-butadiene to enable general conclusions.