Induction heating of nanoparticle catalysts for synthetic chemistry

研究背景：催化是现代合成科学的核心，在学术研究和工业制造中都有应用。目前这一研究领域的一个关键挑战是实现更高的催化活性、效率和产品产量，即强化，同时避免不良产品。催化过程的强化通常涉及更高的温度，这会加速反应，包括副反应。许多这些副反应与催化剂无关，但与起始原料和反应条件有关。本项目将探索使用感应加热来选择性加热铁磁性纳米颗粒作为溶液中的催化剂。这将使能量直接转移到催化剂和催化剂-底物复合体，绕过与高温相关的非催化副反应。目的和目标：该项目的目标如下：(I)开发合适的感应加热间歇和流动反应器。(Ii)开发铁、氧化铁和铁合金与其他金属的铁磁性纳米颗粒，以取代传统的贵金属有机金属催化剂。(Iii)对这些催化剂和反应器进行评估，并与传统的加热工艺进行比较。潜在的应用和效益：该项目在整个催化领域都有潜在的应用，从合成过程到大宗和特种化学品的制造过程。开发的铁磁性纳米粒子是潜在的IP，将在适当的情况下商业化。学生将受益于无机化学、纳米粒子科学和技术以及催化研究方面的培训。他还将受益于利兹大学过程研究与开发研究所的一个跨学科研讨会项目。通过我们的双年工业日，以及在研究生会议上，向高价值化工制造行业的行业介绍和知识转移将是他培训的一部分。

Context of research: Catalysis is the centrepiece of modern synthetic science, with application in both academic research and industrial manufacturing. A current key challenge in this field of research is achieving higher catalytic activity, efficiency and product throughput, i.e. intensification, while avoiding undesirable products. Intensification of catalytic processes often involves higher temperature which speeds up reactions, including side reactions. Many of these side reactions are not related to the catalyst, but are inherent to the starting materials and reaction conditions.This project will explore the use of induction heating to selectively heat up ferromagnetic nanoparticles as catalysts in solution. This will enable direct energy transfer to the catalyst and catalyst-substrate complexes, circumventing non-catalysed side reactions which are associated with high temperature. Aims and objectives: The objectives of the project are listed below.(i) Development of suitable induction heating batch and flow reactors.(ii) Development of ferromagnetic nanoparticles of iron, iron oxide and iron alloys with other metals which can replace traditional precious metal organometallic catalysts.(iii) Evaluation of these catalysts and reactors and benchmarking against traditional heating processes.Potential applications and benefits:The project has potential applications across the whole field of catalysis, from synthetic processes to bulk and specialty chemicals manufacturing processes. The developed ferromagnetic nanoparticles are potential IPs which will be commercialised as appropriate.The student will benefit from training in inorganic chemistry, nanoparticle science and techniques, and catalytic research. He will also benefit from an interdisciplinary seminar programme at the Institute of Process Research & Development, University of Leeds. Presentations and knowledge transfer to industry in the High Value Chemical Manufacture sector, through our biannaual Industrial Days, and at postgraduate conferences will be part of his training.