Dispersion and stabilization of reactive atoms on the surface of metal oxides
AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsKenneth J. Klabunde, Naijian Sun
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Abstract
Particulate metal oxide compositions having reactive atoms stabilized on particulate surfaces and methods for reacting the compositions with saturated and unsaturated species are provided. The preferred particulate metal oxides of the compositions are nanocrystalline MgO and CaO with an average crystallite size of up to about 20 nm. The preferred reactive atoms of the compositions are atoms of the halogens and Group IA metals. In one embodiment, chlorine atoms are stabilized on the surface of nanocrystalline MgO thus forming a composition which is capable of halogenating compounds, both saturated and unsaturated, in the absence of UV light and elevated reaction temperatures.
Claims51
A composition comprising a metal oxide particle with a number of atoms stabilized on the surface thereof, said atoms selected from the group consisting of the halogens and Group IA metals and being present at a level of at least about 2 atoms per square nanometer of metal oxide surface area.
A method of forming a metal ion/reactive atom composition comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a quantity of metal oxide particles;
- (b) contacting said particles with a source of reactive atoms selected from the group consisting of halogen and Group IA metal atoms under conditions to attach said atoms to the surfaces of said particles at a level of at least about 2 atoms per square nanometer of metal oxide particle surface area.
A composite comprising a self-sustaining body formed of a plurality of agglomerated metal oxide particles with a number of atoms stabilized on the surface thereof, said atoms selected from the group consisting of the halogens and Group IA metals and said atoms being present at a level at least about 2 atoms per square nanometer of metal oxide surface area.
A composition comprising a metal oxide particle with a number of atoms stabilized on the surface thereof forming a metal oxide-atom adduct, wherein said atoms are selected from the group consisting of the halogens and Group IA metals, and wherein when said adduct is heated to a temperature of about 100.degree. C. less than about 10% of the total weight loss of the adduct is attributable to the desorption of said atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.