Platinum-free monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles as ring-opening catalysts
AssigneeThe Governors of the University of Alberta
InventorsNatalia Semagina, Xing Yin, Jing Shen, Kavithaa Loganathan
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Abstract
Nanoparticle catalyst compositions and methods for preparation of same are described. The nanoparticle catalysts are platinum-free and are useful in effecting selective ring-opening reactions, for example in upgrading heavy oil. The catalyst may be of monometallic composition, or may comprise an alloyed or core-shell bimetallic composition. The nanoparticles are of controlled size and shape.
Claims63
A bi-metallic nanoparticle ring-opening catalyst composition comprising:
- a plurality of monodispersed bimetallic nanoparticles, each of the monodispersed nanoparticles having a size between 1-5 nm in diameter, and each of the monodispersed bimetallic nanoparticles comprising:
- a primary non-platinum transition metal having ring-opening catalytic activity;
- and
- a secondary transition metal.
A monometallic ring-opening catalyst composition comprising:
- a plurality of monodispersed nanoparticles, each of the monodispersed nanoparticles having a size between 1-5 nm in diameter, each of the monodispersed nanoparticles comprising a primary non-platinum transition metal having ring-opening catalytic activity;
- and
- a support having a minimum pore size of at least 5 nm.
A method for forming a platinum-free nanoparticle ring-opening catalyst, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a primary metal precursor and a stabilizing polymer, the primary metal precursor comprising a primary metal having ring-opening catalytic activity;
- refluxing the primary metal precursor with the stabilizing polymer to create a colloidal dispersion of a polymer-stabilized primary metal nanoparticle;
- adding acetone to the colloidal dispersion to precipitate polymer-stabilized nanoparticles therefrom;
- depositing the precipitated nanoparticles onto a support, the support having a minimum pore size of at least 5 nm;
- calcining the deposited nanoparticles to remove the stabilizing polymer from the nanoparticles;
- and
- reducing the deposited nanoparticles in a hydrogen-rich environment.
A method for forming a platinum-free nanoparticle ring-opening catalyst, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a secondary metal precursor and a stabilizing polymer;
- refluxing the primary metal precursor with the stabilizing polymer to create a colloidal dispersion of a polymer-stabilized secondary metal nanoparticle;
- providing a reduced primary metal precursor, the primary metal precursor comprising a primary metal having ring-opening catalytic activity;
- reducing and hydrogenating the polymer-stabilized secondary metal nanoparticles;
- combining the hydrogenated polymer-stabilized secondary metal nanoparticle with the reduced primary metal precursor in a hydrogen-rich environment to generate polymer-stabilized nanoparticles having a primary metal shell deposited over a secondary metal core;
- adding acetone to precipitate the polymer-stabilized nanoparticles;
- depositing the polymer-stabilized nanoparticles onto a support having a minimum of at least 5 nm;
- calcining the deposited nanoparticles to remove the polymer from the nanoparticles;
- and
- reducing the nanoparticles in a hydrogen-rich environment.
A method for forming a platinum-free nanoparticle ring-opening catalyst, the method comprising the steps of:
- refluxing a mixture of a primary metal precursor with a secondary metal precursor and a stabilizing polymer to generate a colloidal dispersion of alloyed nanoparticles, the primary metal precursor comprising a metal having ring-opening catalytic activity;
- adding acetone to the colloidal dispersion to precipitate the alloyed nanoparticles therefrom;
- depositing the polymer-stabilized bimetallic nanoparticles onto a support having a minimum pore size of at least 5 nm;
- calcining the deposited nanoparticles to remove the polymer from the nanoparticles;
- and
- reducing the deposited nanoparticles in a hydrogen-rich environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.