Doctoral Dissertations

Zeyu Shang

Abstract

"Heterogeneous catalysts are widely used because of their many advantages. In this dissertation, the application of atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) in heterogeneous catalyst synthesis and modification was examined.

A novel nanostructured size-selective catalyst was synthesized by depositing ultra-thin porous shells on the surface of catalysts. The ultra-thin porous shells were formed by oxidation of aluminum alkoxide films deposited by MLD. The catalytic activity of the size-selective catalyst was improved by introducing gaps between the porous shell and catalytic metal nanoparticles. The introduction of gaps greatly reduced the catalyst activity loss, which resulted from the contact areas between the active sites and porous shells.

Ni nanoparticles supported by silica gel particles were prepared by ALD, and the catalyst showed both high activity and selectivity in catalyzing chemoselective transfer reduction of different nitroarenes to produce corresponding aromatic amines.

A highly stable and active Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst was synthesized by depositing Ni nanoparticles on porous γ-Al₂O₃ particles by ALD. The catalyst showed exceptionally high catalytic activity and excellent stability for dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. A 4-channel α-Al₂O₃ hollow fiber was also studied as a support for Ni nanoparticles. The Ni/α-Al₂O₃ hollow fiber catalyst showed excellent performance in catalyzing the DRM reaction. The performance of the catalyst was further improved by alumina ALD overcoating on Ni nanoparticle surface to increase Ni-support interaction"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Liang, Xinhua

Committee Member(s)

Ludlow, Douglas K.
Nath, Manashi
Rownaghi, Ali
Smith, Joseph D.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

University of Missouri Research Board
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Petroleum Research Fund
Missouri University of Science and Technology. Materials Research Center
United States. Department of Energy.

Comments

Financial support of National Science Foundation (U.S.) CBET 1402122; Financial support of United States. Department of Energy DE-FE0029760

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Fall 2017

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Encapsulation of supported metal nanoparticles with an ultra-thin porous shell for size-selective reactions
  • 'Core-shell' nanostructured supported size-selective catalysts with high catalytic activity
  • Chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes catalyzed by highly dispersed, supported nickel nanoparticles
  • Highly active and stable alumina supported nickel nanoparticle catalysts for dry reforming of methane
  • Nano-engineered nickel catalysts supported on 4-channel α-Al2O3 hollow fibers for dry reforming of methane

Pagination

xiv, 159 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographic references.

Rights

© 2017 Zeyu Shang, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11236

Electronic OCLC #

1021857628

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