It is possible to say that zeolites are the most widely used catalysts in industry They are crystalline microporous materials which have become extremely successful as catalysts for oil refining, petrochemistry, and organic synthesis in the production of fine and speciality chemicals, particularly when dealing with molecules having kinetic diameters below 10 A The reason for their success in catalysis is related to the following specific features of these materials:1 (1) They have very high surface area and adsorption capacity (2) The adsorption properties of the zeolites can be controlled, and they can be varied from hydrophobic to hydrophilic type materials (3) Active sites, such as acid sites for instance, can be generated in the framework and their strength and concentration can be tailored for a particular application (4) The sizes of their channels and cavities are in the range typical for many molecules of interest (5-12 A), and the strong electric fields2 existing in those micropores together with an electronic confinement of the guest molecules3 are responsible for a preactivation of the reactants (5) Their intricate channel structure allows the zeolites to present different types of shape selectivity, ie, product, reactant, and transition state, which can be used to direct a given catalytic reaction toward the desired product avoiding undesired side reactions (6) All of these properties of zeolites, which are of paramount importance in catalysis and make them attractive choices for the types of processes listed above, are ultimately dependent on the thermal and hydrothermal stability of these materials In the case of zeolites, they can be activated to produce very stable materials not just resistant to heat and steam but also to chemical attacks Avelino Corma Canos was born in Moncofar, Spain, in 1951 He studied chemistry at the Universidad de Valencia (1967−1973) and received his PhD at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1976 He became director of the Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica (UPV-CSIC) at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia in 1990 His current research field is zeolites as catalysts, covering aspects of synthesis, characterization and reactivity in acid−base and redox catalysis A Corma has written about 250 articles on these subjects in international journals, three books, and a number of reviews and book chapters He is a member of the Editorial Board of Zeolites, Catalysis Review Science and Engineering, Catalysis Letters, Applied Catalysis, Journal of Molecular Catalysis, Research Trends, CaTTech, and Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications A Corma is coauthor of 20 patents, five of them being for commercial applications He has been awarded with the Dupont Award on new materials (1995), and the Spanish National Award “Leonardo Torres Quevedo” on Technology Research (1996) 2373 Chem Rev 1997, 97, 2373−2419

From Microporous to Mesoporous Molecular-Sieve Materials and Their Use in Catalysis

Advances in the development of novel cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts for synthesis of long-chain hydrocarbons and clean fuels.

The open literature concerning chemical and mechanistic aspects of the selective catalytic reduction of NO by ammonia (SCR process) on metal oxide catalysts is reviewed. Catalytic systems based on supported V2O5 (including the industrial TiO2-supported V2O5–WO3 and/or V2O5–MoO3 catalysts) and catalysts containing Fe2O3, CuO, MnOx and CrOx are considered. The results of spectroscopic studies of the adsorbed surface species, adsorption–desorption measurements, flow reactor and kinetic experiments are analyzed. The proposed reaction mechanisms are described and critically discussed. Points of convergence and of disagreement are underlined.

Chemical and mechanistic aspects of the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia over oxide catalysts: A review

The infrared spectral performance of the N x O y species observed on oxide surfaces [N2O, NO−, NO, (NO)2, N2O3, NO+, NO2 − (different nitro and nitrito anions), NO2, N2O4, N2O5, NO2, and NO3 − (bridged, bidentate, and monodentate nitrates)] is considered. The spectra of related compounds (N2, H-, and C-containing nitrogen oxo species, C─N species, NH x species) are also briefly discussed. Some guidelines for spectral identification of N x O y adspecies are proposed and the transformation of the nitrogen oxo species on catalyst surfaces are regarded.

Identification of Neutral and Charged N x O y Surface Species by IR Spectroscopy

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes), a family of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds, are materials composed of a few atomic layers of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides. Ti3C2, the first 2D layered MXene, was isolated in 2011. This material, which is a layered bulk material analogous to graphite, was derived from its 3D phase, Ti3AlC2 MAX. Since then, material scientists have either determined or predicted the stable phases of >200 different MXenes based on combinations of various transition metals such as Ti, Mo, V, Cr, and their alloys with C and N. Extensive experimental and theoretical studies have shown their exciting potential for energy conversion and electrochemical storage. To this end, we comprehensively summarize the current advances in MXene research. We begin by reviewing the structure types and morphologies and their fabrication routes. The review then discusses the mechanical, electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties of MXenes. The focus then turns to their exciting potential in energy storage and conversion. Energy storage applications include electrodes in rechargeable lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and supercapacitors. In terms of energy conversion, photocatalytic fuel production, such as hydrogen evolution from water splitting, and carbon dioxide reduction are presented. The potential of MXenes for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water, such as dye waste, is also addressed, along with their promise as catalysts for ammonium synthesis from nitrogen. Finally, their application potential is summarized.

Applications of 2D MXenes in energy conversion and storage systems

Infrared spectroscopic identification of species arising from reactive adsorption of carbon oxides on metal oxide surfaces

The adsorption of formaldehyde on different oxides (silica, pure and fluorided alumina, magnesia, titania, thoria, zirconia, and iron oxide) has been studied by FT-IR spectroscopy in the temperature range 170-570 K. The following adsorbed species have been identified and characterized spectroscopically: (i) physisorbed HCHO, (ii) coordinated HCHO, (iii) dioxymethylene, (iv) polyoxymethylene, (v) formate ions, and (vi) methoxy groups. On silica at 170 K formaldehyde physisorbs on surface OH groups and, by warming, polymerizes producing linear polyoxymethylene. On ionic oxides at about 250 K dioxymethylene is always observed, generally together with variable amounts of the linear polymer that has been isolated on magnesia at 170 K. Heating up to or above room temperature results in the disproportionation of dioxymethylene into formate and methoxide groups, probably via a Cannizzaro-type mechanism. Such a route probably parallels an oxidative route, involving direct oxidation of dioxymethylene into formates, as observed on iron oxide.

Vincenzo Lorenzelli

Papers

Infrared spectroscopic identification of species arising from reactive adsorption of carbon oxides on metal oxide surfaces

FT-IR study of the adsorption and transformation of formaldehyde on oxide surfaces

FT-IR characterization of the surface acidity of different titanium dioxide anatase preparations

Fourier transform infrared study of the adsorption and coadsorption of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and ammonia on TiO2 anatase

Low-temperature CO2 adsorption on metal oxides: spectroscopic characterization of some weakly adsorbed species