31. In-situ XAS analysis of nanoshaped CuO/CeO2 catalysts used for N2O decompositionIztok Arčon, Maxim Zabilsky, Petar Djinović, Albin Pintar, 2018, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: The goal of this research is to establish the working state and correlations between atomic structure and catalytic activity of nanoshaped CuO/CeO2 catalysts used in N2O decomposition reaction. The catalysts contained CuO nanoclusters dispersed over different CeO2 morphologies: nano-rods and nano-cubes. N2O is a side product of nitric and adipic acid production and a very potent greenhouse gas that is formed in amounts estimated at about 400 Mt/a of CO2 equivalent. Consequently, the development of robust, active and selective catalysts for N2O decomposition is of a great environmental and economical interest. CeO2-based materials promoted by CuO represent a new class of catalysts that exhibit considerable activity in N2O decomposition reaction between 300 and 500 °C [1-3], and are significantly cheaper and more efficient than Pt, Pd or Rh based catalysts.
In order to maximize the efficiency of the catalyst, the active site in this reaction needs to be identified and the mechanism clarified. In-situ Cu K-edge and Ce L3-edge XANES and EXAFS analysis was done on a set of CuO/CeO2 catalysts with different ceria morphology (nano-cubes, nano-rods) and Cu loadings between 2 to 8 wt. %, during N2O decomposition reaction, under controlled reaction conditions at 400 °C. The XAS spectra were measured in-situ, in a tubular reactor, filled with protective He atmosphere at 1 bar, first at RT, then during heating, and at final temperature of 400 °C, during catalytic reaction, when the catalyst was exposed to a small amount (0.2 vol%) of N2O mixed with He.
The Cu K-edge and Ce L3-edge XANES and EXAFS analysis reveals changes in valence and local structure of Cu and Ce in the CuO/CeO2 catalysts. In the initial state (in He at RT), copper is present in the form of CuO nanoparticles attached to the CeO2 surface. After heating in He to 400 °C, partial (10%) reduction of Ce [Ce(IV)→Ce(III)] is detected, significant part of Cu(II) is reduced to Cu(I) and Cu(0) species, and direct Cu-Cu bonds are formed. During catalytic N2O decomposition at 400°C, all Ce(III) is oxidized back to Ce(VI), and a major part of Cu is oxidized back to Cu(II), with about 5% of Cu(I) remaining in equilibrium state. Observed structural and valence changes of copper strongly depend on its loading and CeO2 morphology.
With systematic In-situ XAS analysis of different nanoshaped CuO/CeO2 catalysts, we identified the structural characteristics and changes of Cu and Ce phases during catalytic N2O decomposition reaction, which could lead to identification of the active catalytic site during the reaction and further improve the performance of these promising catalytic materials.
Ključne besede: EXAFS, CuO/CeO2 catalyst, N2O decomposition
Objavljeno v RUNG: 12.09.2018; Ogledov: 5201; Prenosov: 0
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32. XAS studies of Sn modified TiO2 coatingsKsenija Maver, Iztok Arčon, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, 2018, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: Coatings based on TiO2 are extensively investigated material for the preparation of surfaces which are referred as self-cleaning. Under solar illumination these coatings catalyze pollutants degradation and enhance their removal from the surface due to photoinduced superhydrophilicity [1]. There are two main drawbacks of using pure TiO2 (anatase) as a photocatalyst; i) its band gap lies in the UVA region so it can exploit only a part of the sunlight spectrum, and ii) it has a high degree of recombination between photo generated electrons and holes on the surface. There are various strategies to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2, one of them is the modification with transition metals.
Based on our previous experiences with sol-gel synthesis of low-temperature TiO2 thin films [2], we prepared a series of Sn modified TiO2 photocatalysts. As a starting material only organic (Ti and Sn alkoxide) precursors were used. The loadings of Sn cations were varied in the range of 0.05 to 20 mol.%. The coatings, deposited on glass substrates by dip-coating technique, were dried at 150 oC. In addition, another set of photocatalyst coatings was prepared by further calcination at 500 °C in air. The comparison of photocatalytic activities of Sn modified TiO2 to unmodified TiO2 showed that Sn loadings in the range of 1-10 mol.% improved photocatalytic activity up to 8 times. At lower loadings of Sn, the photocatalytic activity was improved only by 30 %. After the coatings are calcined, their photocatalytic activity was significantly reduced.
The objective of the research was to examine the mechanism responsible for photocatalytic properties of Sn modified TiO2 and to to clarify the role of Sn cations in the TiO2 photocatalytic process. For this purpose, Sn and Ti K-edge XANES and EXAFS analysis was used to precisely determine the local structure and the site of incorporation of Sn cations on titania nanoparticles in the coatings. We examined the hypothesis that the solid-solid interface was a crucial structural feature that facilitates charge separation and enhances photocatalytic efficiency of titania.
Ključne besede: Sn, EXAFS, TiO2 fotokatalizator
Objavljeno v RUNG: 12.09.2018; Ogledov: 4786; Prenosov: 0
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34. Operando XAS analysis of CuO/SiO2 and CuO/CeO2 catalystsIztok Arčon, Janvit Teržan, Petar Djinović, Maxim Zabilsky, Albin Pintar, 2018, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: The possibilities of the operando XAS analysis of catalysts will be presented on two case
studies of promising new catalytic materials: alkali doped nano-dispersed copper oxide
clusters on ordered mesoporous SiO2, which is highly active and selective towards propylene
epoxidation [1], and nanoshaped CuO/CeO2 catalysts used in N2O decomposition reaction [2].
Operando Cu K-edge and Ce L3-edge XANES and EXAFS analysis was performed during
catalytic reactions under controlled reaction conditions in a tubular reactor filled with
protective He atmosphere at 1 bar. The spectra were measured before the reaction at RT, then
during heating, and during catalytic reaction at 400 °C under controlled atmosphere.
Operando XANES analysis is used to monitor the changes in valence states and local
symmetries of Cu and Ce cations in the catalysts. A partial reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ and Cu0
and Ce4+ to Ce3+ species was detected during catalyst activation, and re-oxidation during
catalytic reaction. Different dynamics of reaching a quasi-steady oxidation state were revealed
as the tested catalysts approached the quasi-steady state after 300 min of reaction.
Operando EXAFS spectra are used to precisely determine local structure of Cu and Ce
cations, to identify structural characteristics and changes of Cu and Ce species during the
catalytic reactions. In this way, the active site in the catalytic reactions can be identified and
the mechanism of the reaction clarified.
The results of operando XAS analyses are crucial to guide further material modification, to
obtain more effective catalyst, and material which is more resistant to inhibiting effects that
cause catalyst deactivation during catalytic reaction.
Ključne besede: katalizatorji, Cu XANES, EXAFS
Objavljeno v RUNG: 12.09.2018; Ogledov: 5019; Prenosov: 0
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35. X-ray spectrometry in plant biologyKatarina Vogel-Mikuš, Iztok Arčon, Alojz Kodre, Anja Kavčič, Peter Kump, Primož Pelicon, 2018, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci (vabljeno predavanje) Opis: Trace elements are essential components of living systems, but at the same time they can be toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their biological functions. In addition, the toxicity can be extended to other non-essential elements of very similar atomic characteristics that can mimic the properties of a trace element.
Trace element malnutrition affects more than half of the world’s population, while on the other hand industrialization, traffic and extensive use of fertilizers have resulted in exceedingly high concentrations of non-essential elements in food crops, posing risks to human health.
In order to be able to develop and improve phyto-technologies that enable production of safe and quality food, knowledge on the basic mechanisms involved in trace and non-essential element uptake, transport, accumulation and ligand environment in plants is needed.
Such studies are nowadays supported by highly sophisticated X-ray based techniques, such as synchrotron based X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, proton induced X-ray emission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, enabling imaging of element distribution and determination of speciation and ligand environment of trace elements in biological tissues and cells with high spatial resolution and sensitivity.
Selected case studies of metal distribution and speciation in selected model and crop plants, achieved by interdisciplinary work, will be presented.
Ključne besede: X-ray spectrometry, plants, XANES, EXAFS
Objavljeno v RUNG: 12.09.2018; Ogledov: 4707; Prenosov: 0
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36. Effects of Different Copper Loadings on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2-SiO2 Prepared at a Low Temperature for the Oxidation of Organic Pollutants in WaterT. Čižmar, Iztok Arčon, Mattia Fanetti, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, 2018, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The objective of this research is to examine how Cu modification can improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2-SiO2, to explainthe correlation between the Cu concentration and the chemical state of Cu cations in the TiO2-SiO2 matrix, and the photocatalytic activity under UV/solar irradiation. The Cu-modified TiO2-SiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by a low-temperature sol–gel method from organic Cu, Si and Ti precursors with various Cu concentrations (0.05–3 mol %). The sol–gels were dried at 150 8C to obtain the photocatalysts in a powder form. The photocatalytic activity was determined by using a fluorescence- based method of terephthalic acid decomposition. An up to three times increase in photocatalytic activity is obtained if the TiO2-SiO2 matrix is modified with Cu in a narrow concentration
range from 0.05 to 0.1 mol%. At higher Cu loadings,
the photocatalytic activity of the Cu-modified photocatalysts is lower than that of the un-modified reference TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst. XRD was used to show that all Cu-modified TiO2-SiO2 composites with different Cu concentrations have the same crystalline structure as un-modified TiO2-SiO2 composites. The addition of Cu does not change the relative ratio between the anatase and brookite phases or unit cell parameters of the two TiO2 crystalline structures. We used Cu K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analyses to determine the valence state and local structure of Cu cations in the Cu-modified TiO2-SiO2 photocatalysts. The results elucidate the mechanism responsible for the improved photocatalytic activity. In samples with a low Cu content,
which exhibit the highest activity, Cu@O@Ti connections
are formed, which suggests that the activity enhancement is
caused by the attachment of CuII cations on the surface of the photocatalytically active TiO2 nanoparticles, so CuII cations may act as free-electron traps, which reduce the intensity of recombination between electrons and holes at the TiO2 photocatalyst surface. At higher Cu loadings no additional Cu@O@Ti connections are formed, instead only Cu@O@Cu connections are established. This indicates the formation of amorphous or nanocrystalline
copper oxide, which hinders the photocatalytic activity
of TiO2.
Ključne besede: Cu modified TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst
Cu EXAFS, XANES, Organic pollutants
Objavljeno v RUNG: 30.08.2018; Ogledov: 5172; Prenosov: 0
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37. Surface modified titanium dioxide using transition metals : nickel as a winning transition metal for solar light photocatalysisAndraž Šuligoj, Iztok Arčon, Matjaž Mazaj, Goran Dražić, Denis Arčon, Pegie Cool, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, Nataša Novak Tušar, 2018, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Titanium dioxide has been widely used as an antimicrobial agent, UV-filter and catalyst for pollution abatement. Herein, surface modifications with selected transition metals (Me) over colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles and immobilization with a colloidal SiO2 binder as composite films (MeTiO2/SiO2) on a glass carrier were used to enhance solar-light photoactivity. Colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles were modified by loading selected transition metals (Me ¼ Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in the form of chlorides on their surface. They were present primarily as oxo-nanoclusters and a portion as metal oxides. The structural characteristics of bare TiO2 were preserved up to an optimal metal loading of 0.5 wt%. We have shown in situ that metal-oxo-nanoclusters with a redox potential close to that of O2/O2 were able to function as co-catalysts on the TiO2 surface which was excited by solar-light irradiation. The materials were tested for photocatalytic activity by two opposite methods; one detecting O2 (reduction, Rz ink test) while the other detecting OH (oxidation, terephthalic acid test). It was shown that the enhancement of the solar-light activity of TiO2 by the deposition of transition metal oxo-nanoclusters on the surface depends strongly on the combination of the reduction potential of such species and appropriate band positions of their oxides. The latter prevented excessive self-recombination of the photogenerated charge carriers by the nanoclusters in Ni and Zn modification, which was probably the case in other metal modifications.
Overall, only Ni modification had a positive effect on solar photoactivity in both oxidation and reduction reactions.
Ključne besede: surface modified TiO2, XANES, EXAFS, Nickel, solar light photocatalyst
Objavljeno v RUNG: 01.06.2018; Ogledov: 4895; Prenosov: 0
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38. Polysulfides formation in different electrolytes from the perspective of X-ray absorption spectroscopyRobert Dominko, Alen Vižintin, Giuliana Aquilanti, Lorenzo Stievano, Maria Joseph Helen, Anji Reddy Munnangi, Maximilian Fichtner, Iztok Arčon, 2018, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Li-S batteries are promising energy storage technology for the future, however there two major problems remained which need to be
solved before successful commercialization. Capacity fading due to polysulfide shuttle and corrosion of lithium metal are directly
connected with the type and quantity of electrolyte used in the cells. Several recent works show dependence of the electrochemical
behavior of Li-S batteries on type of the electrolyte. In this work we compare and discuss a discharge mechanism of sulfur conversion
in three different electrolytes based on measurements with sulfur K-edge XAS. The sulfur conversion mechanism in the ether based
electrolytes, the most studied type of solvents in the Li-S batteries, which are enabling high solubility of polysulfides are compared
with the fluorinated ether based electrolytes with a reduced polysulfide solubility and in carbonate based electrolytes with the sulfur
confined into a ultramicroporous carbon. In all three cases the sulfur reduction proceeds through polysulfide intermediate phases
with a difference on the type polysulfides detected at different steps of discharge.
Ključne besede: Li-S batteries, operando sulphur K-edge XANES, EXAFS, Li-polysulphides
Objavljeno v RUNG: 01.06.2018; Ogledov: 4776; Prenosov: 0
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39. Določanje atomske strukture snovi z rentgensko absorpcijsko spektrometrijo s sinhrotronsko svetloboIztok Arčon, predavanje na tuji univerzi Opis: Zakaj so velike evropske države pripravljene investirati ogromna sredstva v izgradnjo in delovanje sinhrotronov? Gre za izjemno svetle vire ultravijolične in rentgenske svetlobe, ki so v zadnjih dveh ali treh desetletjih postali nepogrešljivo orodje pri analizi snovi na atomskem oziroma molekularnem nivoju. Razvoja in sinteze novih materialov z želenimi lastnostmi si ne moremo predstavljati brez sodobnih preiskovalnih metod, ki temeljijo na sinhrotronski svetlobi.
V predavanju bo predstavljen princip delovanja in primeri uporabe ene od rentgenskih metod s sinhrotronsko svetlobo – rentgensko absorpcijsko spektroskopijo, s katero lahko določamo atomsko oz. molekularno strukturo snovi v vseh agregatnih stanjih. Za take raziskave so danes zanimivi predvsem različni nanostrukturni materiali, kot so katalizatorji, katodni materiali za Li-ionske in Li-žveplove baterije, tanke zaščitne plasti, in drugi, pri katerih atomska struktura določa njihove funkcionalne lastnosti. Na predavanju bodo izpostavljeni v prvi vrsti primeri in-operando karakterizacije z metodama XANES in EXAFS ki omogoča zelo natančno in neposredno spremljanje postopnih sprememb valence kovinskih kationov in njihove lokalne atomske strukture v nanozrnih v katodnem materialu med polnjenjem in praznjenjem baterije, ali kovinskih kationov na površini nanostrukturnega (foto)katalitskega materiala med samo katalitsko reakcijo.
Sodobni sinhrotronski viri rentgenske svetlobe pa omogočajo tudi uporabo kombinacije rentgenske absorpcijske spektroskopije z rentgenskimi mikroskopskimi metodami, z ločljivostjo do nekaj deset nanometrov. Na predavanju bodo predstavljeni primeri mikro-XANES in EXAFS analize lokalizacije in vezave toksičnih kovinskih kationov na sub-celičnem nivoju v različnih tkivih rastlin, s čimer lahko ključno prispevamo k razumevanju mehanizmov zajemanja, transporta, akumulacije in kompleksacije kovinskih kationov na sub-celičnem nivoju v različnih tkivih rastlin, ki te polutante (hiper)akumulirajo, in jih s tem prenašajo v prehranjevalno verigo, s čimer je ogroženo zdravje ljudi.
Ključne besede: rentgenska absorpcijska spektroskopija, XANES, EXAFS, strukturna analiza, sinhrotronska svetloba
Objavljeno v RUNG: 01.06.2018; Ogledov: 6854; Prenosov: 0
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40. Role of Surface Cu-O-Zr Sites in the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanoscale ParticlesOlena Pliekhova, Iztok Arčon, Nataša Novak Tušar, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, 2016, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Ključne besede: Photocatalysis, Titanium dioxide, Copper, Zirconia, co-doping, EXAFS, XANES
Objavljeno v RUNG: 23.08.2017; Ogledov: 6144; Prenosov: 0
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