Last Updated:

04/03/2021 - 15:55

The research article “Highly active, robust and reusable micro-/mesoporous TiN/Si3N4 nanocomposite-based catalysts for clean energy: Understanding the key role of TiN nanoclusters and amorphous Si3N4 matrix in the performance of the catalyst system”, co-authored by METU member Prof. Saim Özkar, has been published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

Herein, we developed a precursor approach toward the design of a titanium nitride (TiN)/silicon nitride (Si3N4) nanocomposite with an activated carbon monolith as a support matrix forming a highly micro-/mesoporous component to be used as a Pt support for the catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a model reaction. The experimental data demonstrated that the amorphous Si3N4 matrix, the strong Pt-TiN nanocluster interaction and the synergistic effects between the three components contributed to the improved performance of the catalyst system. Thus, the use of this TiN/Si3N4 nanocomposite allowed to significantly reducing the noble metal loading (only ∼1 wt% of Pt) for the complete and fast dehydrogenation of NaBH4 under alkaline conditions at 80 °C. Additionally, the catalytic system displayed an excellent robustness and durability to offer reusability without collapsing and performance decrease under the harsh conditions imposed by the reaction.


Lale, A., Mallmann, M. D., Tada, S., Bruma, A., Özkar, S., Kumar, R., . . . Bernard, S. (2020). Highly active, robust and reusable micro-/mesoporous TiN/Si3N4 nanocomposite-based catalysts for clean energy: Understanding the key role of TiN nanoclusters and amorphous Si3N4 matrix in the performance of the catalyst system. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 272 doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.118975

 

Article access: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926337320303908?via%3Dihub


METU Author

Prof. Saim Özkar

Web of Science/Publons Researcher ID: ABA-1983-2020
sozkar@metu.edu.tr Scopus Author ID: 7003408746
About the author ORCID: 0000-0002-6302-1429

Keywords:
Catalytic support; Hydrogen generation; Nitride; Sodium borohydride


Other authors:
Lale, A., Mallmann, M.D., Tada, S., Bruma, A., Kumar, R., Haneda, M., Francisco Machado, R.A., Iwamoto, Y., Demirci, U.B. & Bernard, S.


Acknowledgments:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial contribution from CEFIPRA agency (project N°5108-1). The authors thank Dr. Xavier Deschanels and Dr. Johan Alauzun for elemental analyses. Dr. Samuel Bernard and Prof. Ricardo Machado acknowledge the CNPq for providing financial support for the PhD thesis of Maira Mallmann. Dr Samuel Bernard and Prof. Yuji Iwamoto would like to thank CNRS who financially supported present work via the International Research Project (IRP) 'Ceramics materials for societal challenges'.