New type of catalytic materials based on active metal-hydrogen-electronegative element complexes for hydrogen transfer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition of matter prepared in accordance with a method comprising the steps of: (a) combining a substance selected from the group consisting of: metal or metalloid, or an alloy thereof, or a compound thereof, or an homogeneous or inhomogeneous combination of at least two of the metal or metalloid, the alloy thereof, or the compound thereof, with a source of hydrogen, to form a first intermediate, (b) milling the first intermediate to effect reaction between the substance and the hydrogen to form a second intermediate, (c) combining the second intermediate with a source of an electronegative element, to form a third intermediate, and (d) milling the third intermediate to effect reaction between the second intermediate and the electronegative element. The composition of matter could be used as a hydrogen transfer facilitator or catalyst to enhance the kinetics of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to new catalytic materials of specific composition and molecular structure, which are able to catalyze and improve efficiency of chemical reactions involving hydrogen transfer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Many chemical reactions in both inorganic and organic chemistry involve relocation of hydrogen atoms, ions (protons), or molecules, which need to be transferred from one chemical molecule to another molecule, or exchanged with other atoms, ions or radicals in the reaction route. Amongst many such reactions, the most common types are: hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, reduction / oxidation, various types of reactions involving organic compounds, electrochemical reactions, and reactions in all types of fuel cells. All these reactions may exhibit a wide spectrum of various types of chemical bonding and various underlying atomic-scale mechanisms, as well as different nature of atomic interactions. In all of them, there is howeve...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method for creating a composition of matter that can function as a hydrogen transfer facilitator. This involves combining a metallic substance with a source of hydrogen, such as a hydride of a metal or metalloid, or a metal or metalloid capable of absorbing hydrogen to form a hydride. The combination is then milled to create a final product. The resulting composition can be used to transfer hydrogen to a second metallic substance. The method ensures that the hydrogen transfer facilitator is mechanically alloyed to the second metallic substance, which enhances the ability of the composition to transfer hydrogen. The resulting composition has a unique structure and can be used in various applications, such as in the production of catalysts or the creation of new materials."

Problems solved by technology

In the course of these reactions, the events of hydrogen transfer or exchange occur repeatedly and improving the efficiency of hydrogen relocation is the main challenge for many chemical technologies.

It is generally assumed that metal particles act most probably as active centers for the hydrogen dissociation, but the role of the support is so far still not fully understood.

In practice the metal is often expensive (for example Pt) and may constitute only about 1 wt.

Although, generally, catalysis is one of the most important fields of chemical technology, it is still far from being accomplished.

Most catalysts are difficult to fabricate and the production process involves a sequence of several, complex steps (as mentioned above), many of which are still not completely understood (J. E. Schwarz et al.

As a result, subtle changes in the preparative details may result in dramatic alteration in the properties of the final catalysts, which may thus become ineffective.

Another crucial challenge in the preparation of catalysts is the ability to prepare these materials with sufficiently high surface area.

Also, most of the multicomponent metal oxides require high-temperature treatment (exceeding 1000° C., as for alumina-based oxides), which is a significant technical drawback.

Another problem is that catalytic materials usually require “activation” i.e. some special treatment, before they could become active as catalysts, for example high-temperature annealing in vacuum or hydrogen atmosphere.

Even then, however, in certain cases, the effect of annealing in hydrogen can indeed improve the catalyst's activity, but for other catalytic materials, the same treatment can actually have an adversary effect.

Although the experimental data suggest that different catalytic supports lead to different effects of hydrogen treatment, these problems are still unresolved (B. C. Gates “Supported Metal Clusters: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalysis”, Chem. Rev. 1995, 95, 511).

Moreover, most catalysts become rapidly deactivated when exposed to air.

All the above disadvantages of conventional catalytic materials cause continuous efforts to develop new, inexpensive materials with catalytic properties suitable for reactions involving hydrogen transfer, and to develop novel methods of their preparation.

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