Photocatalytic reactor cell

Abstract

To provide a method for using a reactor cell to transform an efficient and highly cost effective catalyst reactor cell and reaction substance gas.SOLUTION: There is provided a fixed bed reactor cell for transforming a reaction substance gas. The reactor cell includes: an optically transparent cylindrical enclosure; fittings configured to attach the reactor cell; a catalyst support; and a supported plasmonic photocatalyst. The reactor cell is configured to, when a light source for emitting light having an infrared or visible light spectrum is used in the whole of enclosure while a reaction substance input gas passes through the enclosure, transform the reaction substance input gas to an output gas through reaction with the plasmonic photocatalyst. The plasmonic photocatalyst contains a catalyst coupled to a plasmonic material having a plurality of optical absorption maximum values through a physical, electronic, thermal or optical bond, and has a plurality of plasmonic resonance frequencies for catalyzing a desired chemical reaction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] 1. Related Applications This application claims priority to the following U.S. patent applications, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 525,301, filed June 27, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 525,305, filed June 27, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 525,380, filed June 27, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 586,675, filed November 15, 2017.

[0002] Additionally, the following applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety: International Patent Application No. PCT / US18 / 32375, filed May 11, 2018, U.S. Patent Application No. 15,977,843, filed May 11, 2018, and concurrently filed International Patent Application No. (TBD) entitled "Photocatalytic Reactor Having Multiple Photocatalytic Reactor Cells." 2.Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to a photocatalytic reactor cell that includes a housing and one or more plasmonic photocatalysts provided on a catalyst support disposed within the housing. [Background technology]

[0003] 3.Background technology Industrial processes rely heavily on heterogeneous catalysts for chemical production and environmental pollutant mitigation. These processes often rely on metal nanoparticles dispersed on high surface area support materials to maximize catalytically active surface area and enable the most cost-effective use of catalysts (palladium, platinum, ruthenium, or rhodium). Catalytic processes utilizing transition metal nanoparticles are often energy intensive, requiring high temperatures and pressures to maximize catalytic activity. Therefore, efficient and cost-effective catalytic reactors and systems are needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The inventors have discovered an efficient reactor cell that utilizes artificial or natural light sources. The disclosed reactor cell is designed to maximize absorption of one or more target wavelengths and / or catalyze a desired chemical reaction. As a result, the disclosed reactor cell can be a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution to many current industrial processes.

[0005] Thus, according to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a reactor cell comprising an optically transparent housing having at least one input and at least one output, and one or more plasmonic photocatalysts on a catalyst support disposed within the housing, the plasmonic photocatalyst comprising a catalyst coupled to a plasmonic material, such as by physical, electronic, thermal, or optical coupling, and wherein the reactor cell is configured to convert at least one reactant into at least one modifier upon application of a light source.

[0006] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for transforming reactants using one or more reactor cells of the present disclosure. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a method for transforming at least one reactant into at least one modified product, the method comprising: (a) adding at least one reactant to a reactor cell of the present disclosure; and (b) irradiating at least the interior of the reactor cell via at least one light source.

[0007] In another aspect, the present application provides a reactor cell comprising a housing having at least one input, at least one output, and a central cavity; a light source disposed within the central cavity; and one or more plasmonic photocatalysts on a catalyst support disposed within the housing and substantially surrounding the central cavity, the plasmonic photocatalyst having a catalyst coupled to a plasmonic material by physical, electronic, thermal, or optical coupling. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the methods and apparatus of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and sizes of various elements may be distorted and / or simplified representations may be shown to facilitate understanding. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention. [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a reactor cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective side view of a reactor cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing in detail an example of the configuration of a reactor cell having a bead-shaped catalyst carrier. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Before describing the devices and methods of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the aspects described herein are not limited to particular embodiments, devices, or configurations, as these can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and, unless otherwise defined herein, is not limiting.

[0010] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the terms "comprises" and "includes" and variations thereof (e.g., "comprises", "includes", etc.) mean the inclusion of a stated component, feature, element, step or group of components, features, elements or steps, but do not exclude other components, features, elements, steps or group of components, features, elements or steps.

[0011] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0012] As used herein, "coupling" includes physical, electronic, thermal, or optical coupling of one element to another.

[0013] As used herein, ranges can be expressed as from "about" one particular value and / or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, the alternative embodiment can be from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values ​​are expressed as approximations, by using "about," it will be understood that the particular value constitutes another embodiment. Further, it will be understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

[0014] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages, ratios, and proportions herein are by weight. Weight percent (wt % or wt %) of an element is based on the total weight of the element in which it is included (e.g., the total amount of catalyst material), unless otherwise specified.

[0015] In light of the present disclosure, the processes and active materials described herein can be adapted by those skilled in the art to meet desired needs. Generally, the disclosed materials, methods, and apparatus improve photocatalytic processes and materials. Generally, the present disclosure provides a reactor cell comprising a housing having at least one input and at least one output, and one or more plasmonic photocatalysts on a catalyst support disposed within the housing. Typically, the plasmonic photocatalyst comprises a catalyst coupled to a plasmonic material, such as by physical, electronic, thermal, or optical coupling. The reactor cell of the present disclosure is configured to convert at least one reactant into at least one modified product using a light source.

[0016] In conventional fixed-bed reactors, the catalyst bed is not optically transparent (i.e., light does not pass through the catalyst bed). However, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least the support is optically transparent. According to certain embodiments, the reactor cell of the present disclosure additionally or alternatively comprises an optically transparent housing. According to some embodiments, the optically transparent housing has a transmittance of at least 50% for a predetermined wavelength of light. For example, according to some embodiments, the optically transparent housing has a transmittance of about 50% to about 100% for a predetermined wavelength of light, or at least 55%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or at least 95%, or even at least 98% for a predetermined wavelength of light.

[0017] Preferably, the optically transparent housing according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may have a low coefficient of thermal expansion. Thus, according to one embodiment, the optically transparent housing has a coefficient of thermal expansion of about 1×10 -4 According to one embodiment, the optically transparent housing comprises a material having a coefficient of linear expansion (CTE) of less than about 1×10 / °K. -5 / °K or approximately 5 × 10 -6 / °K or approximately 3 × 10 -6 / °K, CTE of even or about 1 × 10 -6 / °K. For example, an example of a material with a suitable CTE is 3.2×10 -6 / °K borosilicate glass, 3.2 x 10 -6 / °K Pyrex glass, approximately 0.59 x 10 -6 / °K to approximately 9×10 -6 / °K quartz, 5.3 x 10 -6 / °K for sapphire, and 0.55 x 10 -6 Examples include, but are not limited to, fused silica at 1 / °K.

[0018] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any material having a desired transmittance for a given wavelength (or range of wavelengths) of light and / or a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) may be used. According to some embodiments, the optically transparent housing comprises glass, borosilicate glass, quartz, fused silica, aluminosilicate glass, lithium-aluminosilicate glass, sapphire, or a combination thereof.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the optically transparent housing is optically transparent on all sides. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, according to some embodiments, the optically transparent housing need not be optically transparent on all sides. For example, the outer cavity of the optically transparent housing may include a reflective surface facing the central cavity (which may be optically transparent). Alternatively, substantially the entire inner surface of the housing may be reflective instead of optically transparent, which may be advantageous in embodiments utilizing a light source located inside the reactor cell. Embodiments such as those described above, including outer cavities and central cavities, are described in further detail below.

[0020] The reactor cells of the present disclosure also require one or more plasmonic photocatalysts, including a catalyst coupled to a plasmonic material, such as by physical, electronic, thermal, or optical coupling. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the plasmonic material acts as an optical antenna capable of absorbing light due to a unique interaction of the light with the plasmonic material, resulting in the generation of a strong electric field on and near the plasmonic material (e.g., as a result of collective oscillations of electrons within the plasmonic material). This strong electric field on and near the plasmonic material allows the catalyst and the plasmonic material to couple together even when the catalyst and the plasmonic material are separated by more than about 20 nm.

[0021] In general, the plasmonic material may be any metal, alloy, or metalloid element, or alloy thereof. According to some embodiments, the plasmonic material of the present disclosure is gold, a gold alloy, silver, a silver alloy, copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. In this disclosure, the term "alloy" includes any possible combination of metals. For example, the alloy may be a binary alloy such as AuAg, AuPd, AuCu, AgPd, or AgCu, or it may be a ternary or even quaternary alloy.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the plasmonic materials of the present disclosure comprise an oxide shell surrounding an unoxidized core. According to one or more embodiments, the oxide shell may be a natural oxide shell that is generated when a metal or alloy is exposed to air or water. For example, a copper plasmonic material may have a copper oxide (e.g., CuO or CuO) surrounding a copper core, and an aluminum plasmonic material may have an aluminum oxide shell surrounding an aluminum core. According to some embodiments, the oxide shell may be at least partially artificially formed, such as by artificially thickening a natural oxide shell by forming an oxide around a preformed plasmonic material by a suitable chemical method, or chemical synthesis, or otherwise deposition. According to some embodiments, the thickness of the oxide shell may be up to about 30 nm, or up to about 25 nm, or up to about 15 nm. According to some embodiments, the thickness of the oxide shell may be at least about 0.5 nm, or at least 1 nm, or at least 1.5 nm. According to some embodiments, the thickness of the oxide shell is from about 0.1 nm to about 5 nm, or from about 0.1 nm to about 30 nm, or from about 1 nm to about 5 nm, or from about 1 nm to about 30 nm.

[0023] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the size, shape, and chemical structure of a plasmonic material affect its absorption at one or more target wavelengths. Thus, one or more plasmonic materials may be designed to maximize absorption at one or more target wavelengths (e.g., recognizing the target wavelengths while absorbing relatively little at other, non-target wavelengths). In another example, the plasmonic materials of the present disclosure may be designed to catalyze a desired chemical reaction. Thus, according to some embodiments, the plasmonic materials of the present disclosure may have a plasmon resonance frequency or optical absorption maximum in the ultraviolet to infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. According to some embodiments, the plasmonic materials have a plasmon resonance frequency in the visible light spectrum (e.g., wavelengths ranging from about 380 nm to about 760 nm).

[0024] In general, the catalytic material coupled to the plasmonic material can be any compound capable of catalyzing a desired reaction (e.g., even when not coupled to the plasmonic material). For example, the catalyst can be used for oxidation and reduction reactions, mitigation reactions for water or air pollution, NO 2 reactions, and the like. Xand NO decomposition, catalysis of hydrogenation reactions such as acetylene hydrogenation, conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide via the reverse water-gas shift reaction (which may be coupled with hydrogenation reactions to produce hydrocarbons using, for example, a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction), and nitrogen activation reactions, including ammonia synthesis. According to some embodiments, the catalysts of the present disclosure may be any metal or metalloid element, any alloy, oxide, phosphide, nitride, or combination thereof. For example, the catalysts of the present disclosure may comprise catalytically active palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, iron, copper, cobalt, iridium, osmium, titanium, vanadium, indium, or combinations thereof. The catalysts of the present disclosure may comprise any alloy, oxide, phosphide, or nitride of catalytically active palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, iron, copper, cobalt, iridium, osmium, titanium, vanadium, or indium. According to some embodiments, the catalysts of the present disclosure comprise catalytically active iron or copper. According to some embodiments, the catalysts of the present disclosure may be intermetallic nanoparticles, core-shell nanoparticles, or semiconductor nanoparticles (e.g., Cu2O).

[0025] According to some embodiments, the catalyst may be physically attached to the plasmonic material. According to other embodiments, the catalyst may be separated from the plasmonic material by a small distance (but coupled, for example, by physical, electronic, thermal, or optical coupling). This separation may be achieved by space (i.e., a clear physical separation) or by a thin oxide layer, as described above. For example, the plasmonic material and catalyst may be separated by a small distance when formed by lithographic techniques, creating a clear physical separation. According to one or more embodiments, this small separation may be up to about 30 nm, or up to about 25 nm, or up to about 15 nm. According to some embodiments, this separation may be at least about 0.5 nm, or at least 2 nm, or at least 5 nm, or at least 10 nm. According to some embodiments, one or more catalysts may be physically attached to the surface of a single plasmonic material, which can increase the surface area available for reaction. According to some embodiments, the catalyst may form a shell surrounding the plasmonic material.

[0026] The plasmonic photocatalyst may have a diameter of about 5 nm to about 300 nm. According to some embodiments, the diameter of the plasmonic photocatalyst of the present disclosure may be about 10 nm to about 300 nm, or about 50 nm to about 300 nm, or about 80 nm to about 300 nm, or about 100 nm to about 300 nm, or about 5 nm to about 250 nm, or about 10 nm to about 250 nm, or about 50 nm to about 250 nm, or about 80 nm to about 250 nm, or about 100 nm to about 250 nm, or about 5 nm to about 200 nm, or about 10 nm to about 200 nm, or about 50 nm to about 200 nm, or about 80 nm to about 200 nm, or about 100 nm to about 200 nm, or about 80 nm to about 200 nm.

[0027] The reactor cell in at least some embodiments further comprises one or more plasmonic photocatalysts dispersed on a catalyst support. Like the housing, in some embodiments, the catalyst support has low absorbance, particularly sufficiently low absorbance (for a particular radiation wavelength or wavelength range) to allow sufficient exposure of the reactants to irradiance to achieve the desired catalytic effect for the particular reactor cell geometry in use.

[0028] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any material having a desired absorbance or transmittance for a given wavelength (or set or range of wavelengths) of light may be used for the catalyst support. According to some embodiments, the catalyst support comprises silica, quartz, fused silica, glass, borosilicate glass, aluminosilicate glass, lithium-aluminosilicate glass, sapphire, diamond, or a mixture thereof. The catalyst support of the present disclosure may have any shape known in the art, such as beads, porous beads, fibers, spheres, pellets, cylinders (hollow or otherwise), honeycombs, or symmetrical or asymmetrical tri- or tetra-lobed bodies (e.g., formed using extrusion or tableting processes). For example, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a beaded catalyst support. According to some embodiments, the catalyst support of the present disclosure may be an aerogel. Suitable aerogels include, but are not limited to, silicon dioxide aerogel, aluminum oxide aerogel, titanium dioxide aerogel, zirconium dioxide aerogel, holmium oxide aerogel, samarium oxide aerogel, erbium oxide aerogel, neodymium (III) oxide aerogel, or combinations thereof. According to some embodiments, the catalyst support of the present disclosure is a silicon dioxide aerogel. Those skilled in the art will recognize that when the support is an aerogel, the plasmonic photocatalyst may be dispersed within the aerogel (e.g., the plasmonic photocatalyst may be embedded in the aerogel). According to some embodiments, the catalyst support of the present disclosure may be transparent aluminum oxide (e.g., α-phase aluminum oxide or γ-phase aluminum oxide).

[0029] The plasmonic photocatalyst may be present on the catalyst support in any amount suitable for the desired application. For example, the amount of plasmonic photocatalyst present on the catalyst support may be about 0.01 wt% to about 30 wt%, or about 0.01 wt% to about 80 wt%, or about 10 wt% to about 80 wt%, or about 0.01 wt% to about 70 wt%, or about 10 wt% to about 70 wt%. According to some embodiments, the amount of plasmonic photocatalyst present on the catalyst support may be about 0.01 vol% to about 30 vol%, or about 0.01 vol% to about 20 vol%, or about 10 vol% to about 50 vol%, or about 0.01 vol% to about 70 vol%, or about 10 vol% to about 70 vol%.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the plasmonic photocatalyst may be present on the catalyst support as a thin film coating (e.g., as one or several layers) on the outer surface of the support. According to one or more embodiments, the plasmonic photocatalyst layer coated on the support may be up to about 30 nm, or up to about 25 nm, or up to about 15 nm, or at least about 0.5 nm, or at least 2 nm, or at least 5 nm, or at least 10 nm, or from about 5 nm to about 300 nm, or from about 10 nm to about 300 nm, or from about 50 nm to about 300 nm, or from about 80 nm to about 300 nm, or from about 100 nm to about 300 nm. to about 300 nm, or about 5 nm to about 200 nm, or about 10 nm to about 200 nm, or about 50 nm to about 200 nm, or about 80 nm to about 200 nm, or about 100 nm to about 200 nm, or about 80 nm to about 200 nm, or about 5 nm to about 100 nm, or about 10 nm to about 100 nm, or about 50 nm to about 100 nm, or about 10 nm to about 50 nm, or about 1 nm to about 50 nm.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the reactor cell includes a single plasmonic photocatalyst on a catalyst support disposed within a housing (e.g., one type of supported plasmonic photocatalyst may be disposed within the housing). According to some embodiments, the reactor cell includes two or more plasmonic photocatalysts on a catalyst support disposed within a housing (e.g., two or more different plasmonic photocatalysts may be disposed within the housing). The two or more plasmonic photocatalysts on a support may be in a mixed state or in separate layers. For example, each layer may have a single type of supported plasmonic photocatalyst with a desired plasmonic resonance frequency and / or a desired diameter. In a non-limiting example, one layer may absorb a desired wavelength range relative to other wavelengths, the next layer may absorb a different wavelength range, and the final layer (e.g., an intermediate layer) may absorb a different wavelength, such as wavelengths outside the first and second wavelength ranges.

[0032] Generally, the reactor cell is configured to allow illumination of the plasmonic photocatalyst by a light source. One embodiment of a reactor cell of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section in FIG. 1A. Elements of the same reactor cell 100 are also shown in exploded view in FIG. 1B. Here, the illustrated reactor cell 100 includes a plasmonic photocatalyst on a catalyst support 120 disposed within an optically transparent housing 110. The reactor cell 100 may further include a mount 160 configured to mount the cell to at least one transport path for at least one reactant input 130 and at least one reformate output 140. The reactor cell 100 may further include one or more packing supports 150 configured to retain the catalyst within the optically transparent housing 110.

[0033] The size and shape of the reactor cell housing may be selected to meet desired needs. According to some embodiments, the housing has an inner diameter of about 0.2 cm to about 10 cm, or about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm. According to some embodiments, the housing has a length of about 10 cm to about 2 m, or about 50 cm to about 1 m. The reactor cell housing may, for example, be circular or polygonal in cross section.

[0034] As described above, the reactor cell may further include one or more fittings (e.g., fitting 160 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B ) configured to attach the reactor cell to at least one transport path for transporting at least one reactant to the housing or at least one reformate from the housing. For example, the fittings may include a first fitting coupled to a reactant input and a second fitting coupled to a reformate output. Fittings of the present disclosure may include, for example, low-alloy steel, high-alloy steel, chromium alloy, nickel alloy, plastic, glass, borosilicate glass, quartz, fused silica, aluminosilicate glass, lithium-aluminosilicate glass, or combinations thereof. If desired, fittings of the present disclosure may further include O-rings or other sealing mechanisms. Other mounting members and / or sealing mechanisms are possible and are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0035] The reactor cell may further include one or more packing supports (e.g., packing support 150 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B) configured to retain the catalyst within the housing. According to some embodiments, packing supports are provided at the input and output ends of the reactor cell. According to some embodiments, packing supports are provided at spaced intervals at the input and output ends of the reactor cell. Conventional materials used as packing supports may be, for example, metal mesh, glass beads (larger in diameter than the support), glass wool, monoliths, polymers, or elastomers.

[0036] According to some embodiments, the optically transparent housing further comprises an outer cavity and a central cavity coaxially disposed with the outer cavity, the outer cavity containing the plasmonic photocatalyst on the catalyst support, and the central cavity configured to accommodate a light source or a temperature control mechanism. According to some embodiments, the light source is disposed in the central cavity of the housing. According to some embodiments, the light source extends along or through the length of the housing. Any suitable light source may be, but is not limited to, an LED, a metal halide lamp, a high-pressure sodium lamp, a xenon lamp, an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a halogen lamp, an HID lamp, a laser, or a combination thereof. Natural light, such as sunlight, may be introduced into the central cavity as a light source. According to some embodiments, a temperature control mechanism is disposed in the central cavity of the optically transparent housing. Any temperature control mechanism known in the art may be used. For example, the temperature control mechanism may include a fluid input coupled to a first end of the central cavity and a fluid output coupled to a second end of the central cavity such that a fluid passes through the reactor cell to add or remove heat from the reactor cell, or the temperature control mechanism may include a thermally conductive metal rod or wire.

[0037] According to another aspect, a method for transforming a reactant using a reactor cell is provided. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a method for transforming at least one reactant into at least one modified product, the method comprising adding at least one reactant to a reactor cell of the present disclosure and irradiating the interior of the reactor cell with at least one light source.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure, said illumination is from a light source external to the housing, and the housing is substantially optically transparent.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the method further comprises heating (e.g., without external heating, such as with a dedicated heat source) at least one cell with at least one reactant that reacts with the plasmonic photocatalyst. According to some embodiments, the method further comprises externally heating the reactor cell. The external heating may be achieved by a temperature control mechanism as described above or by another heating method.

[0040] Representative methods of the present disclosure include oxidation-reduction reactions, water or air pollution mitigation reactions, NO X and nitrogen activation reactions, including, but not limited to, N2O decomposition, hydrogenations such as acetylene hydrogenation, carbon dioxide conversion, and ammonia synthesis.

[0041] CH4+H2O→H2+CO CH4+CO2→H2+CO H2O+CO→H2+CO2 CO2+H2→CO+H2O CO2+H2→CH4+H2O N2O → N2 + O2 C2H2+H2→C2H4 H2+N2→NH3 CO2+H2→CH4OH+H2O Thus, according to some embodiments, the reactants are methane and water, or the reactants are methane and carbon dioxide, or the reactants are carbon monoxide and water, or the reactants are carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas, or the reactants are nitrous oxide, or the reactants are acetylene and hydrogen gas, or the reactants are hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas, or the reactants are carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas.

[0042] The disclosed methods may be carried out at any suitable temperature. For example, according to some embodiments, the disclosed methods are carried out at a temperature ranging from about 100°C to about 300°C, or from about 100°C to about 250°C, or from about 100°C to about 200°C, or from about 150°C to about 300°C, or from about 150°C to about 250°C, or from about 150°C to about 200°C, or from about 200°C to about 300°C, or from about 200°C to about 250°C, or from about 180°C to about 220°C, or from about 190°C to about 210°C, or from about 20°C to about 300°C, or from about 20°C to about 250°C, or from about 20°C to about 200°C, or from about 20°C to about 150°C, or from about 20°C to about 100°C.

[0043] The methods of the present disclosure may be carried out at any suitable pressure. For example, according to some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure are carried out at a pressure range of about 14 psi to about 300 psi, or about 14 psi to about 200 psi, or about 14 psi to about 100 psi, or about 14 psi to about 50 psi, or about 100 psi to about 300 psi, or about 100 psi to about 200 psi.

[0044] In the methods of the present disclosure, the reactants may be introduced into the reactor cell at any suitable temperature. According to some embodiments, when introduced into the reactor cell, the reactants are at a temperature of about 200°C to about 300°C, or about 200°C to about 270°C, or about 200°C to about 250°C, or about 230°C to about 270°C.

[0045] It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only, and that various modifications or variations thereto will be suggested to those skilled in the art and are to be incorporated within the spirit and scope of this application and the scope of the claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Claims

1. A fixed bed reactor cell for transforming one or more reactant gases, comprising: an optically transparent cylindrical housing; a first fitting configured to mount the reactor cell at a first end of the housing to at least one transport path for receiving at least one reactant input gas; a second fitting configured to attach the reactor cell at a second end of the housing to at least one transport path for outputting at least one output gas; and a catalyst support packed as a fixed bed that substantially fills the housing; a plasmonic photocatalyst supported by the catalyst support, the plasmonic photocatalyst being designed to maximize absorption of multiple target wavelengths and including a catalyst coupled via physical, electronic, thermal, or optical bonding to a plasmonic material having multiple optical absorption maxima, the plasmonic photocatalyst having multiple plasmonic resonance frequencies for catalyzing a desired chemical reaction; Including, 1. A fixed bed reactor cell configured to convert the at least one reactant input gas into the at least one output gas through reaction of the at least one reactant input gas with the plasmonic photocatalyst using a light source that emits at least one light in the infrared or visible light spectrum throughout at least an interior of the enclosure while the at least one reactant input gas passes through the enclosure.

2. 10. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the optically transparent housing has a transmittance of at least 50% for at least one predetermined wavelength of light.

3. The reactor cell of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent housing comprises glass, borosilicate glass, quartz, fused silica, aluminosilicate glass, lithium-aluminosilicate glass, sapphire, or a combination thereof.

4. 10. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the catalyst support is selected to have a low enough absorbance for at least one predetermined wavelength of light to catalyze the transformation of the at least one reactant input gas into the at least one output gas.

5. 10. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the catalyst support comprises silica, quartz, fused silica, glass, borosilicate glass, sapphire, diamond, or a combination thereof.

6. 10. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the catalyst support is an aerogel having silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, holmium oxide, samarium oxide, erbium oxide, neodymium (III) oxide, or a combination thereof.

7. 10. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the catalyst support is aluminum oxide.

8. A reactor cell as described in claim 1, wherein the housing has an inner diameter of 0.2 cm to 30 cm and a length of 10 cm to 2 m.

9. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED, metal halide lamp, high-pressure sodium lamp, xenon lamp, incandescent lamp, fluorescent lamp, halogen lamp, HID, laser, or combination thereof.

10. A reactor cell as described in claim 1, wherein the optically transparent housing further comprises an outer cavity and a central cavity arranged coaxially with the outer cavity, the outer cavity containing the plasmonic photocatalyst on the catalyst support and substantially surrounding the central cavity, and the central cavity is provided with at least one of the light source and temperature control mechanism.

11. A reactor cell as described in claim 10, wherein the temperature control mechanism includes a fluid input coupled to a first end of the central cavity and a fluid output coupled to a second end of the central cavity so that a fluid passes through the reactor cell to add heat to or remove heat from the reactor cell.

12. A reactor cell as described in claim 10, wherein the temperature control mechanism comprises at least one metal rod or a plurality of metal wires.

13. A method for transforming at least one reactant gas using a fixed bed reactor cell, the fixed bed reactor cell comprising: an optically transparent cylindrical housing; a first fitting configured to mount the reactor cell at a first end of the housing to at least one transport path for receiving at least one reactant input gas; a second fitting configured to attach the reactor cell at a second end of the housing to at least one transport path for outputting at least one output gas; and a catalyst support packed as a fixed bed that substantially fills the housing; a plasmonic photocatalyst supported by the catalyst support, the plasmonic photocatalyst being designed to maximize absorption of multiple target wavelengths and including a catalyst coupled via physical, electronic, thermal, or optical bonding to a plasmonic material having multiple optical absorption maxima, the plasmonic photocatalyst having multiple plasmonic resonance frequencies for catalyzing a desired chemical reaction; Including, The method comprises: delivering the at least one reactant input gas through the at least one transport path to the first fitting of the reactor cell; irradiating at least the interior of the reactor cell via at least one light source emitting light in at least one of the infrared or visible light spectrums; outputting the at least one output gas from the second fitting of the reactor cell; Equipped with wherein the reactor cell converts the at least one reactant input gas into the at least one output gas through reaction of the at least one reactant input gas with the plasmonic photocatalyst using the at least one light source that emits at least one light in the infrared or visible light spectrum throughout at least the entire interior of the enclosure while the at least one reactant input gas passes through the enclosure.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising heating the reactor cell via a temperature control mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing.

15. The method described in claim 13, further comprising a step of heating the at least one cell solely via the at least one reactant input gas that reacts with the plasmonic photocatalyst without adding a separate dedicated heat source.

16. A fixed bed reactor cell for transforming one or more gases, comprising: a housing having a central cavity, at least one input and at least one output; a light source disposed within the central cavity; a plasmonic photocatalyst on a fixed-bed catalyst support disposed within the housing, substantially filling the housing and substantially surrounding the central cavity, the plasmonic photocatalyst being designed to maximize absorption at multiple target wavelengths and including a catalyst coupled via physical, electronic, thermal, or optical bonding to a plasmonic material having multiple optical absorption maxima, the plasmonic photocatalyst having multiple plasmonic resonance frequencies for catalyzing a desired chemical reaction; Including, 1. A fixed bed reactor cell, wherein the reactor cell is configured to convert at least one reactant input gas into at least one output gas through reaction of the at least one reactant input gas with the plasmonic photocatalyst using the light source that emits at least one light in the infrared or visible light spectrum throughout substantially the entire interior of the enclosure while the at least one reactant input gas passes through the enclosure.

17. A reactor cell as described in claim 16, wherein the housing has a reflective surface facing the central cavity.

18. The reactor cell of claim 1, wherein the housing has a length of 50 cm to 1 m.

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