Abstract:
A photocatalytic metal deposition process and a resulting nanocomposite are described. The nanocomposite includes an electrically conducting carbonaceous material, a photoactive metal oxide and a metal. Metals for deposition include noble metals, metal alloys and other transition metals in which the metal is laid down precisely and in a predetermined fashion on one or more surfaces of a composite. Deposition provides a high performance electrocatalyst for a number of suitable applications.
Abstract:
A photocatalytic metal deposition process and a resulting nanocomposite are described. The nanocomposite includes an electrically conducting carbonaceous material, a photoactive metal oxide and a metal. Metals for deposition include noble metals, metal alloys and other transition metals in which the metal is laid down precisely and in a predetermined fashion on one or more surfaces of a composite. Deposition provides a high performance electrocatalyst for a number of suitable applications.
Abstract:
A process of stripping a coating according to the invention comprises subjecting a coated substrate to an aqueous medium containing a peroxide and an interfacial mixing agent, and to heating preferably by either ultraviolet (UV) and/or infrared (IR) radiation. The substrate is completely stripped of the coating and suffers no damage to itself as a result of the paint debonding/dislodging process. No toxic wastes are generated from this process, nor are particulates associated with air pollution generated. The metal substrates being stripped also do not undergo corrosion or other damage as a result of the described process.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns an electronically conductive polymer film comprising colloidal catalytic particles homogeneously dispersed therein. The electronically conductive polymer is preferably polypyrrole although other conductive polymers, for example, polyaniline and polythiophene are also utilizable. The preferred catalytic particles are platinum although other catalytic particles such as RuO.sub.2, Ag, Pd, Ni, Cd, Co, Mo, Mn-oxide, Mn-sulfide, a molybdate, a tungstate, tungsten carbide, a thiospinel, Ru, Rh, Os, It, or a platinum palladium alloy (Pt/Pd).The colloidal catalytic particles incorporated in the film of the present invention are less than 100 nanometers in size, preferably about 10 nm in size. In a most preferred composition, the polymer is polypyrrole and the catalytic particles are platinum.The present invention also involves a method of producing an electronically conductive polymer film containing colloidal catalytic particles homogeneously dispersed therein. This method comprises: 1) preparing a colloidal suspension of catalytic particles in a solution comprising an electronically conductive polymer precursor. The catalytic particles may be those listed above, preferably platinum, and the electronically conductive polymer precursor is preferably pyrrole although aniline and thiophene or other monomers leading to conductive polymers may also be utilized analogously. An electronically conductive polymer film is then electrosynthesized, incorporating homogeneously dispersed colloidal catalytic particles.In an important embodiment of the present invention, colloidal platinum particles are produced by citrate reduction of Pt (IV) to Pt.sup.0. Most preferably, this citrate reduction involves a sub-stoichiometric level of citrate as compared to the Pt (IV) level.Another important aspect of the present invention is the utilization of the porous conductive polymeric matrix of the present invention which includes homogeneously dispersed colloidal catalytic particles to catalyze a reaction. Such a catalytic reaction involves subjection of reactants to this material in an electrochemically conductive or other context. Advantages of this type of catalysis involves ready retrieval of the catalytic particles, efficient utilization of expensive catalytic particles such as platinum, resistance of the particles to at least high molecular weight poisons which will not penetrate the polymeric matrix and, finally, the lack of saturation of catalytic activity in contrast to that seen with surface coated thin polymer layers.
Abstract:
A process of stripping a coating according to the invention comprises subjecting a coated substrate to an aqueous medium containing a peroxide and an interfacial mixing agent, and to heating preferably by either ultraviolet (UV) and/or infrared (IR) radiation. The substrate is completely stripped of the coating and suffers no damage to itself as a result of the paint debonding/dislodging process. No toxic wastes are generated from this process, nor are particulates associated with air pollution generated. The metal substrates being stripped also do not undergo corrosion or other damage as a result of the described process.
Abstract:
The treatment of solutions of metal ions with redox polymers under conditions to reduce the ions to a lower valence. The resulting solutions of the lower valence ions are separated from the polymers, and the polymers are regenerated for further use in such treatment. The method of the invention is employed to convert high valence, toxic metal ions to lower valence ions of reduced toxicity. Preferably, the electronically conductive polymer is mounted on a suitable support, and a solution of the toxic metal ion is brought into contact with the polymer. A variety of redox polymers, in particular, electronically conductive polymers, may be used in the practice of the invention, and individual such polymers may be structurally altered to suit particular metal ions. Polymers especially contemplated for use in the invention are polypyrroles, polyanilines and polythiophenes. All of these polymers are characterized as redox polymers with a positive charge on their backbones. In general, suitable polymers are redox polymers bearing a positive charge on their backbones with an E.sub.o of the (surface) redox couple sufficiently negative to react with a metal ion of interest. Thus, for example, an E.sub.o more negative than 1.16V is preferred for the recovery of Cr(VI).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for producing inorganic oxide particles from a precursor material or mixture under combustion synthesis and compositions thereof. The combustion synthesis method is low-cost, low tech, and energy efficient. The combustion synthesized inorganic oxide particles of the method are smaller and exhibits a lower band gap than commercially available specimen of the same chemical composition.