Targeted Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Silicate Building Block Supports and Heterogeneous Catalysts with Tungsten(VI) or Zirconium(IV) Centers

• Main Author: Peretich, Michael Edward
• Format: Others
• Published: Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange 2011
• Subjects: targeted synthesis; nanostructured; heterogeneous catalysts; supports; tungsten(VI); zirconium(IV); Inorganic Chemistry
• Online Access: http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/1215

Catalysts play a vital role in almost every aspect of our lives and are used in the production of fuels, polymers, chemicals, foods, and pharmaceuticals. One challenge facing the heterogeneous catalysis community is the targeted synthesis of dispersed catalyst ensembles. The Barnes research group has developed a general methodology for the synthesis of nanostructured silicate building block supports and heterogeneous catalysts. This methodology provides researchers with the ability to control the dispersion of surface functionality, the dispersion of metal cation centers, the number of linkages from the metal cation center to the support, the surface area of the support, and the porosity of the support. This dissertation describes work aimed at synthesizing and characterizing nanostructured silicate building block supports and heterogeneous catalysts. Nanostructured silicate building block supports were synthesized by reacting SiCl4py2 with Si8O12(OSnMe3)8. The resulting supports contained spatially isolated Me3Sn groups and the density of Me3Sn groups was targeted by varying the stoichiometric ratio of reactants. The stoichiometric ratio of reactants also controlled the surface area and porosity of the supports. Nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts with isolated tungsten(VI) or zirconium(IV) centers were synthesized by reacting a limiting amount of a metal chloride with either Si8O12(OSnMe3)8 or a premade silicate building block support. Two types of catalysts ensembles were targeted: embedded and surface. Embedded ensembles were successfully targeted using WOCl4 and ZrCl4 while the reaction between WCl6 and the building block did not result in the preparation of the targeted ensemble. However the resulting ensemble was thoroughly characterized even though the targeted ensemble was not produced. In all three cases a single type of catalyst ensembles was synthesized and a high surface area silicate support was generated around the embedded ensembles without disrupting the ensemble itself. Surface ensembles were successfully targeted using ZrCl4. The reaction between the tungsten chlorides (WOCl4 and WCl6) and the premade support did not result in the preparation of the targeted ensembles however the resulting ensembles were thoroughly characterized.