Argonne National Laboratory

Catalysis

Argonne maintains a wide-ranging science and technology portfolio that seeks to address complex challenges in interdisciplinary and innovative ways. Below is a list of all articles, highlights, profiles, projects, and organizations related specifically to catalysis.

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  • Catalysis and Synthesis

    Many different types of chemical reactions depend on catalysts in order to work, and the hunt for better catalysts has deep connections to our nation’s economy.
  • Highly uniform cluster based nanocatalysts supported on technologically relevant supports were synthesized for reactions of top industrial relevance
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 8,148,293B2; US Patent 8,143,189B2
    • Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts (ANL-IN-07-067)

    The Pt-cluster based catalysts outperformed the very best reported ODHP catalyst in both activity (by up to two orders of magnitude higher turn-over frequencies) and in selectivity. The results clearly demonstrate that highly dispersed ultra-small Pt clusters precisely localized on high-surface area supports can lead to affordable new catalysts for highly efficient and economic propene production, including considerably simplified separation of the final product. The combined GISAXS-mass spectrometry provides an excellent tool to monitor the evolution of size and shape of nanocatalyst at action under realistic conditions. Also provided are sub-nanometer gold and sub-nanometer to few nm size-selected silver catalysts which possess size dependent tunable catalytic properties in the epoxidation of alkenes.

    Invented size-selected cluster deposition provides a unique tool to tune material properties by atom-by-atom fashion, which can be stabilized by protective overcoats.

    Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts (ANL-IN-07-067)

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    Presented here is a novel application of size-preselected metal-containing clusters under realistic high temperature catalytic conditions. More specifically, the invention produces and utilizes size selected sub-nanometer metal cluster-based catalysts and up to several nm size-selected nanoparticles for chemical conversions such as epoxidation and dehydrogenation.

    Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts (ANL-IN-07-067B)

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    The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.

  • Disclosed herein are methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface shale formations
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,181,467
    • Preparation and use of nano-catalysts for in-situ reaction with kerogen (ANL-IN-11-104)

    The methods utilize in-situ reaction of kerogen involving liquid phase chemistry at ambient temperatures at pressures for the subsurface shale formation. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen to render it mobile using metal particulate catalysts. In the methods disclosed herein a fluid comprising metal is provided to the subsurface shale formation comprising kerogen in an inorganic matrix. A reducing agent is provided to the subsurface shale formation. The kerogen is converted by contacting the kerogen with a metal particulate catalyst formed from the metal; and a mobile kerogen-based product is formed. At least a portion of the mobile kerogen-based product is recovered. The kerogen-derived product can be upgraded to provide commercial products.

     

  • A method of preparing a nitrogen containing electrode catalyst
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 8,835,343; US Patent 10,305,114
    • Non-platinum group metal electrocatalysts using metal organic framework materials and method of preparation (ANL-IN-09-069)

    A method of preparing a nitrogen containing electrode catalyst by converting a high surface area metal-organic framework (MOF) material free of platinum group metals that includes a transition metal, an organic ligand, and an organic solvent via a high temperature thermal treatment to form catalytic active sites in the MOF. At least a portion of the contained organic solvent may be replaced with a nitrogen containing organic solvent or an organometallic compound or a transition metal salt to enhance catalytic performance. The electrode catalysts may be used in various electrochemical systems, including a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

     

  • A nanofibrous catalyst and method of manufacture
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,350,026; US Patent Application: 15/144,650
    • Nanofibrous electrocatalysts (ANL-IN-12-063)

    A precursor solution of a transition metal based material is formed into a plurality of interconnected nanofibers by electro-spinning the precursor solution with the nanofibers converted to a catalytically active material by a heat treatment. Selected subsequent treatments can enhance catalytic activity.

     

  • A high surface area catalyst with a mesoporous support structure and a thin conformal coating over the surface of the support structure
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 8,741,800 and US Patent 9,937,490
    • Hydrothermal performance of catalyst supports (ANL-IN-09-085 and ANL-IN-09-085B)

    The high surface area catalyst support is adapted for carrying out a reaction in a reaction environment where the thin conformal coating protects the support structure within the reaction environment. In various embodiments, the support structure is a mesoporous silica catalytic support and the thin conformal coating comprises a layer of metal oxide resistant to the reaction environment which may be a hydrothermal environment.