Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes Using Zinc Nitrate as a Catalyst by Aerosol-Assisted Catalytic Single Furnace CVD

Carbon nanotubes were synthesized from the aerosol-assisted catalytic CVD method using palm oil as the precursor and 0.05M zinc nitrate solution as the catalyst. The deposition temperature of the single furnace aerosol-assisted catalytic CVD ranged from 750 to 950 oC. The samples were then characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). CNTs with different diameters and distribution were produced at certain deposition temperature and amorphous carbons were also present in the samples.

Supported CuO and ZnO Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Methyl Alcohol

If the surface of the titanium chips (TC) was modified by thermal treatment under air atmosphere, it could be reused as catalyst support or photocatalytic materials. TC-supported CuO and ZnO catalysts were prepared by impregnation (IMP) method and co-precipitation (CP) method using cupric nitrate and zinc nitrate solution as precursors. Loading of CuO and ZnO on TC was 40.6wt% and 50.3wt%, respectively. The catalytic activity for CO2 hydrogenation was investigated using a flow-typed reactor under various pressures. Conversion of carbon dioxide to methyl alcohol over the CuO-ZnO/TC catalyst by CP and IMP methods were ca. 22% and ca. 10%, respectively. Conversion of carbon dioxide over CuO-ZnO/TC catalyst by CP method was increased with increasing reaction temperature in ranging of 15atm to 30 atm. Maximum selectivity and yield to methyl alcohol over CuO-ZnO/TC catalyst at 250°C were ca. 90% at 20 atm and ca. 18.2% at 30 atm, respectively.

Easy Synthesis and Efficient Photocatalytic Activities of ZnO/Mordenite Composite

A new nanoporous material consisting of nano-ZnO particles designed within the cavities and frameworks of mordenite has been synthesized and characterized. The synthesis involves a precipitation of Zinc oxide from Zinc nitrate solution on mordenite by salt melting procedure which is in the present of Nitric acid. These materials were characterized by BET surface area, XRD, UV-Vis-DRS, AAS, and HRTEM. The characterization of ZnO/mordenite composite clearly shows that some of nano-ZnO particles were encapsulated within the cavities and frameworks of mordenite. The photodegradation of methyl orange which occurs in the present of ZnO/mordenite composite is a little superior to that of Degussa P25 TiO2.

Hybrid thin films of ZnO with porphyrins and phthalocyanines prepared by one-step electrodeposition

Hybrid thin films of crystalline zinc oxide and the zinc complex of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (ZnTPPS) have been prepared by cathodic electrodeposition from different aqueous zinc salt solutions. Films from a solution containing zinc nitrate and the porphyrin derivate show a rough surface and porosity, whereas films prepared from an oxygen-saturated zinc chloride solution were very smooth. The presence of the porphyrin derivative in the deposition solution has a clear influence on the morphology of the hybrid films compared with pure zinc oxide films. In aqueous zinc nitrate solution the addition of the porphyrin derivative hinders the growth of zinc oxide. In contrast, the addition of the dye to the oxygen-saturated zinc chloride solution leads to an increase of the growth rate of ZnO /porphyrin hybrid films. An increased spectral absorbance was reached when two dyes (zinc complex of tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine and porphyrin) were added to the zinc nitrate solution since the electrodeposited hybrid thin films contained both dyes. UV-vis spectra revealed the presence of both macrocyclic metal complexes in the ZnO films.