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Polyoxometalate Clusters Supported on Functionalized Graphene Sheets as Nanohybrids for the Catalytic Combustion of Liquid Fuels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2012

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier ,
Francis M. Haas ,
Daniel M. Dabbs ,
Frederick L. Dryer ,
Richard A. Yetter  and
Mark A. Barteau
Jean-Philippe Tessonnier
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, U.S.A.
Francis M. Haas
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A.
Daniel M. Dabbs
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A.
Frederick L. Dryer
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A.
Richard A. Yetter
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, U.S.A.
Mark A. Barteau
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Catalyzing the combustion of liquid fuels offers interesting prospects for further improvement of the fuel economy and the performance of engines, in particular for jets and advanced propulsion systems. Polyoxometalates are well-known oxidation catalysts which are expected to also catalyze combustion reactions. However, their polarity makes their dispersion in fuels particularly challenging. Herein, functionalized graphene sheets were used as a support due to their high surface area as well as their compatibility with the target reaction. In order to further improve the dispersion of the catalyst in fuels, alkyl chains were grafted to the sheets’ surface. An innovative grafting technique was developed to attach alkyls at a variety of oxygen-containing functionalities already present on reduced graphene oxide, such as hydroxyl and epoxy groups. A phase transfer to the organic phase was observed when dispersing the dry powder in water:toluene mixtures. In addition, the dry alkyl chain-modified graphene sheets readily dispersed in common organic solvents without the assistance of sonication. Polyoxometalates (H3PMo12O40 and H4PMo11VO40) were dispersed on the modified sheets as discrete clusters even at a relatively high loading (20 wt.%). The catalytic activity of these nanostructured materials was demonstrated for the combustion of methylcylcohexane, tested here as a model fuel.

Keywords

Cnanostructuresurface chemistry
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1451: Symposium DD/EE – Nanocarbon Materials and Devices , 2012 , pp. 137 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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