A process for preparing C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 olefins includes introducing a feed stream comprising hydrogen and at least one carbon-containing component selected from the group consisting of CO, CO.sub.2, and mixtures thereof into a reaction zone. The feed stream is contacted with a hybrid catalyst in the reaction zone, and a product stream is formed that exits the reaction zone and includes C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 olefins. The hybrid catalyst includes a methanol synthesis component and a solid microporous acid component that is selected from molecular sieves having 8-MR access and having a framework type selected from the group consisting of CHA, AEI, AFX, ERI, LTA, UFI, RTH, and combinations thereof. The methanol synthesis component comprises a metal oxide support and a metal catalyst. The metal oxide support includes titania, zirconia, hafnia or mixtures thereof, and the metal catalyst includes zinc.

A method of synthesizing a doped carbonaceous material includes mixing a carbon precursor material with at least one dopant to form a homogeneous/heterogeneous mixture; and subjecting the mixture to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain the doped carbonaceous material. A method of purifying water includes providing an amount of the doped carbonaceous material in the water as a photocatalyst; and illuminating the water containing the doped carbonaceous material with visible light such that under visible light illumination, the doped carbonaceous material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs) and has high electron affinity, which react with oxygen and water adsorbed on its surface forming reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, that, in turn, decompose pollutants and micropollutants.

A method of synthesizing a doped carbonaceous material includes mixing a carbon precursor material with at least one dopant to form a homogeneous/heterogeneous mixture; and subjecting the mixture to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain the doped carbonaceous material. A method of purifying water includes providing an amount of the doped carbonaceous material in the water as a photocatalyst; and illuminating the water containing the doped carbonaceous material with visible light such that under visible light illumination, the doped carbonaceous material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs) and has high electron affinity, which react with oxygen and water adsorbed on its surface forming reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, that, in turn, decompose pollutants and micropollutants.

The disclosure relates to a method for making a photocatalytic structure, the method comprising: providing a carbon nanotube structure comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes intersected with each other; a plurality of openings being defined by the plurality of carbon nanotubes; forming a photocatalytic active layer on the surface of the carbon nanotube structure; applying a metal layer pre-form on the surface of the photocatalytic active layer; and annealing the metal layer pre-form.

The disclosure relates to a method for making a photocatalytic structure, the method comprising: providing a carbon nanotube structure comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes intersected with each other; a plurality of openings being defined by the plurality of carbon nanotubes; forming a photocatalytic active layer on the surface of the carbon nanotube structure; applying a metal layer pre-form on the surface of the photocatalytic active layer; and annealing the metal layer pre-form.

The present disclosure relates to a strategy to synthesize antimony- and zinc-doped tin oxide particles with tunable band gap characteristics. The methods yield stable and monodispersed particles with great control on uniformity of shape and size. The methods produce undoped and antimony and zinc-doped tin oxide stand-alone and core-shell particles, both nanoparticles and microparticles, as well as antimony and zinc-doped tin oxide shells for coating particles, including plasmonic core particles.

The present disclosure relates to a strategy to synthesize antimony- and zinc-doped tin oxide particles with tunable band gap characteristics. The methods yield stable and monodispersed particles with great control on uniformity of shape and size. The methods produce undoped and antimony and zinc-doped tin oxide stand-alone and core-shell particles, both nanoparticles and microparticles, as well as antimony and zinc-doped tin oxide shells for coating particles, including plasmonic core particles.

A catalyst for dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons includes a support including zirconium oxide and alumina. A concentration of the zirconium oxide in the catalyst is in a range of from 1 weight percent (wt. %) to 20 wt. %. The catalyst includes from 0.01 wt. % to 2 wt. % of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. The catalyst includes from 1 wt. % to 2 wt. % of tin. The catalyst includes from 0.1 wt. % to 2 wt. % of a platinum group metal. The alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, tin, and platinum group metal are disposed on the support.

A catalyst for dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons includes a support including zirconium oxide and alumina. A concentration of the zirconium oxide in the catalyst is in a range of from 1 weight percent (wt. %) to 20 wt. %. The catalyst includes from 0.01 wt. % to 2 wt. % of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. The catalyst includes from 1 wt. % to 2 wt. % of tin. The catalyst includes from 0.1 wt. % to 2 wt. % of a platinum group metal. The alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, tin, and platinum group metal are disposed on the support.

Provided are titanium oxide fine particles capable of enhancing the photocatalytic activity of a photocatalyst when mixed with such photocatalyst. There are provided titanium oxide fine particles with at least an iron component and a silicon component solid-dissolved therein, in which the iron and silicon components are each contained in an amount of 1 to 1,000 in terms of a molar ratio to titanium (Ti/Fe or Ti/Si); and a titanium oxide fine particle dispersion liquid in which these titanium oxide fine particles are dispersed in an aqueous dispersion medium.