The present invention is directed to the synthesis of novel delaminated layered zeolite precursor materials prepared by fluoride/chloride anion-promoted exfoliation. The method comprises, for example, using a combination of fluoride and chloride anions at a mild pH in aqueous solution to affect delamination of a layered zeolite precursor. The method can also comprise using a combination of fluoride and chloride anions in a non-aqueous solution comprising an organic solvent. The method may be used in conjunction with either acidification or sonication, or both. The resulting delaminated zeolite precursors are then isolated. Precursors that are then isolated lack amorphous silica content. The UCB-1 product is an example of such a novel oxide material and is obtained in yields in excess of 90% without the need for sonication.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH).sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH).sub.2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.

A process for preparing a peptized alumina having increased solids and acid contents and a decreased water content. The process comprising mixing a boehmite or pseudoboehmite alumina and acid with a high intensity, high energy mixer at a ratio of 0.16 to 0.65 moles acid/moles alumina for a time period sufficient to form a substantially free-flowing solid particulate having a solids content of 45 to 65 wt %. When used in catalyst manufacture, peptized alumina produced by the process provides an increased rate in catalyst production and decreased costs due to high solids concentration and the presence of less water to be evaporated.

The present disclosure relates to yolk-shell structured catalysts having compositions that can be particularly useful in the dry reforming of methane. These catalysts can demonstrate long-term stability that would be an advantage in industrial applications such as mitigating fossil fuel plant emissions. Example catalysts can include a yolk containing nickel (Ni) or nickel oxide (NiO), platinum (Pt) or platinum oxide (PtO.sub.2), and a third material (M3) such as a cerium oxide (CeO.sub.x). The shell can be formed of a ceramic such as silica and is generally a porous material that can support the yolk.

A method for preparing catalyst particles includes providing a catalyst starting material and an ion beam and implanting the catalyst starting material with an ion beam dose comprised between 4.5×10.sup.18 ions/g and 2×10.sup.19 ions/g comprising monocharged or monocharged and multicharged ions with an energy of the monocharged ions in the ion beam from at least 10 keV to at most 100 keV, thereby obtaining a catalyst. Such catalyst particles are useful in NOx, CO, and/or HC emission reduction devices, fuel cells, or as a catalyst in chemical reactions.

A process is disclosed comprising, providing a source of graphene, providing a particulate material, dispersing a mixture of the source of graphene and the particulate material in a first dispersion fluid to form a dispersion mixture, and providing a source of a base in the first dispersion fluid, thereby causing the source of graphene and particulate material in the dispersion mixture to interact forming a composite. The particulate material is preferably titanium dioxide comprising anatase and/or rutile which provides an effective photocatalytic composite. Also disclosed is apparatus to remove pollutants from fluids using the photocatalytically active material.

Disclosed are novel supported nanoparticle compositions, precursors, processes for making supported nanoparticle compositions, processes for making catalyst compositions, and processes for converting syngas. The catalyst composition can comprise nanoparticles comprising metal oxide(s), such as manganese cobalt oxide. This disclosure is particularly useful for converting syngas via the Fischer-Tropsch reactions to make olefins and/or alcohols.

Provided in this disclosure are oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts that include a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula:
Mo.sub.1.0V.sub.0.12-0.49Te.sub.0.05-0.17Nb.sub.0.10-0.20O.sub.d
wherein d is a number to satisfy the valence of the oxide. The oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst is characterized by having XRD diffraction peaks (2θ degrees) at 22±0.2, 27±0.2, 28.0±0.2, and 28.3±0.1. The disclosure also provides methods of making the catalysts that include wet ball milling.

Methods of forming non-metal doped metal oxide nanoparticles using a flame spray pyrolysis process are described. The non-metal doped metal oxide nanoparticles exhibit high photocatalytic activity. Specific non-metal doped metal oxides nanoparticles which can be formed by the described processes include nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide and sulfur-doped titanium dioxide.

Compositions of manganese accumulating plants.