Catalytic pyrolysis can upcycle waste, e.g., car bumpers, to carbon nanomaterials, preferably using synthetic TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles as catalyst during pyrolysis. Analysis of the carbon nanomaterials shows that, while RGO is produced from thermal pyrolysis of car bumper waste absent TiO.sub.2, RGO spotted with carbon dots is produced in presence of TiO.sub.2 catalyst. Rutile to anatase TiO.sub.2 phase transformation and carbon nanomaterial formation can simultaneously occur during the pyrolysis. Anatase to rutile transformation may occur while TiO.sub.2 absent the bumper material. Such TiO.sub.2-CD-RGO can be used, for example in photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds, such as methylene blue.

An iron-free supported catalyst for the selective conversion of hydrocarbons to carbon nanotubes may include cobalt and vanadium as active catalytic metals in any oxidation state on a catalyst support comprising aluminum oxide hydroxide. The mass ratio of cobalt to vanadium is between 2 and 15; the mass ratio of cobalt to aluminum is between 5.8 10.sup.−2 and 5.8 10.sup.−1; and the mass ratio vanadium to aluminum is between 5.8 10.sup.−3 and 8.7 10.sup.−2. The present disclosure is further related to a method for the production of this iron-free supported catalyst and to a method for the production of carbon nanotubes using the iron-free supported catalyst.

Provided is a method for synthesizing cobalt-incorporated carbon nanotubes (Co/MWCNTs). The method includes a step of mixing cobalt acetate, cobalt nitrate, cobalt chloride, or cobalt sulfate with multi-wall carbon nanotubes in a solvent. A method for generating hydrogen by using the Co/MWCNTs as a catalyst component is also provided herein.

Supported catalysts include a solid support, a metal-ligand complex tethered to a surface of the solid support through at least two surface reactive moieties of the metal-ligand complex, and a conformationally stable molecular pore defined between the metal-ligand complex and the surface of the solid support. The metal-ligand complex includes a catalytic metal center, such as a transition metal, coordinated with multiple monodentate ligands, a multidentate ligand, or a combination thereof. The ligands include a tethering portion that is terminated by a surface reactive moiety tethered to the surface of the solid support by a surface interaction. By tailoring the tethering portion, a volume of the molecular pore may be provided that is selective and suitable for a chosen reactant or a chosen reaction type.

Electrochemical cells for the production of hydrogen from liquid fuels and methods of operating the cells to produce hydrogen and electricity are provided. The electrochemical cells are solid state cells that incorporate a thermochemical conversion catalyst and a hydrogen oxidation catalyst into the anode and utilize solid acid electrolytes. This cell design integrates thermally driven chemical conversion of a starting fuel with electrochemical removal of hydrogen from the conversion reaction zone.

The present invention provides a process of using an alloy nanoparticle catalyst to catalyze one pot chemical reactions for synthesizing functional polymers with controlled polymerization and properties. In particular, the present invention provides a process of using an AuPd NP catalyst to catalyze one pot chemical reactions for synthesizing polybenzoxazole with controlled polymerization and improved chemical stability.

The present disclosure relates to a multi-sandwich composite catalyst and a preparation method and application thereof. The present disclosure provides a preparation method of a multi-sandwich composite catalyst, comprises the following steps: sequentially depositing a first layer oxide, a first active metal, an oxide interlayer, a second active metal and a surface oxide on a template, and sequentially performing calcination and reduction, thereby obtaining a multi-sandwich composite catalyst; wherein the first active metal and the second active metal are different kinds of active metals. In the present disclosure, a multi-sandwich structure is formed by depositing the oxides and active metals alternately, so that the position and spacing distance of the active centers can be precisely controlled. The multi-sandwich composite catalyst prepared by the method provided described herein has a higher conversion than that of a catalyst without an interlayer when used for the catalytic reaction.

Carbon nanofiber doped alumina (Al—CNF) supported MoCo catalysts in hydrodesulfurization (HDS), and/or boron doping, e.g., up to 5 wt % of total catalyst weight, can improve catalytic efficiency. Al-CNF-supported MoCo catalysts, (Al-CNF-MoCo), can reduce the sulfur concentration in fuel, esp. liquid fuel, to below the required limit in a 6 h reaction time. Thus, Al-CNF-MoCo has a higher catalytic activity than Al-MoCo, which may be explained by higher mesoporous surface area and better dispersion of MoCo metals on the AlCNF support relative to alumina support. The BET surface area of Al-MoCo may be 75% less than Al-CNF-MoCo, e.g., 166 vs. 200 m.sup.2/g. SEM images indicate that the catalyst nanoparticles can be evenly distributed on the surface of the CNF. The surface area of the AlMoCoB5% may be 206 m.sup.2/g, which is higher than AlMoCoB0% and AlMoCoB2%, and AlMoCoB5% has the highest HDS activity, removing more than 98% sulfur and below allowed levels.

Provided herein are photocatalytic carbon filters for the removal impurities such as microorganisms, organic compounds, algal toxins, and their degradation by-products from water and wastewater. The photolytic carbon filters comprise a porous titanium substrate comprising TiO.sub.2 nanotube arrays and multi-wall carbon nanotubes disposed on the TiO.sub.2 nanotube arrays. Also provided herein are methods of manufacture and methods of use of the disclosed photocatalytic carbon filters.

Carbon nanofiber doped alumina (Al—CNF) supported MoCo catalysts in hydrodesulfurization (HDS), and/or boron doping, e.g., up to 5 wt % of total catalyst weight, can improve catalytic efficiency. Al—CNF-supported MoCo catalysts, (Al—CNF-MoCo), can reduce the sulfur concentration in fuel, esp. liquid fuel, to below the required limit in a 6 h reaction time. Thus, Al—CNF—MoCo has a higher catalytic activity than Al—MoCo, which may be explained by higher mesoporous surface area and better dispersion of MoCo metals on the AlCNF support relative to alumina support. The BET surface area of Al—MoCo may be 75% less than Al—CNF—MoCo, e.g., 166 vs. 200 m.sup.2/g. SEM images indicate that the catalyst nanoparticles can be evenly distributed on the surface of the CNF. The surface area of the AlMoCoB5% may be 206 m.sup.2/g, which is higher than AlMoCoB0% and AlMoCoB2%, and AlMoCoB5% has the highest HDS activity, removing more than 98% sulfur and below allowed levels.