Embodiments of the invention are directed to Z-scheme photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen generation from water. The Z-scheme photocatalyst can include a hybrid metal that includes a semiconductor material/M1/Cd.sub.xM.sub.1xS material. M1 can be transition metal and M can Zn, Fe, Cu, Sn, Mo, Ag, Pb and Ni.

The present invention relates to colloidal dispersions comprising a plurality of precious group nanoparticles, wherein about 90% or more of the precious group metal is in fully reduced form; a dispersion medium comprising a polar solvent; a water-soluble polymer suspension stabilizing agent; and a reducing agent, wherein the nanoparticle concentration is at least about 2 wt. % of the colloidal dispersion, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 1 to about 6 nm and at least 95% of the nanoparticles have a particle size within this range; and further wherein the colloidal dispersion is substantially free of halides, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and sulfur compounds. Methods of preparing, further processing, and using such colloidal dispersions are also provided herein.

The present invention relates to colloidal dispersions comprising a plurality of precious group nanoparticles, wherein about 90% or more of the precious group metal is in fully reduced form; a dispersion medium comprising a polar solvent; a water-soluble polymer suspension stabilizing agent; and a reducing agent, wherein the nanoparticle concentration is at least about 2 wt. % of the colloidal dispersion, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 1 to about 6 nm and at least 95% of the nanoparticles have a particle size within this range; and further wherein the colloidal dispersion is substantially free of halides, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and sulfur compounds. Methods of preparing, further processing, and using such colloidal dispersions are also provided herein.

The present invention discloses the use of a metal nanoparticle which comprises at least one semiconductor attached to it, wherein the at least one semiconductor is an atomic quantum cluster (AQC) consisting of between 2 and 55 zero-valent transition metal atoms, as photocatalysts in photocatalytic processes and applications thereof.

The present invention discloses the use of a metal nanoparticle which comprises at least one semiconductor attached to it, wherein the at least one semiconductor is an atomic quantum cluster (AQC) consisting of between 2 and 55 zero-valent transition metal atoms, as photocatalysts in photocatalytic processes and applications thereof.

The present invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a gold nanoparticle superlattice embedded in hierarchical porous silica and a method for manufacturing the same. The catalyst composition comprising a gold nanoparticle superlattice embedded in hierarchical porous silica according to the present invention comprises micropores and mesopores in the superlattice, so that these pores are channelized to allow the rapid access of reactants to surfaces of gold nanoparticles, and the catalyst composition is very structurally stable and has excellent catalytic activity, and thus has an effect of exhibiting a CO conversion rate of 100% at room temperature.

The present invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a gold nanoparticle superlattice embedded in hierarchical porous silica and a method for manufacturing the same. The catalyst composition comprising a gold nanoparticle superlattice embedded in hierarchical porous silica according to the present invention comprises micropores and mesopores in the superlattice, so that these pores are channelized to allow the rapid access of reactants to surfaces of gold nanoparticles, and the catalyst composition is very structurally stable and has excellent catalytic activity, and thus has an effect of exhibiting a CO conversion rate of 100% at room temperature.

A catalyst for production of carboxylic acid ester, containing: catalyst metal particles; and a support supporting the catalyst metal particles, wherein a bulk density of the catalyst for production of carboxylic acid ester is 0.50 g/cm.sup.3 or more and 1.50 g/cm.sup.3 or less, when a particle diameter, at which a cumulative frequency is x % in a particle diameter distribution based on a volume of the catalyst for production of carboxylic acid ester, is defined as D.sub.x, D.sub.10/D.sub.50?0.2 and D.sub.90/D.sub.50?2.5 are satisfied, and when a half-width of the particle diameter distribution is defined as W, W/D.sub.50?1.5 is satisfied.

Methods of sulfurizing metal containing particles in the absence of hydrogen are described. One method includes contacting a bed of metal containing particles with a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and inert gas under reaction conditions sufficient to produce sulfided metal containing particles. The gaseous stream is introduced into a vertical reactor at an inlet positioned at the bottom portion of the reactor and any unreacted hydrogen sulfide and inert gas is removed at an outlet positioned above the inlet. The sulfided metal containing particles can be removed from the reactor and stored.

Catalysts useful in transforming biomass to bio-oil are disclosed, as are methods for making such catalysts, and methods of transforming biomass to bio-oil. The catalysts are especially useful for, but are not limited to, microwave- and induction-heating based pyrolysis of biomass, solid waste, and other carbon containing materials into bio-oil. The catalysts can also be used for upgrading the bio-oil to enhance fuel quality.