A catalyst cell includes a main body having a sidewall extending around a cavity sized to receive catalyst material. An inlet and an outlet are located at the sidewall, with both being in communication with the cavity, and the outlet being spaced from the inlet. A compaction plate is positionable within the cavity adjacent the catalyst material, with the compaction plate and the main body collectively defining a volume of the cavity. The compaction plate is moveable relative to the main body to facilitate variation in the volume of the cavity. A spring is operatively connected to the compaction plate and is configured to impart a force on the compaction plate to facilitate adjustment of the volume of the cavity in response to breakdown of catalyst material within the cavity.

A glass fiber filter element for visible light photocatalysis and air purification and a method for preparing the same. The glass fiber filter element includes 4 to 7 wt % of nanoparticles including at least one selected from zinc oxide, graphene oxide, titanium oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, 2 to 7 wt % of silver nanowires, 3 to 12 wt % of an adhesive system, and 78 to 91 wt % of a glass fiber mat, based on the total weight of the glass fiber filter element. The glass fiber mat is made of at least two glass fibers with different diameters, and the diameters are in a range of 0.15 to 3.5 ?m. The nanoparticles have a particle size from 1 to 200 nm, and the silver nanowires have a diameter of 15 to 50 nm.

A glass fiber filter element for visible light photocatalysis and air purification and a method for preparing the same. The glass fiber filter element includes 4 to 7 wt % of nanoparticles including at least one selected from zinc oxide, graphene oxide, titanium oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, 2 to 7 wt % of silver nanowires, 3 to 12 wt % of an adhesive system, and 78 to 91 wt % of a glass fiber mat, based on the total weight of the glass fiber filter element. The glass fiber mat is made of at least two glass fibers with different diameters, and the diameters are in a range of 0.15 to 3.5 ?m. The nanoparticles have a particle size from 1 to 200 nm, and the silver nanowires have a diameter of 15 to 50 nm.

The present invention combines the advantages of fabrication of semiconductor heterostructure (Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4WO.sub.3) with plasmonic metals (Pt and Ag) with optical interference to optimize the visible light photo response of plasmonic metals deposited semiconductor (PtAg/Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4WO.sub.3) for visible light assisted H.sub.2 generation utilizing the aqueous bio-alcohols. Crystalline Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4 and WO.sub.3 nanofibers were synthesized by microwave and electrospinning methods. Three different WO.sub.3 nanofibers composition (5, 10 and 15 wt. %) were used to obtain Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4/WO.sub.3 nanocomposite heterostructures, which are effective visible light active photo catalysts. Further, a simple, enviro-friendly, and cost-effective biogenic synthesis method have been achieved using Salvia officinalis extract to decorate Pt and Ag metal nanoparticles on the surface of Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4WO.sub.3 composites. Presence of bioactive agents in the extract are responsible for the Pt and Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4 reduction and for prevention of the Pt nanoparticles from aggregation in aqueous medium.

A method is disclosed for producing carbon fibers with active components such as those for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). The method includes electrospinning a solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a transition metal into composite fibers; and annealing the composite fibers in an inert/reducing atmosphere.

A method for production of various morphologies of solid carbon product by reducing carbon oxides with a reducing agent in the presence of a catalyst. The carbon oxides are typically either carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The reducing agent is typically either a hydrocarbon gas or hydrogen. The desired morphology of the solid carbon product may be controlled by the specific catalysts, reaction conditions, and optional additives used in the reduction reaction. The resulting solid carbon products have many commercial applications.

An extruded, solid honeycomb body comprises a copper-promoted, small pore, crystalline molecular sieve catalyst for converting oxides of nitrogen in the presence of a reducing agent, wherein the crystalline molecular sieve contains a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms, which extruded, solid honeycomb body comprising: 20-50% by weight matrix component comprising diatomaceous earth, wherein 2-20 weight % of the extruded, solid honeycomb body is diatomaceous earth; 80-50% by weight of the small pore, crystalline molecular sieve ion-exchanged with copper; and 0-10% by weight of inorganic fibres.

A selective catalytic reduction catalyst composition for converting oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x) in an exhaust gas using a nitrogenous reductant comprises a mixture of a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is an admixture of the H-form of an aluminosilicate mordenite zeolite (MOR) and an iron-promoted aluminosilicate MFI zeolite; and the second component is a vanadium oxide supported on a metal oxide support, which is titania, silica-stabilized titania or a mixture of both titania and silica-stabilized titania, wherein the weight ratio of the first component to the second component is 10:90 to 25:75.

A polymeric composition includes an organic polymeric substrate and metal-organic frameworks on the surface of the polymeric substrate. The metal-organic frameworks cover at least 90% of the surface area of the polymeric substrate.

A method of fabricating an article includes providing an arrangement of loose nanowires and bonding the loose nanowires in the presence of carbon together into a unitary cellular structure.