Photocatalysts for water-splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen, methods of making and uses thereof are described. The photocatalyst has a catalytic non-oxide metal semiconductor nanostructure attached to a zero valence metal (M.sup.) support. Thecatalyst is capable of catalyzing the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water.

Methods for preparing a catalyst system, include providing a catalytic substrate comprising a catalyst support having a surface with a plurality of metal catalytic nanoparticles bound thereto and physically mixing and/or electrostatically combining the catalytic substrate with a plurality of oxide coating nanoparticles to provide a coating of oxide coating nanoparticles on the surface of the catalytic nanoparticles. The metal catalytic nanoparticles can be one or more of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, rhenium, copper, silver, and gold. Physically combining can include combining via ball milling, blending, acoustic mixing, or theta composition, and the oxide coating nanoparticles can include one or more oxides of aluminum, cerium, zirconium, titanium, silicon, magnesium, zinc, barium, lanthanum, iron, strontium, and calcium. The catalyst support can include one or more oxides of aluminum, cerium, zirconium, titanium, silicon, magnesium, zinc, barium, iron, strontium, and calcium.

A catalyst comprising a carrier and a metals component impregnated in the carrier, the carrier comprising alumina; and the metals component comprising a first metals fraction and a second metals fraction, the first metals fraction comprising at least one metal selected from chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten, and the second metals fraction comprising at least two metals selected from cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, or platinum, wherein the catalyst has a first pore volume of 0.28 to 0.45 mL/g for pores having a pore diameter of 12 nm to less than 16 nm, and a second pore volume of 0.15 to 0.28 mL/g for pores of 2.0 nm to less than 12.0 nm.

This disclosure relates to catalysts comprising gallium, cerium, and a mixed oxide support useful in the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons with such catalysts. For example, in one embodiment, a catalyst composition includes gallium oxide, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, cerium oxide, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, a promoter, M1, selected from Pt, Ir, La, or a mixture thereof, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.005 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, a promoter, M2, selected from the group 1 elements (e.g., Li, Na, K, Cs), present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.05 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, and a support, S1, selected from alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, or a mixture thereof, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 60 wt. % to about 99 wt. %.

This disclosure relates to catalysts comprising gallium, cerium, and a mixed oxide support useful in the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons with such catalysts. For example, in one embodiment, a catalyst composition includes gallium oxide, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, cerium oxide, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, a promoter, M1, selected from Pt, Ir, La, or a mixture thereof, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.005 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, a promoter, M2, selected from the group 1 elements (e.g., Li, Na, K, Cs), present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.05 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, and a support, S1, selected from alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, or a mixture thereof, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 60 wt. % to about 99 wt. %.

This disclosure provides for routes of synthesis of acrylic acid and other ,-unsaturated carboxylic acids and their salts, including catalytic methods. For example, there is provided a process for producing an ,-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, the process comprising: (1) contacting in any order, a group 8-11 transition metal precursor, an olefin, carbon dioxide, a diluent, and a metal-treated chemically-modified solid oxide such as a sulfur oxoacid anion-modified solid oxide, a phosphorus oxoacid anion-modified solid oxide, or a halide ion-modified solid oxide, to provide a reaction mixture; and (2) applying reaction conditions to the reaction mixture suitable to produce the ,-unsaturated carboxylic acid or the salt thereof. Methods of regenerating the metal-treated chemically-modified solid oxide are described.

The present invention relates, at least in part, to a process for making chlorotrifluoroethylene (CFO-1113) from 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a). In certain aspects, the process includes dehydrochlorinating 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a) in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more metal halides; (ii) one or more halogenated metal oxides; (iii) one or more zero-valent metals or metal alloys; (iv) combinations thereof.

The present invention relates, at least in part, to a process for making chlorotrifluoroethylene (CFO-1113) from 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a). In certain aspects, the process includes dehydrochlorinating 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a) in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more metal halides; (ii) one or more halogenated metal oxides; (iii) one or more zero-valent metals or metal alloys; (iv) combinations thereof.

Disclosed are ruthenium-based catalyst systems, hafnium-based catalyst systems, and yttrium-based catalyst systems for use in ammonia decomposition. Catalyst systems include ruthenium, hafnium, and/or yttrium optionally in combination with one or more additional metals that can be catalytic or catalyst promoters. Hafnium-based and yttrium-based catalyst systems can be free of ruthenium. The catalyst systems also include a support material. Disclosed catalyst systems can decompose ammonia at relatively low temperatures and can provide an efficient and cost-effective route to utilization of ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen storage and generation material.

Disclosed are ruthenium-based catalyst systems, hafnium-based catalyst systems, and yttrium-based catalyst systems for use in ammonia decomposition. Catalyst systems include ruthenium, hafnium, and/or yttrium optionally in combination with one or more additional metals that can be catalytic or catalyst promoters. Hafnium-based and yttrium-based catalyst systems can be free of ruthenium. The catalyst systems also include a support material. Disclosed catalyst systems can decompose ammonia at relatively low temperatures and can provide an efficient and cost-effective route to utilization of ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen storage and generation material.