This invention provides an anisotropic nanostructure represented by the formula: Ru.sub.xM.sub.1-x, wherein 0.6x0.999, and M represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Pt, Pd, and Au, and wherein Ru and M form a solid solution at the atomic level, and the anisotropic nanostructure has an anisotropic hexagonal close-packed structure (hcp).

The present invention relates to a catalytically active material for the electrochemical oxidation of water, wherein the catalytically active material comprises an amorphous Ir-oxohydroxide, wherein the catalytically active material has a specific surface area (S.sub.BET) of 50 m.sup.2.g.sup.1; an electrode coated with the catalytically active material; a proton exchange membrane (PEM) based electrolyzer comprising the electrode; the use of the catalytically active material, the electrode or the electrolyzer the electrochemical oxidation of water; and a process for preparing the catalytically active material comprising the microwave-assisted thermal treatment of a basic solution of an Ir(III) or Ir(IV) complex.

The embodiments provide an electrode catalyst layer for an electrolysis cell, and also an electrolysis cell and a carbon dioxide electrolysis apparatus comprising that layer. The catalyst layer has a controlled porous structure, and can realize a high partial current density. The catalyst layer of the embodiment comprises carbonous catalyst carriers, a metallic catalyst loaded on the carriers, and an ion-conductive material. The catalyst layer contains pores of 5 to 200 m diameters, and the pores have a volume per weight of the catalyst layer in the range of 3.0 to 10 mL/g in total.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing 1,3-propanediol by hydrolysis hydrogenolysis of glycerol and its corresponding reaction system, wherein, this method is to produce 1,3-propanediol through contact and reaction between hydrogen and glycerol under the catalysis of a noble metal/solid acid catalyst; wherein an auxiliary agent is contained in the liquid phase of the reaction system, and the content of the auxiliary agent in the liquid phase is 10 ppm or more.

A nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O) removal catalyst composite is provided, comprising a N.sub.2O removal catalytic material on a substrate, the catalytic material comprising a rhodium (Rh) component supported on a ceria-based support, wherein the catalyst composite has a H.sub.2-consumption peak of about 100 C. or less as measured by hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H.sub.2-TPR). Methods of making and using the same are also provided.

The present invention provides materials for improving the ignition of gaseous reactants in metal catalyzed oxidation reactions comprising a metal catalyst gauze, preferably, a platinum/rhodium catalyst gauze, having in contact therewith, from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. %, based on the weight of the metal catalyst gauze, of one or more pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze. Further, methods of making the metal catalyst materials comprise shaping the pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze and placing them equidistant from each other in contact with or on the surface of the metal catalyst gauze. And methods of using the materials comprise feeding into the reactor a gas mixture of oxygen or air and one or more reactant gases, and igniting the gas mixture at the surface of one or more or all of the pieces of previously used metal catalyst.

[PROBLEM] To provide a novel method for synthesising a polyphenol.

[SOLUTION] A polyphenol production method including the reaction of catechin in the presence of a catalyst and an oxidising agent, said catalyst comprising a metal oxide and/or a composite that comprises: a substrate which has an inorganic material on the surface thereof; and metal nanoparticles of a particle diameter of 0.5-100 nm attached to the surface of the inorganic material.

This disclosure provides compositions and methods directed to thermally stable catalyst systems, which display stable physical properties and/or stable catalytic properties after thermal pretreatment at a temperature in the range of about 600 C. to about 1000 C. The catalyst systems include metal particles which contain a stable metal and a catalytic metal deposited on a porous support. Embodiments of the disclosure include catalyst systems that can be used in high temperature applications such as the hybrid sulfur cycle. The hybrid sulfur cyclic is an elevated temperature and high acid reaction that may be conducted using concentrated sulfuric acid heated to 800 C. Embodiments of the disclosure can provide thermally stable catalysts and methods to produce thermally stable catalysts that remain active for at least 80 hours' exposure to these harsh conditions.

A composite catalyst includes a carrier and noble metal particles supported by the carrier, wherein the carrier is a nitrogen-doped porous carbon composite material having a plurality of passages. The nitrogen-doped porous carbon composite material can include a nitrogen-doped porous carbon material and a plurality of metal oxide particles. The plurality of metal oxide particles can be uniformly distributed in the nitrogen-doped porous carbon material. The plurality of metal oxide particles can be partially exposed through the plurality of passages. The noble metal particles can be tightly combined with the exposed metal oxide particles to achieve recombination. And the noble metal particles can be at least one of Pd metal particles, Pt metal particles, Ru metal particles, Rh metal particles, Ir metal particles, Au metal particles, or a combination thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a platinum-based alloy powder, the method comprising a heat treatment of a mixed powder containing a platinum-based powder composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of platinum and platinum compound, a platinum group metal-based powder composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of iridium, rhodium, palladium, and compound containing at least one of them, and an alkaline-earth metal compound, wherein specific surface area of the platinum group metal-based powder is 30 m.sup.2/g or more and D90 of the mixed powder is 1.0 m or less. According to the method for producing a platinum-based alloy powder of the invention, it is possible to produce a platinum-based alloy powder that has a desired particle diameter, also has a sharp particle size distribution, and has high purity and crystallinity.