Conversion of methane to acetonitrile over GaN catalysts derived from gallium nitrate hydrate co-pyrolyzed with melamine, melem, or g-C3N4: the influence of nitrogen precursors. Issue 1 (29th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trangwachirachai, Korawich; Chen, Chin-Han; Huang, Ai-Lin; Lee, Jyh-Fu; Chen, Chi-Liang; Lin, Yu-Chuan
• Is Part Of: Catalysis science & technology. Volume 12:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 331
• Publication Date: 2021-11-29
• Subjects: Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.395
• DOI: 10.1039/d1cy01362a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-4753

Abstract

Abstract : The GaN catalyst derived from co-pyrolyzing gallium nitrate hydrate and g-C3 N4 is effective in the conversion of methane to acetonitrile because of its well dispersed GaN crystals and amorphous CN species. Abstract : Co-pyrolyzing gallium nitrate hydrate and melamine, melem, or g-C3 N4 generates gallium nitride (GaN) for the conversion of methane to acetonitrile (AcCN). The solid-state-pyrolysis-made GaN catalysts exhibited better activity than commercial GaN. Among the as-prepared catalysts, GaN made by using g-C3 N4 with a N/Ga ratio of 2 ( i.e., GaN-(C3 N4 )-(2)) was the most attractive: a high initial methane conversion (28.2%), a high initial AcCN productivity (151 μmol gcat −1 min −1 ), and a 6 h accumulated AcCN yield (5816 μmol gcat −1 ) were obtained at 700 °C with a space time of 3000 mLCH4 gcat −1 h −1 . GaN-(C3 N4 )-(2) had finely dispersed GaN crystals and enriched amorphous CN species ( e.g., sp 2 N and CN groups), and both are important in promoting the methane conversion rate. GaN agglomeration, coke deposition, and depleted CN species contributed to the deactivation of the catalyst, and a nitridation–activation process could rejuvenate the activity partially. The analysis of the structure–activity correlation revealed that the accumulated AcCN yield had an inverse trend with respect to the crystallite size of GaN and the sp 3 /sp 2 ratio of the N environment.