Preliminary study of the surface reactivity of 2D α‐Mo₂C crystallites

Abstract

A preliminary study of the surface reactivity of 2D‐α‐Mo2C crystallites grown on a copper foil was performed using x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Different sample preparation protocols for the as‐received materials were explored in order to remove hydrocarbon surface contamination. Annealing in vacuum and in argon led to the formation of graphitic layers, while annealing in O2 lead to almost the complete disappearance of the Mo signal. Gentle argon ion sputtering proved effective at removing the hydrocarbon contamination to reveal pristine molybdenum carbide. XPS spectra were recorded following the exposure of the prepared sample at 297 K to furfural. The results are commented on in relation to deoxygenation and olefin metathesis surface chemistry.

Molybdenum Carbide for Catalytic De/hydrogenation Process: Synthesis, Modulation and Applications

“…By comparing the XPS pattern data on furfural on prepared molybdenum carbide with the results of previous studies of ketones and aldehydes on β‐Mo 2 C, Fortin et al. concluded that the similar results demonstrate the rich surface sp 2 and sp 3 carbon of molybdenum carbide crystals, which is crucial for thermal de/hydrogenation catalytic processes [41] …”

“…[40] By comparing the XPS pattern data on furfural on prepared molybdenum carbide with the results of previous studies of ketones and aldehydes on β-Mo 2 C, Fortin et al concluded that the similar results demonstrate the rich surface sp 2 and sp 3 carbon of molybdenum carbide crystals, which is crucial for thermal de/hydrogenation catalytic processes. [41] In recent years, researchers have achieved more advances in improving the performance of molybdenum carbide-based catalysts as numerous innovative catalyst manufacturing techniques and characterization tools have been brought into the study of molybdenum carbide. Doping engineering, [34,42,43] morphology and structure engineering, [44][45][46] carrier engineering, [47][48][49] and encapsulating engineering, [50,51] which have been demonstrated to increase the microscopic electronic structure and crystal stability of catalysts, have also been utilized to improve the de/hydrogenation catalytic activity of molybdenum carbide.…”

A Journey across Food & Chemical Engineering Dyad: Symposium in memory of Professor Khaled Belkacemi

“…The special section consists of sixteen accepted articles that were organized in four topics. The first gathers contributions on industrially important catalysis applications and energy conversion (Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis, molybdenum carbide catalysis, coal pyrolysis and gasification, biorefinery transformations, carbon dioxide biomass gasification, and baffled fluidized and bubble column reactors). The second topic picked up a couple of biotechnology applications (enzyme immobilization on magnetic nanoparticles and cell adhesion on collagen scaffolds).…”