Investigation of Fe–P–B ultrafine amorphous nanomaterials: Influence of synthesis parameters on physicochemical and catalytic properties

A series of Fe–P–B ultrafine amorphous alloy particles were synthesized by chemical reduction method to study the influence of iron precursors such as FeCl2·4H2O, FeCl3·6H2O, and Fe(OAc)2 and reaction medium (H2O, 50% ethanolic solution, and 50% isopropyl alcoholic solution). The physicochemical properties of the as-synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, N2 sorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron diffraction. The existence of amorphous nature of Fe–P–B materials was found to be retained even when the temperature was up to 300 °C. Use of different iron precursors and solvents in the preparation significantly influenced the structure, morphology, and composition of Fe–P–B nanoalloys. Dehydrogenation of ethanol has been carried out in order to evaluate the catalytic properties of the Fe–P–B nanoalloys and the results have been related to the surface properties of Fe–P–B nanoalloys. Fe–P–B prepared with FeCl2 in 50% ethanolic solution, showed the highest activity among all the Fe–P–B catalysts.

Fe–P–B amorphous nanomaterials prepared using chemical reduction method were characterized by XRD, TEM, N2 sorption, electron diffraction and XPS. The structure, morphology, and composition of Fe–P–B nanoalloys have been significantly influenced by the iron precursor and the type of solvent used. Fe–P–B has higher specific activity per weight of the catalyst than Fe–P and Fe–B.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide