Asim Bhaumik

Hierarchically porous carbon derived from polymers and biomass: effect of interconnected pores on energy applications

Hierarchically porous carbons (HPCs) with 1D to 3D network are attracting vast interest due to their potential technological application profile ranging from electrochemical capacitors, lithium ion batteries, solar cells, hydrogen storage systems, photonic material, fuel cells, sorbent for toxic gas separation and so on. Natural raw-materials such as biomass-biopolymer derived hierarchical nanostructured carbons are especially attractive for their uniform pore dimensions which can be adjustable over a wide range of length scales. Good electrical conductivity, high surface area, and excellent chemical stability are unique physicochemical properties which are responsible for micro/nanostructured porous carbon to be highly trusted candidate for emerging nanotechnologies. This review focuses on the ‘out-of-the-box’ synthetic techniques capable of deriving HPC with superior application profiles. The article presents the promising scope of accessing HPCs from (1) hard-templating, soft-templating, and non-templating routes, (2) biopolymers with a major focus on non-templating strategies. Subsequently, emerging strategies of hetero-atom doping in porous carbon nanostructures are discussed. The review will highlight the contribution of synergistic effect of macro–meso–micropores on a range of emerging applications such as CO2 capture, carbon photonic crystal sensors, Li–S batteries, and supercapacitor. Mechanism of ion transport and buffering, electrical double layer enhancement have been discussed in the context of pore structure and shapes. We will also show the differences of HPC and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) in terms of their synthesis strategies and choices of template for self-assembly. How the remarkable mechanical strength of the HPCs can be achieved by selecting self-assembling template, whereas collapse of mesostructure via decomposition of framework occurs due to poor thermal stability or high N-content of the carbon source will be discussed.

Fe3O4@mesoporous SBA-15: a robust and magnetically recoverable catalyst for one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones via the Biginelli reaction

A magnetic nanoparticle conjugated mesoporous nanocatalyst (Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15) with a high surface area has been synthesized by chemical conjugation of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticles with functionalized mesoporous SBA-15. Functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 containing surface carboxyl and amino groups was synthesized via the thiol-ene click reaction of cysteine hydrochloride and vinyl functionalized SBA-15. The catalytic activity of the robust, safe and magnetically recoverable Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15 nanocatalyst was evaluated in the Biginelli reaction under mild conditions for the synthesis of a diverse range of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones. The separation and reuse of the Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15 nanocatalyst were simple, effective and economical.

Triazine functionalized ordered mesoporous polymer: a novel solid support for Pd-mediated C–C cross-coupling reactions in water

A new functionalized mesoporous polymer (MPTAT-1) has been synthesized via organic–organic radical polymerization of 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine (TAT) in aqueous medium in the presence of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) as template. Powder XRD and TEM image analysis suggests the presence of ordered 2D-hexagonal arrangement of pores in the material. N2 sorption analysis reveals a moderately good surface area 135 m2 g−1 for this mesoporous polymer. The template free MPTAT-1 acts as an excellent support for immobilizing Pd(II) at its surface and the resulting material showed very good catalytic activity in several C–C cross-coupling reactions like Mizoroki–Heck, Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura in an environmentally benign reaction medium, water. The catalyst exhibits very high catalytic activity for the coupling of various aryl halides including aryl chlorides with alkenes or alkynes and the sodium salt of (trihydroxy)phenylborate. Due to strong binding with the functional groups of the polymer, the anchored Pd(II) could not leach out from the surface of the mesoporous catalyst during the reaction and it has been reused several times without appreciable loss in catalytic activity.

Soft templating strategies for the synthesis of mesoporous materials: Inorganic, organic–inorganic hybrid and purely organic solids

With the discovery of MCM-41 by Mobil researchers in 1992 the journey of the research on mesoporous materials started and in the 21st century this area of scientific investigation have extended into numerous branches, many of which contribute significantly in emerging areas like catalysis, energy, environment and biomedical research. As a consequence thousands of publications came out in large varieties of national and international journals. In this review, we have tried to summarize the published works on various synthetic pathways and formation mechanisms of different mesoporous materials viz. inorganic, organic-inorganic hybrid and purely organic solids via soft templating pathways. Generation of nanoscale porosity in a solid material usually requires participation of organic template (more specifically surfactants and their supramolecular assemblies) called structure-directing agent (SDA) in the bottom-up chemical reaction process. Different techniques employed for the syntheses of inorganic mesoporous solids, like silicas, metal doped silicas, transition and non-transition metal oxides, mixed oxides, metallophosphates, organic-inorganic hybrids as well as purely organic mesoporous materials like carbons, polymers etc. using surfactants are depicted schematically and elaborately in this paper. Moreover, some of the frontline applications of these mesoporous solids, which are directly related to their functionality, composition and surface properties are discussed at the appropriate places.

Self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles: mesoporosity, optical and catalytic properties

Herein, we explore the idea of self-assembly of nearly monodisperse nanoparticles as uniform building blocks to design highly crystalline mesoporous TiO(2) nanoparticles, through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) and hydrothermal methods by using non-ionic Pluronic F127 and anionic surfactant SDS, respectively as structure directing agents. The small- and wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the mesophases. N(2) adsorption-desorption studies and high-resolution TEM results further reveal that mesopores are formed by the arrangement of the nanoparticles of size ca. 4.0-5.0 nm for SDS-templated and 8.0-9.0 nm for F127-templated TiO(2) nanoparticles with broad interparticle pore size distribution. Optical properties of these nanomaterials are studied by UV-visible diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved fluorescence (TCSPC). These nanostructured titania exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the photodegradation of ecologically abundant dyes Methylene blue and Rose Bengal under UV-visible light irradiation.

A new functionalized mesoporous matrix supported Pd(II)-Schiff base complex: an efficient catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.

A new Pd(II) bounded 2D-hexagonally ordered functionalized MCM-41 type material (IV) has been synthesized. Functionalization was carried out by the anchoring of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane in the MCM-41 type mesoporous material, followed by grafting with 2,6-diacetylpyridine (DAP) to give a N3-type Schiff base chelating attachment for the Pd(II) species. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies have been used to characterize the material. Material IV behaves as a highly active catalyst towards Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction for the synthesis of biaryl organics. In addition, IV acts as a true heterogeneous catalyst in coupling reaction. It was found that this catalyst is highly efficient and recyclable towards Suzuki-Miyaura reaction with high turn over frequencies. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis was employed to understand the oxidation state of the palladium atom in the catalyst (IV) and its loading in the material.

Titanium containing inorganic–organic hybrid mesoporous materials with exceptional activity in epoxidation of alkenes using hydrogen peroxide

Titanium containing ethane bridged hybrid mesoporous materials with uniform hexagonal arrangement are prepared by two different routes and characterized using several analytical techniques. The effect of substitution of bridged silsesquioxane precursors for siloxane precursors on the properties of resultant mesoporous bulk materials are also evaluated and discussed in term of mesoscopic order and oxidation catalysis. The materials are highly hydrophobic and selectively epoxidize the α-pinene to α-pinene oxide (with >99% selectivity) and display high hydrogen peroxide efficiencies.

Pd-grafted periodic mesoporous organosilica: an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for Hiyama and Sonogashira couplings, and cyanation reactions

The high surface area of 2D-hexagonal periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) containing a phloroglucinol-diimine moiety inside the pore wall has been utilized for grafting Pd(II) at the surface of the mesopores. This Pd-containing PMO material (Pd-LHMS-3) shows excellent catalytic activity in fluoride-free Hiyama cross-coupling reactions in water at alkaline pH conditions. Sonogashira cross-couplings between terminal alkynes and aryl halides take place in the presence of water and hexamine as base in the absence of any Cu co-catalyst. Cyanation of aryl halides is equally promoted with K4[Fe(CN)6] as the cyanide source (in the absence of poisonous KCN, NaCN or Zn(CN)2) over Pd-LHMS-3. Excellent yield of the products, reusability and the facile work-up could make this Pd-grafted PMO material a unique catalyst for the synthesis of substituted benzonitriles, unsymmetrical biphenyls and di-substituted alkynes under environmentally benign reaction conditions. Further good yield of products and no evidence of leached Pd from the catalyst surface during the reaction and its smooth recovery confirm the true heterogeneity in these catalytic reactions.

One-pot thioetherification of aryl halides with thiourea and benzyl bromide in water catalyzed by Cu-grafted furfural imine-functionalized mesoporous SBA-15

Surface functionalization of SBA-15 followed by its reaction with Cu(OAc)(2) has been carried out to develop a new Cu-grafted functionalized mesoporous material, which catalyzes one-pot three component coupling of different aryl halides with thiourea and benzyl bromide in aqueous medium to produce aryl thioethers in very good yields (80-88%).

A triazine functionalized porous organic polymer: excellent CO2 storage material and support for designing Pd nanocatalyst for C–C cross-coupling reactions

One-pot bottom-up synthesis involving extended aromatic electrophilic substitution on to a pyrrole has been employed for the design of a novel triazine-functionalized porphyrin-based porous organic polymer, TPOP-1. Hydrothermal treatment of 4,4′,4′′-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(oxy)tribenzaldehyde and pyrrole in glacial acetic acid in the presence of FeCl3 leads to the formation of TPOP-1, which is a highly porous and robust material, and which exhibits a high surface area and bimodal pore sizes ranging from large micropores to mesopores. The presence of porphyrin and triazine functionality within the network structure enables formation of electron-donating basic N-sites at the surface of the porous organic framework and thus favors the adsorption of Lewis acidic CO2 molecules and decoration of the material by palladium nanoparticles at its surface to form Pd-TPOP-1. TPOP-1 showed good CO2 storage capacity (6.2 mmol g−1 or 27.3 wt% at 3 bar/273 K), suggesting its potential application in environmental clean-up. Moreover, this post Pd-functionalized material forms fine colloidal suspensions in organic solvent and exhibits high catalytic activity for Sonogashira cross-coupling of aryl halides with aryl alkynes under mild reaction conditions.