Erica Montanari

Hierarchical hybrid organic-inorganic materials with tunable textural properties obtained using zeolitic-layered precursor.

Novel layered zeolitic organic-inorganic materials have been synthesized using a two-dimensional zeolite precursor IPC-1P prepared by a top-down approach from zeolite UTL. The formation of porous materials containing organic linkers or polyhedral oligomeric siloxane covalently bonded to zeolite layers in the interlayer space was confirmed by a variety of characterization techniques (N2/Ar sorption analysis, XRD, (29)Si and (13)C NMR, TEM). The organic-inorganic porous hybrids obtained by intercalation with silsesquioxane posessed layered morphology and contained large crystalline domains. The hybrids exhibited mesoporous or hierarchical micro-/mesoporous systems, stable up to 350 °C. Textural properties of the formed zeolitic organic-inorganic materials can be controlled by varying the linker or synthetic conditions over a broad range. Surface areas and pore volumes of synthesized hybrids significantly exceed those for parent zeolite UTL and corresponding swollen material; the amount of micropores increased with increasing rigidity and size of the organic linker in the order biphenyl > phenylene > ethanediyl.

The role of MoS2 nano-slabs in the protection of solid cracking catalysts for the total conversion of heavy oils to good quality distillates

The total conversion of the oil barrel to good quality fuels and distillates has been an overriding goal in the oil refinery industry. Today, it is even more important to improve the effective use of the energy fossil reserves. The actual technologies still produce variable amounts of low quality fractions (e.g. fuel oil, bunker oil) or by-products (e.g. coke). The evolution of the slurry hydrocracking technology can open the way to achieve the objective. This technology was originally developed in Germany in the first half of the last century and reconsidered by several research groups in the past decades. The catalyst used in the slurry process is still constituted by the same materials developed by German scientists in the last century, i.e. bulk, crystalline, nano-sized iron, molybdenum or tungsten sulfide. We have demonstrated now that it is possible to improve the catalytic performances by combining the excellent hydrogenation, hydrodesulfurization and hydrodemetallation properties of dispersed MoS2 catalyst with those of a conventional cracking catalyst. This dual catalyst system demonstrates for the first time the ability of dispersed MoS2 particles to protect the cracking catalyst against rapid decay due to coke accumulation and metal poisoning.

Synthesis and characterization of Si/Ga Eni Carbon Silicates

Abstract Phenylene-gallosilicates were prepared with the same crystalline structure as their aluminum analogues. The new Ga-Eni Carbon Silicates (Ga-ECS) phases were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis, which demonstrated that gallium isomorphously replaced aluminum in the framework of the organic-inorganic hybrids similar to the case of classical zeolites. Hybrid ECS materials were obtained with different types of bridged silsesquioxane precursors that maintained the aluminum-silicate nature of the inorganic moiety. This work confirms a new level of crystal chemistry versatility for this class of materials, and demonstrates the possibility to tailor also the inorganic part of the framework by changing the nature of the trivalent heteroatom.

Crystalline Microporous Organosilicates with Reversed Functionalities of Organic and Inorganic Components for Room-Temperature Gas Sensing

A deepened investigation on an innovative organic-inorganic hybrid material, referred to as ECS-14 (where ECS = Eni carbon silicates), revealed the possibility to use them as gas sensors. Indeed, among ECS phases, the crystalline state and the hexagonal microplateletlike morphology characteristic of ECS-14 seemed favorable properties to obtain continuous and uniform films. ECS-14 phase was used as functional material in screen-printable compositions and was thus deposited by drop coating for morphological, structural, thermal, and electrical characterizations. Possible operation at room temperature was investigated as technological progress, offering intrinsic safety in sensors working in harsh or industrial environments and avoiding high power consumption of most common sensors based on metal oxide semiconductors. Electrical characterization of the sensors based on ECS-14 versus concentrations of gaseous analytes gave significant results at room temperature in the presence of humidity, thereby demonstrating fundamental properties for a good quality sensor (speed, reversibility, and selectivity) that make them competitive with respect to systems currently in use. Remarkably, we observed functionality reversal of the organic and inorganic components; that is, in contrast to other hybrids, for ECS-14 the functional site has been ascribed to the inorganic phase while the organic component provided structural stability to the material. The sensing mechanism for humidity was also investigated.

Synthesis of zeolites using N,N’-tetramethylen-bis-(N-methylpiperidinium) dihydroxydes as directing agent

Abstract The synthesis of two new materials referred to as ERS-13 and ERS-14 has been obtained using N,N’-tetramethylen-bis-(N-methylpiperidinium) dihydroxydes (M 4 BP(OH) 2 ) as structure directing agent. The new phases were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy. ERS-13 is most likely a layered material with a structure close to the previously reported ITQ-8. ERS-14 is a disordered zeolite material, and, similarly to zeolite ITQ-10 and ITQ-16, belongs to the family of zeolite beta. However, ERS-14 shows a weak XRD peak at 3.8° of 2θ (λ=1.54178 A) never reported, testifying a periodicity of 23.6A.

Eni Carbon Silicates: Innovative Hybrid Materials for Room-Temperature Gas Sensing

The purpose of this work was to satisfy both materials and technological sciences, on the one hand implementing innovative hybrid materials referred to as ECS (Eni Carbon Silicate) in gas sensors manufacturing, and on the other hand verifying their possible operation at room temperature as a technological progress. The ECS-14 and ECS-13 phases were employed as functional materials for films deposited by drop coating onto alumina substrates. Room-temperature gas tests were performed to study their potential sensing properties. In humidity conditions, the ECS-14 based sensor showed outstanding performance and a complete calibration vs. moisture concentration was obtained.