title: Synthesis and methane cracking activity of a silicon nitride supported vanadium nitride nanoparticle composite.
abstract: The co-ammonolysis of V(NMe2)4and Si(NHMe)4with ammonia in THF and in the presence of ammonium triflate ([NH4][CF3SO3]) leads to the formation of monolithic gels. Pyrolysing these gels produces mesoporous composite materials containing nanocrystalline VN and amorphous silicon imidonitride. Elemental mapping indicated a thorough distribution of VN with no evidence of large cluster segregation. Whilst not active for ammonia synthesis, the silicon nitride based materials were found to possess activity for the COx-free production of H2from methane, which makes them candidates for applications in which the presence of low levels of CO in H2feedstreams is detrimental.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Justin.Hargreaves@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ihfaf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: AlShibane
authors.forename: Justin S J
authors.initials: JSJ
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hector
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Levason
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McFarlane