title: An ultrasonic atomization assisted synthesis of self-assembled manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve nanostructures and their application in catalysis and water treatment.
abstract: Manganese oxides of octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) type have important applications in oxidation catalysis, adsorption, and as battery materials. The synthesis methods employed determine their morphology and textural properties which markedly affect their catalytic activity. In this work, a room temperature ultrasonic atomization assisted synthesis of OMS-2 type materials is demonstrated. This synthesis differs from previously reported methods in that it is a simple, no-heat application that leads to a striking morphological characteristic of uniformly sized OMS-2 fibers and their self-assembly into dense as well as hollow spheres. Control of various parameters in the ultrasonic atomization assisted synthesis led to OMS-2 with high surface areas (between 136-160 m2g-1) and mesoporosity. Catalytically these materials have higher activities in the oxidation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a bio-based chemical, (65% conversion of HMF vs. 14% with conventional OMS-2 catalyst) and a higher adsorption of lead from aqueous solutions (70% vs. 12% in conventional OMS-2 materials).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, U-3060, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA. steven.suib@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Chung-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Saminda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dharmarathna
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Dinithi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rathnayake
authors.forename: Junkai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Suib