Synthesis, characterization and catalytic potential of MgNiO2 nanoparticles obtained froma novel [MgNi(opba)]n . 9nH2O chain.

Abstract

We describe herein the synthesis of MgNiO2 nanoparticles employing a new one-dimensional system [MgNi(opba)]n . 9nH2O, with opba standing for ortho-phenylenebis(oxamato), as precursor. The MgNiO2 nanoparticles could be obtained after heat-treatment at 800 °C for 5 h under air atmosphere, which was responsible for the elimination of water and organic precursor material leading the formation of na- noparticles with average size of 40 7 9 nm. To this end, we first described the synthesis of [MgNi (opba)]n . 9nH2O chain, which was obtained using a pre-synthetized Na2[Ni(opba)] . 5H2O and Mg2 þ (molar ratio of 1:1) in aqueous media and then this chain was calcined to produce the desired MgNiO2 nanoparticles. The obtained MgNiO2 nanoparticles showed good catalytic performance towards ethanol decomposition achieving 100% of substrate conversion and producing acetaldehyde (56.8%) and hydro- gen (24.8%) as the main gaseous products. Also, carbon based structures of great interest for technolo- gical applications, carbon nanotubes and onions were formed as valuable byproducts. Thus, we believe that our reported results may inspire the synthesis of catalysts with improved performances for appli- cations in other gas-phase transformations.