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Synthesis of Highly Effective α-Fe2O3 Catalyst for the Spin Conversion of Liquid Hydrogen

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Abstract

A series of α-Fe2O3 catalysts were prepared by precipitation method by changing calcination temperatures, solvents, precursor concentration, and bases. The structure and morphology of the synthesized catalysts were characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy, and the liquid-phase spin conversion of ortho-hydrogen to para-hydrogen was performed by in situ FTIR spectroscopy at cryogenic temperature 17 K. The spin conversion was affected by catalysts calcination temperature, initial precursor concentration, solvents used, and precipitating agent. The highly dispersed and most active α-Fe2O3 was obtained using double-distilled water as solvent and sodium hydroxide solution as precipitating agent followed by calcination at 393 K for 12 h. The formation of hydrated Fe (OH)3 or FeOOH during synthesis of α-Fe2O3 at 393 K dramatically enhanced the catalytic activity and ortho to para-hydrogen spin conversion.

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Acknowledgement

This research work was supported by Convergence Research Program funded by the Ministry of Future Creation and Science (2013K000402), South Korea. J. Choi appreciates Hannam University for the supporting the period from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018. T. Das thanks to the Director and SRIC, IIT Roorkee for supporting through SMILE (SMILE-10).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Green City Technology Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea

    In-Hwan Oh

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Hannam University, Daejon, 300-791, Republic of Korea

    Jeong-Gil Choi

  3. Heterogeneous Catalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Haridwar, UK, 247667, India

    Taraknath Das

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  1. Taraknath Das
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Correspondence to Taraknath Das.

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Das, T., Choi, JG. & Oh, IH. Synthesis of Highly Effective α-Fe2O3 Catalyst for the Spin Conversion of Liquid Hydrogen. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. A Phys. Sci. 90, 399–409 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40010-019-00599-3

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