New Catalysts for the Destruction of Chemical Warfare Agents
Abstract
The chemistry of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), which is used as a simulant for organophosphorus nerve agents, is being studied on model systems consisting Ni and Cu nanoparticles supported on titania. On the small Ni particles and unannealed Ni films (50 monolayers), DMMP decomposes to produce CO and hydrogen as the main gaseous products, leaving atomic phosphorus on the surface. However, the reactivity of the large particles heated to 850 K and the annealed Ni films is dramatically decreased. This reduction in activity is not attributed to a particle size effect, but is believed to be related to changes induced by annealing. Defects, such as steps and kinks, in the unannealed Ni surface are likely to be lost after heating, and is it also believed that a TiOx species migrates onto the Ni surface during heating and passivates the surface. On the Cu particles of different sizes and on a 40 monolayer Cu film, DMMP decomposition produced methane as the major gaseous product, with formaldehyde as a minor product. Although the large and small Cu particles did not exhibit significantly different reactivity, the production of formaldehyde increased with increasing Cu coverage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 15, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA430408
Entities
People
- Donna A. Chen
Organizations
- University of South Carolina