The strategies for catalyst innovations are also shown to be greatly dependent on the
progress in surface science of Phillips-type catalysts. More and more novel
Cr-based polyethylene catalysts with better performance and products of improved
structure and properties can be expected through successive surface modifications
of either the chromate species or the silica support on the traditional Phillips
catalyst.
In spite of the progress achieved so far, the long-standing key question
concerning the precise structure of the active sites and the initiation mechanism
in terms of the formation of the Cr–C bond and the first polyethylene chain on the
Phillips catalyst have not yet been completely elucidated. A step forward in
interpretation of these basic questions requires the combination of heterogeneous
and homogeneous model catalyst systems with more advanced and multiple
characterization techniques, especially in-situ or operando techniques as well as
theoretical molecular modeling. The rational design and utilization of novel heterogeneous and homogeneous model catalysts resembling the traditional Phillips
catalyst will greatly facilitate research on the real and complex catalyst system. The
ever-growing computational power will enable us to handle more and more complex catalyst systems. A state-of-the-art catalyst design with greatly improved
efficiency based on computational high-throughput screening techniques is
expected in the polyolefin field in the near future. All in all, further progress in
this important field still greatly depends on a combination of multiple techniques
for basic research on both catalyst and polymer, as well as on persistent efforts and
collaboration of scientists with different expertise from all over the world.
Acknowledgements We are gratefully thankful for the financial support by the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (No. 21104019 and 21274040), the National High Technology
Research and Development Program 863 (2012AA040306), and the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (Key Project for Basic Research 10JC1403700). This work is also financially
supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Research Program of
Introducing Talents of Discipline of University (B08021).
References
1. Hogan JP, Banks RL (1954) Patent US 2825721
2. McDaniel MP (1985) Adv Catal 33:47
3. McDaniel MP (2008) Polymerization reactions. In: Ertl G, Knozinger H, Schu ¨th F, Weitkamp
J (eds) Handbook of heterogeneous catalysis. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
4. McDaniel MP (2010) Adv Catal 53:123
5. McDaniel MP (1981) J Catal 67:71
6. Merryfield R, McDaniel MP, Parks G (1982) J Catal 77:348
7. McDaniel MP (1982) J Catal 76:37
8. Liu B, Terano M (2001) J Mol Catal A Chem 172:227
9. Qiu P, Li X, Zhang S, Cheng R, Dong Q, Liu B, Li L, Yu Y, Tang Y, Xie J, Wang W (2009)
Asia Pac J Chem Eng 4:660
10. Clark A (1970) Catal Rev 3:145
11. Groppo E, Lamberti C, Bordiga S, Spoto G, Zecchina A (2005) Chem Rev 105:115
198
R. Cheng et al.
progress in surface science of Phillips-type catalysts. More and more novel
Cr-based polyethylene catalysts with better performance and products of improved
structure and properties can be expected through successive surface modifications
of either the chromate species or the silica support on the traditional Phillips
catalyst.
In spite of the progress achieved so far, the long-standing key question
concerning the precise structure of the active sites and the initiation mechanism
in terms of the formation of the Cr–C bond and the first polyethylene chain on the
Phillips catalyst have not yet been completely elucidated. A step forward in
interpretation of these basic questions requires the combination of heterogeneous
and homogeneous model catalyst systems with more advanced and multiple
characterization techniques, especially in-situ or operando techniques as well as
theoretical molecular modeling. The rational design and utilization of novel heterogeneous and homogeneous model catalysts resembling the traditional Phillips
catalyst will greatly facilitate research on the real and complex catalyst system. The
ever-growing computational power will enable us to handle more and more complex catalyst systems. A state-of-the-art catalyst design with greatly improved
efficiency based on computational high-throughput screening techniques is
expected in the polyolefin field in the near future. All in all, further progress in
this important field still greatly depends on a combination of multiple techniques
for basic research on both catalyst and polymer, as well as on persistent efforts and
collaboration of scientists with different expertise from all over the world.
Acknowledgements We are gratefully thankful for the financial support by the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (No. 21104019 and 21274040), the National High Technology
Research and Development Program 863 (2012AA040306), and the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (Key Project for Basic Research 10JC1403700). This work is also financially
supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Research Program of
Introducing Talents of Discipline of University (B08021).
References
1. Hogan JP, Banks RL (1954) Patent US 2825721
2. McDaniel MP (1985) Adv Catal 33:47
3. McDaniel MP (2008) Polymerization reactions. In: Ertl G, Knozinger H, Schu ¨th F, Weitkamp
J (eds) Handbook of heterogeneous catalysis. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
4. McDaniel MP (2010) Adv Catal 53:123
5. McDaniel MP (1981) J Catal 67:71
6. Merryfield R, McDaniel MP, Parks G (1982) J Catal 77:348
7. McDaniel MP (1982) J Catal 76:37
8. Liu B, Terano M (2001) J Mol Catal A Chem 172:227
9. Qiu P, Li X, Zhang S, Cheng R, Dong Q, Liu B, Li L, Yu Y, Tang Y, Xie J, Wang W (2009)
Asia Pac J Chem Eng 4:660
10. Clark A (1970) Catal Rev 3:145
11. Groppo E, Lamberti C, Bordiga S, Spoto G, Zecchina A (2005) Chem Rev 105:115
198
R. Cheng et al.