Catalysis Letters最新文献

{"title":"Graphite-Supported Co-ZrO₂ Catalysts for CO₂ Methanation: Influence of Zirconia Loading on Structure and Catalytic Performance","authors":"Hajar El Ouahabi,&nbsp;Laura Martinez Quintana,&nbsp;Inmaculada Rodríguez-Ramos,&nbsp;Mohamed Khaddor,&nbsp;Mohamed Ouzzine,&nbsp;Ana Belen Dongil","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05551-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05551-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Graphite-supported Co-ZrO₂ catalysts with a fixed cobalt loading (5 wt%) and varying zirconia contents (5–20 wt%) were synthesized to investigate the effect of zirconia loading on CO₂ methanation under mild reaction conditions. The catalysts were characterized by N₂ physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and initially evaluated at atmospheric pressure at 275 °C. Subsequently, the effect of reaction temperature (200–275 °C) was investigated only for the best-performing catalyst, Co-Zr10-HSAG. Catalytic performance was strongly dependent on zirconia loading, with Co-Zr10-HSAG exhibiting the highest activity, achieving 14% CO₂ conversion and 85% CH₄ selectivity at 275 °C. H₂-TPR results showed a progressive shift of reduction peaks toward higher temperatures with increasing zirconia content, indicating stronger cobalt support interactions. XPS analysis revealed changes in the surface composition of cobalt and zirconium species upon zirconia addition. While zirconia promotion enhanced catalytic performance, excessive loading led to lower activity, suggesting that overly strong metal support interactions limit cobalt reducibility. The superior performance of Co-Zr10-HSAG is attributed to an optimal balance between cobalt reducibility and metal support interaction. These results highlight the potential of graphite-supported Co-ZrO₂ catalysts for low-temperature CO₂ methanation.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of La on the Structure, Selectivity and Stability of La/Co3O4 Catalysts in Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide in Hydrogen-Rich Streams","authors":"Reineck Mhlaba","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05547-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05547-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Co₃O₄-based catalyst was prepared via precipitation method, followed by lanthanum incorporation through incipient wetness impregnation. All catalysts were evaluated in the preferential oxidation (PROX) of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-rich streams. Catalysts were characterised using XRD, BET surface area, TGA, SEM, TEM, FTIR, TPR, and XPS. The XRD and FTIR results confirmed the formation of the spinel CO₃O₄ phase. The TPR measurements suggest the formation of LaCo linkage, which evidences strong electronic and structural interaction between La species and the Co₃O₄ lattice. An increase in the Co³⁺/Co²⁺ ratio was observed over the catalyst loaded with 1 wt% La species. As a result, an improvement in PROX performance was observed for the 1 wt% La/Co₃O₄ catalyst, which exhibited optimum activity at relatively lower temperatures (~60 to 120 °C). A slight decrease in CO conversion with time on stream was observed for 1wt.% La/Co₃O₄ in the presence of moisture, attributable to La doping, which suppresses OH-vacancy-assisted dissociative adsorption of H₂O. Furthermore, the introduction of CO₂ into the feed resulted in an approximately 30% decrease in catalytic activity with time on stream. Overall, La doped Co₃O₄ appears as a promising catalyst for low temperature (~80–120 °C) CO reduction in hydrogen rich streams, aligning with requirements for efficient proton exchange membrane fuel cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10562-026-05547-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of Copper-Based Catalysts Prepared by the Formic Acid Reduction Method in the Dehydrogenation of Sec-butanol","authors":"Li Zhang,&nbsp;Siyuan Wang,&nbsp;Ziyao Zhao,&nbsp;Siying Chong,&nbsp;Huzi Zhou,&nbsp;Ying Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05514-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05514-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Copper-based catalysts supported on ZnO and SiO₂ (Cu–ZnO and Cu–SiO₂) were prepared via a formic acid reduction method and evaluated in the dehydrogenation of sec-butanol (SBA) to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). The catalysts were comprehensively characterized by multiple techniques, and the catalytic mechanism was elucidated in conjunction with theoretical calculations. The results demonstrate that the Cu–ZnO catalyst prepared by formic acid reduction outperforms those synthesized by impregnation and coprecipitation methods. When using the formic acid reduction method, the Cu–SiO₂ catalyst exhibits superior catalytic performance to Cu–ZnO. Characterization reveals that the SiO₂ support endows the catalyst with a larger specific surface area (101.59 m²/g) and better copper dispersion, along with a higher Cu⁰/(Cu⁺+Cu⁰) ratio (41.3%), which collectively account for the enhanced catalytic activity. With varying copper loadings (30%, 35%, and 40%), Cu–SiO₂ consistently outperforms Cu–ZnO in catalytic performance. DFT calculations indicate that the adsorption energy of SBA on the Cu–SiO₂ model is higher than that on Cu–ZnO, with the hollow site exhibiting the most pronounced adsorption (− 592,571.24 kJ/mol), thereby facilitating the dehydrogenation reaction. For MEK and atomic hydrogen adsorption, the relative energies on the Cu–ZnO model are higher than those on Cu–SiO₂. Based on the experimental results, the active sites of the Cu–SiO₂ catalyst are primarily located at the hollow sites, whereas for the Cu–ZnO catalyst, the reaction preferentially proceeds at the top sites with lower relative adsorption energy.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Visible-Light Photocatalytic Selective Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Diformylfuran via Crystallinity Engineering of CdIn2S4 Octahedra","authors":"Yun Ju,&nbsp;Fengqin Wang,&nbsp;Tingting Chen,&nbsp;Cunwang Ge,&nbsp;Yang Wang,&nbsp;Muhammad Tayyab","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05546-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05546-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The visible-light-driven selective oxidation of lignocellulosic biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) represents a sustainable route for the green production of high-value 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). The ternary sulfide CdIn₂S₄ exhibits excellent visible-light responsiveness; however, the product suffers from low crystallinity, leading to severe photogenerated electron–hole recombination that substantially limits the catalytic conversion efficiency. In this work, highly crystalline CdIn₂S₄ with an octahedral morphology (denoted as CISH) was synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. Under visible light, CISH afforded a DFF production rate of 2.56 mmol g^− 1 h^− 1, which is approximately 2.3 times that of low-crystallinity CdIn₂S₄ (CISL), while both catalysts-maintained selectivity above 90%. Systematic photoelectrochemical characterizations revealed that the enhanced crystallinity effectively promotes the separation and migration of photogenerated charge carriers, reduces charge-transfer impedance, and prolongs the photogenerated electron lifetime. Radical trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy indicated that superoxide radicals (•O₂⁻) and photogenerated holes (h⁺) are the primary reactive species, and the conversion of HMF to DFF proceeds via a carbon-centered radical intermediate pathway. This study elucidates the critical role of crystallinity as an independent variable in modulating the photocatalytic performance of ternary metal sulfides, and provides new insights into the design of efficient photocatalysts for biomass conversion.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div><p>Enhancing the crystallinity of octahedral CdIn₂S₄ via prolonged hydrothermal synthesis significantly boosts visible-light photocatalytic selective oxidation of HMF to DFF, delivering a record-high production rate of 2.56 mmol g^− 1 h^− 1 with excellent selectivity, through synergistically improved charge separation and interfacial redox kinetics.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rational Synthesis of High-Entropy (FeCoNiCuMn)12P5 Microrings and Their Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Performance","authors":"Lei Yang,&nbsp;YuXin Wan,&nbsp;Ziyi Zhao,&nbsp;Ziyuan Zhao,&nbsp;Xiaoxian Tian,&nbsp;Jun Yin,&nbsp;Yujue Li,&nbsp;Jiahui Wang,&nbsp;Le Xu,&nbsp;Xueqin Yuan","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05549-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05549-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Designing cost-effective and durable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical for sustainable energy conversion. Herein, we report the first rational synthesis of high-entropy (FeCoNiCuMn)₁₂P₅ microrings on nickel foam via a facile hydrothermal route followed by phosphidation. A gradient control experiment-including (FeCoNiCu)₁₂P₅, (FeCoNi)₁₂P₅ and Ni₁₂P₅ is strategically designed to isolate and verify the entropy effect. Comprehensive characterizations confirm a single phase solid solution with homogeneous elemental distribution and a distinct hollow ring-like morphology. Electrochemical measurements reveal that the high-entropy microrings exhibit the best HER activity, with a low overpotential of 102 mV at 10 mA·cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 61 mV·dec⁻¹, significantly outperforming their lower-entropy counterparts in sequence. Moreover, they demonstrate outstanding long-term durability. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic high‑entropy effect, which modulates the electronic structure and increases the density of accessible active sites. This work not only provides a viable synthetic route toward high‑entropy phosphide microrings but also offers compelling experimental evidence validating the critical role of configurational entropy in boosting HER electrocatalysis.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the Synergistic Mechanism of PMS Activation and Pollutant Degradation by Fe3O4/Co@NC/Ti3C2Tx Composites","authors":"Lu Li,&nbsp;Xiaofeng Yang,&nbsp;Yuxia Xie,&nbsp;Jin Chen,&nbsp;Yuzhao Ma,&nbsp;Yanjun Li,&nbsp;Jing Du","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05544-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05544-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Advanced oxidation technology (AOPs) has great potential in treating refractory organic pollutants. However, the catalytic efficiency of traditional catalysts is typically limited by poor active site accessibility and slow electron transfer. Herein, the self-assembled magnetic Fe₃O₄/Co@NC/Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> (FCNCT) composite was used to activate PMS toward degradation of tetracycline. The pyrolytic temperature modulates the interfacial element migration and bonding configuration among the three components, thereby driving the reconstruction process and ultimately optimizing their synergistic effects. Moreover, the complete degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) occurred within 10 min over the catalyst synthesized at 800 °C. The cobalt nanoparticles were formed in-situ during the pyrolysis process and were encapsulated within a nitrogen-doped porous carbon matrix. Meanwhile, the 2D conductive carbon layer contributed to enhanced electron transfer and improved catalytic efficiency. The main reactive species were identified as •<span>(:{text{O}}_{text{2}}^{text{-}})</span> and ¹O₂ by the radical quenching experiments. Overall, this study establishes theoretical foundations and experimental validation to facilitate the rational design and process optimization of high-performance multi-component catalytic systems.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic Insights into Antibiotic Degradation by Covalent Organic Framework-Derived Carbon: Role of Graphite-N-C3 Active Sites","authors":"Zheng Huang,&nbsp;Liang Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05543-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05543-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Carbon-based materials have garnered significant attention for the degradation of organic pollutants through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. However, the role of complex organic active sites is still not well understood. In this study, carbon materials derived from covalent organic frameworks (COF), specifically NOC-900 with graphite-N-C₃ sites, were synthesized via simple hydrothermal and calcination processes. The results showed that NOC-900 exhibited excellent catalytic performance, achieving 97.6% levofloxacin (LVX) removal within 60min in the PMS activation system. Additionally, NOC-900 demonstrated strong stability, retaining over 80% degradation efficiency after five cycles. The NOC-900/PMS system also maintained outstanding degradation performance across a wide pH range (3.16–10.50) and in complex water matrices with ionic interference, highlighting its potential for industrial applications. Mechanistic studies revealed that the graphite-N-C₃ sites were closely related to the highly selective production of singlet oxygen (¹O₂). Degradation intermediates and the toxicity of LVX were also evaluated, and possible degradation pathways were proposed. Most intermediates were found to be more environmentally benign than LVX. Our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the activation sites in carbon materials.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fabrication of Ru-Ni/SBA-15 Bimetallic Catalyst: Synergistic Effect and Application in Linoleic Acid Isomerization","authors":"Yigao Li,&nbsp;Shouteng Zheng,&nbsp;Pengpeng Huang,&nbsp;Xincheng Li,&nbsp;Mingming Fan,&nbsp;Pingbo Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05539-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05539-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Aiming at green catalysis, an efficient and recyclable Ru-Ni/SBA-15 heterogeneous catalytic system was developed for the green isomerization of linoleic acid to prepare conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Using P123 as a template agent and tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silicon source, an ordered mesoporous SBA-15 support was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and a Ru-Ni bimetallic catalyst was prepared by the equal-volume co-impregnation method. Characterization using XRD, SEM, BET, XPS, and other techniques confirmed that the catalyst maintains an intact ordered 2D-hexagonal cylindrical mesoporous structure of SBA-15, whose large pore size and straight channels facilitate the diffusion of long-chain linoleic acid molecules. Ru and Ni highly dispersed and forming electronic synergistic effects, where Ru serves as the dominant active site to activate the C = C double bond of linoleic acid, while Ni modulates electron distribution and suppresses unwanted hydrogenation side reactions, significantly enhancing catalytic activity and stability. Under optimal conditions in an ethylene glycol system, the isomerization of linoleic acid catalyzed achieved a CLA yield of 65%. The catalyst can be separated and recovered by simple filtration, and it remains stably active after being reused four times. This system is simple to prepare, cost-controllable, and environmentally friendly, providing an efficient and feasible new route for the green synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-classical Crystallite-Growth Kinetics in a Co-precipitated Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst for Methanol Synthesis","authors":"Zhenxiang Li,&nbsp;Xiangjun He,&nbsp;Yujuan Li,&nbsp;Haodong Zhao,&nbsp;Deyi Lv,&nbsp;Zongjian Liu,&nbsp;Ying Li,&nbsp;Baoxiang Peng,&nbsp;Haodong Tang","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05542-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05542-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts for syngas-to-methanol process are prone to crystallite growth under high-temperature operation, leading to catalytic deactivation. Herein, the evolution of Cu(111) and ZnO(101) apparent crystallite sizes of a co-precipitated Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst with thermal treatment temperature and isothermal aging time was systematically investigated. On the basis of a generalized parabolic growth law, apparent kinetic equations were established for Cu(111) and ZnO(101) crystallite growth. The results show that the growth exponents of both Cu and ZnO are significantly larger than the classical parabolic value (<i>n</i> = 2), indicating a clear deviation from classical parabolic crystallite-growth behavior. The kinetic equations were further applied to predict crystallite evolution during long-term operation, showing agreement between the predictions and XRD measurements after 50 and 200 h within the experimental uncertainty. Given that the kinetic analysis is based on XRD-derived apparent crystallite sizes, the resulting kinetic parameters should be interpreted within the investigated catalyst system and operating conditions. This study provides a kinetic basis for quantitatively characterizing crystallite coarsening and assessing long-term structural stability for Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149098473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Model Ag/HOPG Catalysis for Ethylene Epoxidation: Comparison of Methods for the Preparation of Large Ag Particles with High Surface Coverage","authors":"Anna V. Nartova,&nbsp;Аlexandra A. Ananina,&nbsp;Aleksey M. Dmitrachkov,&nbsp;Ren I. Kvon,&nbsp;Maxim A. Panafidin,&nbsp;Boris V. Andryushechkin,&nbsp;Valerii I. Bukhtiyarov","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05538-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05538-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The results of the preparation of ‘Ag/HOPG’ model catalysts for ethylene epoxidation, focusing on the preparation of a high coverage of large silver particles on HOPG (highly oriented pyrolytic graphite) surface and suitable for in situ XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and STM (scanning tunneling microscopy) studies are presented. Several approaches to preparing Ag/HOPG samples are compared. SEM (scanning electron microscopy), STM, and XPS, combined with deep-learning analysis, were used to quantify particle-size distributions, the number of Ag particles per unit area, and the surface coverage of the support by Ag. It is shown that damaging of the basal plane of graphite (by Ar⁺ etching) (i) is promising for film-like Ag - coating, due to the merging of closely spaced particles upon their growth; (ii) promotes Ag-C encapsulation. These effects make such samples unsuitable for reaction mechanistic studies. In contrast, thermal vacuum deposition of silver using an e-beam evaporator on freshly peeled HOPG produces uniformly distributed, relatively flat Ag particles with controlled mean sizes in the range of 30–100 nm and Ag coverages up to 0.59 of the support surface area. Annealing a sample containing 100 nm Ag particles in vacuum at 500 °C reveals Ostwald ripening. O 1s XPS line analysis confirms that prepared low-oxygen Ag/HOPG systems are suitable model catalysts for the instrumental studies of ethylene epoxidation.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149098476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}