{"title":"Investigation of titania and ceria support effects in nickel catalyzed CO2 methanation†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00461b","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00461b","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ni catalysts, supported on TiO<sub>2</sub> or CeO<sub>2</sub>, are active and selective for CO<sub>2</sub> methanation. To investigate the role of the support on the resulting Ni structure and catalytic performance, catalysts were prepared by strong electrostatic adsorption, incipient wetness impregnation, and colloidal nanoparticle synthesis. The reactivity follows a volcano-type trend with Ni particle size on both TiO<sub>2</sub> and CeO<sub>2</sub> supports. To explain this trend, the role of the support on the reducibility of the Ni particles and distribution of basic sites on CO<sub>2</sub> methanation activity was investigated. Using <em>in situ</em> infrared spectroscopy, we found that on TiO<sub>2</sub> supported catalysts with larger Ni particles, CO<sub>2</sub> methanation proceeds <em>via</em> a CO intermediate and the highest activity was observed when CO<sub>2</sub> methanation occurs through both CO and carbonate intermediates. For catalysts with smaller particles on TiO<sub>2</sub>, however, no CO intermediates are observed, and catalytic activity is lower. For CeO<sub>2</sub>, the methanation also proceeds <em>via</em> a CO intermediate, though for larger Ni particles only CO species were observed. CeO<sub>2</sub> without Ni can create surface formate species but has low reactivity towards methanation. In this investigation, we demonstrate a connection between the size of Ni particles, their corresponding adsorbed surface species, and their reactivity for CO<sub>2</sub> methanation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141572840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A sugar-derived ligand for room temperature aerial oxidation or non-aqueous Markovnikov hydration of styrenes using a preformed or in situ generated Co complex†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00522h","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00522h","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The oxidation of styrenes to acetophenones is an industrially relevant transformation that has been traditionally conducted with the Wacker-type reaction using pure oxygen at high temperature and pressure using Pd–Cu catalysts. Herein, we report a Co(<span>ii</span>) complex of a salen appended <span>l</span>-diaminoribose-derived ligand that is catalytically active for the room temperature, selective aerial oxidation of styrenes to acetophenones. Further, the <em>in situ</em> generated Co(<span>ii</span>) complex (from a mixture of the salen appended <span>l</span>-diaminoribose-derived ligand and a Co(<span>ii</span>) salt) is also found to enable the catalysis. The oxidation is efficiently conducted in the presence of Et<sub>3</sub>SiH as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) agent and provides very high isolated yields (71–95%) of the acetophenones. Further, the HAT mediated transformation with NaBH<sub>4</sub> also enables the non-aqueous, Markovnikov hydration of styrenes, providing the corresponding benzylic alcohols, exclusively as a single product in over 72–97% isolated yields <em>via</em> an oxidation–reduction mechanism. The methodologies provided very high exclusive yields of the products and were compatible with various substitutions on the aryl ring of the styrene. Detailed experimental and computational studies revealed a structural feature of the ligand that enabled the facile formation and stabilization of a <em>pseudo</em>-octahedral Co(<span>iii</span>) intermediate that facilitated the oxidation reaction.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimization of peptide foldamer-based artificial retro-aldolase†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00342j","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00342j","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Due to their predictable and controllable three-dimensional structure, peptide foldamers constitute a class of compounds beneficial for developing functional molecules. One of the most challenging applications is the construction of enzyme-like catalysts. Here, we describe the optimization of peptide foldamers composed of two 9/12/9/10-helices incorporating <em>cis</em>-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid residues toward retro-aldol activity. Modifications related to helix handedness, interhelical linker rigidity, and active site construction led to highly active retro-aldolase mimetics. NMR measurements confirmed the assumed arrangement of active site residues.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141742199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rational design of a bifunctional catalyst utilizing Mn-containing layered double oxide for the highly efficient oxidative cleavage of 1,2-diols†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00740a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00740a","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>NiMgMn layered double hydroxide (LDO) has been rationally designed for the efficient oxidative cleavage of 1,2-diols, utilizing molecular oxygen exclusively as the oxidizing agent without the need for additives. This engineered NiMgMn-LDO contains catalytically active Mn<sup>3+</sup> species, which are stabilized by Ni<sup>2+</sup>. Additionally, it is endowed with numerous basic sites contributed by Mg species. These features bestow upon NiMgMn-LDO a dual functionality that significantly enhances its catalytic efficacy. Consequently, this catalyst demonstrates excellent catalytic prowess and robust tolerance in the aerobic oxidative cleavage of benzyl 1,2-diols.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141753907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Catalytic N2O decomposition in an electric field at low temperatures†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00698d","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00698d","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) exerts strong effects on global warming and environmental destruction. Various catalytic technologies have been investigated for N<sub>2</sub>O abatement. We investigated a catalytic system in an electric field, revealing that N<sub>2</sub>O can be decomposed efficiently, even at low temperatures and in the presence of excess oxygen and water vapour. Reaction mechanisms with and without an electric field have been investigated using kinetics and various <em>operando</em> analyses, which revealed that surface-lattice oxygen on catalyst supports plays a crucially important role in N<sub>2</sub>O decomposition in an electric field at low temperatures.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/cy/d4cy00698d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141572836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Computational design of transition metal catalysts for hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylarenes using hydrosilane†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00451e","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00451e","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Expanding upon the initial use of nickel complexes to cleave aliphatic C–F bonds in the hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylarenes, we employed linear free energy scaling relationships and molecular volcano plots to elucidate the impact of N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine ligands, as well as metals and additives, on the energy span related to catalytic activity. Our findings revealed that multiple reference states must be essentially considered to fully describe the catalytic activity of the nickel complexes. We introduced the concept of “reference-generalized volcano plots” (RGVPs) as a tool aiding in the selection of the appropriate reference state to determine catalytic activity. Multivariate linear regression analysis using non-energetic descriptors allowed us to uncover the effects of steric and electronic properties on catalytic activity. Specifically, strong electron-donating and small- to moderate-sized ligands are identified as optimal for nickel catalysts. The RGVPs in combination with multivariate linear regression models based on steric and electronic molecular features provide chemical insights into catalytic activity and offer guidance for fine-tuning catalyst properties for hydrodefluorination.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141572837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Increasing electrochemical chlorine selectivity over oxygen selectivity through the optimal weakening of oxygen bonds in transition metal-doped RuO2†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00448e","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00448e","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is accompanied with the parasitic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during acidic brine electrolysis, thereby reducing the efficiency of chlorine production. The guiding principles of enhancing the selectivity of the CER are investigated experimentally and computationally in RuO<sub>2</sub> doped with first-row-transition elements. Computational studies suggest that low-valent dopants (<em>e.g.</em>, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and Fe) tend to bulk segregate in adsorbate-rich conditions. Further, doping elements with higher d-electrons than Ru (<em>e.g.</em>, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Co) in RuO<sub>2</sub> tends to lower the binding strength of OER intermediates (<em>e.g.</em>, HO–, O–, and HOO–), thereby increasing OER overpotential and providing more active sites for the CER. Doping has less effect on the binding strength of CER intermediates (ClO<sup>−</sup>) than bivalent OER intermediates (O–), resulting in higher CER selectivity. Computational studies suggest that Cu (d<sup>9</sup>)-doped RuO<sub>2</sub> shows maximum CER selectivity, as corroborated by experiments with electrodeposited Cu-doped RuO<sub>2</sub>. Electrodeposited Cu-doped RuO<sub>2</sub> (2% dopant concentration) shows a maximum CER selectivity of 95% in an acidic medium. However, doping a low valency aliovalent dopant and d-enriched metals also lowers the bridge-oxygen vacancy formation energy, thereby activating lattice-oxygen vacancy-aided water dissociation pathway in doped RuO<sub>2</sub> and increasing the selectivity of the OER. This results in an optimum doping concentration for maximum CER selectivity, wherein the weakening of surface OER intermediates is achieved without affecting lattice oxygen bond strength. The present work offers insight into catalyst design considering CER and OER selectivity during electrochemical Cl<sub>2</sub> production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141572838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A review on durability of key components of PEM fuel cells","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00351a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00351a","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are considered to be a clean energy technology to replace conventional internal combustion engines in automobiles. PEMFCs undergo a complex degradation involving multiple dimensions, materials, and factors. This review focuses on the decay of key materials of PEMFCs after durability tests longer than 2000 hours, providing an in-depth look at degradation behaviors at the material and component levels. The H<sub>2</sub>-crossover current, ohmic resistance, kinetics current and the limiting current were thus identified as core primary factors from the perspective of performance and stability. Besides, the critical aging factors of key components were defined as where significant numerical changes occur during the aging process, causing any one or more of the four core primary factors to change by more than 10% in physical or chemical parameters.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141572849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Broad-spectrum response of NiCo2O4–ZnIn2S4 p–n junction synergizing photothermal and photocatalytic effects for efficient H2 evolution†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00656a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00656a","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, we developed a novel approach by creating a flower-like p–n heterojunction, where NiCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> (NCO) nanoparticles are deposited onto a flower-like hierarchical ZnIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub> (ZIS) microsphere, to facilitate photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> evolution from water. Theoretical calculations and experimental results underscore the synergistic effects of the heterojunction and photothermal properties in the NCO–ZIS composite, leading to a significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity. Detailed investigation of the photocatalytic mechanism elucidates how the heterojunction bolsters carrier separation and suppresses carrier recombination, while the photothermal effect broadens light absorption, elevates reaction temperature, accelerates carrier migration, and reduces activation energy. Therefore, the NCO–ZIS heterojunction exhibits exceptional hydrogen evolution performance, reaching 4507 μmol h<sup>−1</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>, which surpasses ZIS alone by 5.04 times. This research lays the groundwork for designing highly active photothermal catalysts with broaden-spectrum solar energy utilization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141718051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dispersion of Au entities over Mo2N and MoC for the low-temperature water–gas shift reaction†","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/d4cy00489b","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4cy00489b","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nitridation of an Au/MoO<sub>3</sub> precursor, 8 nm Au particles dispersed over MoO<sub>3</sub> nanobelts, by ammonia at 600 °C resulted in Au flat films of 4–27 nm wide over γ-Mo<sub>2</sub>N, while further carburization with a CH<sub>4</sub>/H<sub>2</sub> mixture at 700 °C converted γ-Mo<sub>2</sub>N to α-MoC and simultaneously dispersed Au flat films into atomic layers and single-atoms. The Au/γ-Mo<sub>2</sub>N catalyst was nearly inert for the low-temperature water–gas shift reaction at 120 °C and it became appreciably active at 200 °C. By contrast, the Au/α-MoC catalyst was readily highly active at 120 °C and further, the specific activity was nearly tenfold at 200 °C. Structure analysis regarding the dispersion of Au entities and the structure properties of γ-Mo<sub>2</sub>N/α-MoC revealed that the support contributed significantly to the catalytic performance, in addition to the active Au species. The lower N vacancies of γ-Mo<sub>2</sub>N favored the dispersion of Au thin layers, but weakened the ability to dissociate H<sub>2</sub>O. Well-crystallized α-MoC anchored Au atomic layers and single-atoms and extended the Au–MoC interface, and thereby greatly facilitated H<sub>2</sub>O dissociation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":66,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Science & Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141742200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}