Haifeng Fan , Di Xu , Ting Zeng , Guoqiang Hou , Yangyang Li , Siyi Huang , Yanfei Xu , Zheng Wang , Xinhua Gao , Xiang-Kui Gu , Mingyue Ding
{"title":"Highly efficient electron-enriched Y2O3–x-Ni interfaces boosting low-temperature CO2 methanation","authors":"Haifeng Fan , Di Xu , Ting Zeng , Guoqiang Hou , Yangyang Li , Siyi Huang , Yanfei Xu , Zheng Wang , Xinhua Gao , Xiang-Kui Gu , Mingyue Ding","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65012-7","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65012-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CO<sub>2</sub> methanation technology has shown great application prospects in carbon neutrality and hydrogen storage due to its extremely high energy efficiency and potential economic benefits. It is highly desirable but challenging to design novel catalyst and achieve efficient and stable CO<sub>2</sub> methanation under mild conditions. Herein, we developed a highly active electron-enriched Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Ni catalyst, achieving a stable operation with ~80.1% CO<sub>2</sub> conversion and ~100% CH<sub>4</sub> selectivity for 400 h at 0.1 MPa and 220 °C, which was a 100 °C lower than the conventional supported Ni-based catalysts. Structural characterizations confirmed that the Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Ni catalyst maintained dynamic redox changes and formed electron-enriched Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3–<em>x</em></sub>-Ni interfaces under reaction conditions. Mechanism studies proved that the Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3–<em>x</em></sub>-Ni interfaces obviously lowered the energy barrier of *HCO dissociation, and shifted the rate-determining step from *HCO dissociation to *CO hydrogenation. Furthermore, profited by the moderate CO<sub><em>x</em></sub> adsorption ability and higher H<sub>2</sub> coverage at the Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3–<em>x</em></sub>-Ni interfaces, the *CO hydrogenation reaction was kinetically promoted. The above factors accounted for the excellent low-temperature CO<sub>2</sub> methanation activity of the Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Ni catalyst.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 200-213"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rongxing Chen , Yongkang Quan , Weilong Cai , Yun Hau Ng , Jianying Huang , Yuekun Lai
{"title":"Synergistic band and electronic engineering in cyano-oxygen co-functionalized carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis","authors":"Rongxing Chen , Yongkang Quan , Weilong Cai , Yun Hau Ng , Jianying Huang , Yuekun Lai","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64912-6","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64912-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) synthesis via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e<sup>−</sup> ORR) offers a sustainable alternative to industrial methods. However, conventional carbon nitride photocatalysts suffer from rapid charge recombination, limited visible-light utilization, and insufficient 2e<sup>−</sup> ORR selectivity. Herein, we report a novel precursor-molten salt synergistic strategy. Using the oxygen-containing precursor itself, the spontaneous oxygen doping of the carbon nitride skeleton was initiated by a one-step heat-induced condensation process, and the O-doped cyano-functionalized carbon nitride (MCN-N15) was further synthesized by molten salt-assisted synthesis. Under visible light, MCN-N15 achieves an exceptional H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production rate of 950.14 μmol·g<sup>−1</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup> in ethanol. O-doping induces n → π* electronic transitions, broadening the visible-light absorption range. Simultaneously, the introduced cyano groups (–C≡N) facilitate charge separation and enhance 2e<sup>−</sup> ORR selectivity. Crucially, this approach not only realizes the self-doping of O, but also mitigates the conduction band downshifting typically caused by conventional molten salts, yielding a more negative conduction band potential (<em>E</em><sub>CB</sub> = –0.84 V <em>vs</em>. NHE) that provides a strong thermodynamic driving force for 2e<sup>−</sup> ORR. The results of density functional theory calculations show that the synergistic modification strategy of oxygen doping and cyano modification effectively reduces the Gibbs free energy change (Δ<em>G</em>) of the rate-determining step (* + O<sub>2</sub> → *O<sub>2</sub>) and promotes the formation of intermediate *OOH, thereby significantly improving the selectivity and reaction rate of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> synthesis. The synergistic modification optimizes the electronic and band structure of carbon nitride, providing a novel “energy band engineering-surface functionalization” co-regulation strategy for designing efficient photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> generation systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 250-260"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yu Gu , Shujia Zhang , Minglu Xu , Hao Yan , Minghao Zhou , Lei Wang , Hui Shi
{"title":"Dehydroaromatization of methane and methane co-aromatization process with propane: Reaction mechanism, catalyst design, carbon deposition and process optimization","authors":"Yu Gu , Shujia Zhang , Minglu Xu , Hao Yan , Minghao Zhou , Lei Wang , Hui Shi","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65006-1","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65006-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural gas, as a fossil energy source, possesses abundant reserves in nature. It is cleaner and more environmentally benign compared to coal and crude oil. Converting natural gas via catalytic routes into more valuable chemicals, such as benzene and methanol, can both reduce the transportation costs of natural gas and increase the supply of commodity chemicals. It also serves as a significant supplement to the current petrochemical industry, holding broad application prospects. The aromatization reaction of methane is a critical technique in the methane conversion pathway, in which aromatics like benzene, toluene, and naphthalene can be produced via high-temperature dehydrogenation. Such a process has drawn significant research attention over the past three decades. This paper attempts to provide a detailed introduction to the development of research on this reaction. By examining various aspects including reaction thermodynamics, catalyst composition, reaction intermediates/mechanism, coke properties, anti-coking measures and process intensification, it aims to offer readers a comprehensive understanding of this reaction. Additionally, by discussing the co-aromatization of methane with higher hydrocarbons like propane, it tries to expand the cognitive boundaries related to methane aromatization reactions, thereby tending to offer deeper insights into the aromatization process of feedstock with compositions similar to real natural gas. In the end, the current research status in the field of methane aromatization is summarized, and future research directions are outlined as well.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 25-60"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yihan Ye , Yilun Ding , Tao Peng , Cheng Liu , Xinzhe Li , Yongzhi Zhao , Jianping Xiao , Feng Jiao , Xiulian Pan
{"title":"Role of accumulated carbonaceous species on dynamic confinement in zeolite catalysis","authors":"Yihan Ye , Yilun Ding , Tao Peng , Cheng Liu , Xinzhe Li , Yongzhi Zhao , Jianping Xiao , Feng Jiao , Xiulian Pan","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64920-5","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64920-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spatially confined microenvironments offer exceptional potential for regulating catalytic activity and selectivity. This study elucidates how the dynamic evolution of carbonaceous species during syngas conversion alters the confined environment within MCM-22 cages. We establish a confinement energy, quantified through ethylene adsorption measurements, as a key descriptor correlating with hydrogenation activity at Brönsted acid sites. As carbonaceous deposits expand in size during syngas reaction, they progressively occupy cage volume and reduce the available space, thereby enhancing confinement energy. Such energy gain universally weakens reactant adsorption, simultaneously suppressing hydrogenation activity and promoting olefin selectivity. Collectively, these findings advance fundamental understanding of dynamic confinement effects and provide valuable insights for further designing high-selectivity catalysts for syngas conversion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 74-79"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanglin Chen , Ruiming Fang , Huibo Zhao , Minjun Feng , Weidong Hou , Tze Chien Sum , Wen Liu , Liang Wang , Lydia Helena Wong , Can Xue
{"title":"Bipolar photocatalysis for CO generation via biopolyol oxidation and CO2 reduction over brown polymeric carbon nitride nanowires","authors":"Yanglin Chen , Ruiming Fang , Huibo Zhao , Minjun Feng , Weidong Hou , Tze Chien Sum , Wen Liu , Liang Wang , Lydia Helena Wong , Can Xue","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64928-X","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64928-X","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Harnessing a single system capable of both oxidizing biopolyols and reducing carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) into carbon monoxide (CO) provides a sustainable pathway for simultaneous biomass conversion and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. Traditional systems, however, are often limited by sluggish kinetics, requiring UV light or strongly alkaline media, which hampers their applicability under mild, visible-light conditions. In this study, we report an alkali- and metal-free photocatalytic CO production system operating at ambient temperature, employing brown polymeric carbon nitride nanowires (CNW) as the sole photocatalyst. The extended light-harvesting capacity of CNW enables efficient activity even under long-wavelength irradiation beyond 700 nm. The reaction pathways for biopolyol oxidative decarbonylation and CO<sub>2</sub>-to-CO reduction were elucidated through a combination of <em>in-situ</em> spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. This visible-light-responsive dual-reaction platform directs photogenerated holes toward biopolyol oxidation and electrons toward CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, achieving efficient CO generation from renewable resources under mild conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 214-225"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexey S. Galushko , Ilya V. Chepkasov , Ruslan R. Shaydullin , Daniil A. Boiko , Alexander G. Kvashnin , Artem M. Abakumov , Valentine P. Ananikov
{"title":"Reactive gas modulation alters metal nanostructures nuclearity and boosts catalytic activity","authors":"Alexey S. Galushko , Ilya V. Chepkasov , Ruslan R. Shaydullin , Daniil A. Boiko , Alexander G. Kvashnin , Artem M. Abakumov , Valentine P. Ananikov","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65004-8","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65004-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study describes the dynamic behavior of metal nanoparticles on surfaces modulated by reactive gases (CO, NO, H<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O, and O<sub>2</sub>) under soft conditions at low pressure and temperature. Quantum chemical simulations, experimental methods, and machine learning revealed distinct effects: NO promoted nanoparticle fragmentation into highly active single-atom species; H<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O, and O<sub>2</sub> induced nanoparticle growth; and CO stabilized their structure. This reactive gas modulation (RGM) effect enables flexible control over nanoparticle size and distribution, advancing nanoscale metal tuning. In practical applications, NO gas enhanced the performance of the Pd/C catalyst, facilitating Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling under mild conditions (35 °C) with superior efficiency. The developed approach was evaluated for other metals and corresponding effects were studied (Ni, Fe, Co, Cu, Au, Pt, Ru, Ir, Rh), demonstrating versatile possibilities to control nanoscale morphology. The results highlight a flexible metal nuclearity control tool based on the RGM effect in the optimization of catalytic systems for fine organic synthesis, opening the way for advances in catalysis and materials science through nanoscale precision. Through a multilevel study using theoretical and experimental approaches, a methodology for a rapid, energy-efficient and easily scalable approach to synthesize single-atom catalyst at the gram-scale was developed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 324-336"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biphasic interface engineering: A machine learning-guided strategy for optimizing selective oxidative desulfurization of FCC slurry oil","authors":"Xiaoxiao Xing , Peiwen Wu , Yiru Zou , Zhaozeng Gao , Zhendong Yu , Minmeng Tang , Yanhong Chao , Wenshuai Zhu , Zhichang Liu , Chunming Xu","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64998-4","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64998-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The non-destructive desulfurization of aromatic structures is crucial for the high-value utilization of FCC slurry oil. Hydrodesulfurization causes aromatic saturation, impairing the suitability of slurry oil as needle coke feedstock. Therefore, developing methods capable of selective desulfurization while preserving aromatics is essential. Herein, we address the critical challenges impeding the application of oxidative desulfurization (ODS) to slurry oil, specifically its complex composition, high sulfur content, prohibitively high viscosity, and inefficient oil-water interfacial mass transfer. An innovative ODS strategy based on biphasic interface regulation was proposed. By constructing a catalytic system through the combination of polyoxometalate and organic cationic modifiers to stabilize the oil-water interface, enhanced mass transfer efficiency was achieved. These catalysts function as surfactant-like homogeneous catalysts during H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> mediated oxidation, while enabling rapid separation after reaction. Systematic model system studies identified catalysts with exceptional sulfur-oxidation selectivity, operating <em>via</em> dynamic peroxo-species formation from terminal oxygen of W=O activation by superoxide radicals. Deployment in real slurry oil under Bayesian-optimized conditions reduced sulfur content from 1.60 wt% to 0.34 wt% while completely preserving the core feedstock components 3–4 ring aromatic components and maintaining 86.4% slurry recovery. This research provides a technologically innovative and practically viable pathway for desulfurization of slurry oils with remaining high aromatic contents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 375-389"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wei Guo , Zhenlin Mo , Laiji Xu , Yu Zhang , Minghui Yang , Baojun Liu
{"title":"High-entropy alloy FeCoNiCuPt with donor-bridge effect for enhancing urea electrosynthesis from CO2 and nitrate","authors":"Wei Guo , Zhenlin Mo , Laiji Xu , Yu Zhang , Minghui Yang , Baojun Liu","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64981-9","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64981-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrocatalytic co-reduction of nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) offers a promising route for sustainable urea synthesis, yet the process remains limited by the complexity of intermediate species and poorly understood C-N coupling mechanisms. Herein, we report a high-entropy alloy (HEA) FeCoNiCuPt catalyst that enables efficient and selective urea production through donor-bridge-acceptor interactions. Benefiting from the atomic-level disorder of the HEA, the catalyst provides a diverse array of active sites capable of accommodating the distinct adsorption and activation pathways of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and CO<sub>2</sub> intermediates. At –0.7 V <em>vs</em>. RHE, the FeCoNiCuPt catalyst achieves a urea yield of 49.26 mmol h<sup>−1</sup> g<sub>cat</sub><sup>−1</sup> and a Faradaic efficiency of 25.51%, outperforming most reported systems. Mechanistic studies show that Pt sites act as electron donors, while neighboring transition metal atoms serve as electron bridges, enhancing electron transfer toward critical *NO<sub>2</sub> and *CO<sub>2</sub> species. This donor-bridge facilitates C-N coupling and promotes efficient urea formation, offering new insights into catalyst design for tandem small-molecule electrosynthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 159-174"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ran Sun , Yuqi Zhang , Kunge Hou , Yujie Tan , Xingang Liu , Jianyuan Hou , Weixuan Zhao , Andrew E.H. Wheatley , Renxi Zhang
{"title":"Designing hydrogen-bonds in covalent organic frameworks: Accelerating proton-coupled electron transfer for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis","authors":"Ran Sun , Yuqi Zhang , Kunge Hou , Yujie Tan , Xingang Liu , Jianyuan Hou , Weixuan Zhao , Andrew E.H. Wheatley , Renxi Zhang","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64975-3","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64975-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The photocatalytic efficiency of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) toward sustainable H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> synthesis via oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is intrinsically constrained by compromised proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) dynamics, where retarded water oxidation reaction kinetics and exogenous proton donor dependence create a dual kinetic-thermodynamic constraint. This work presents a precision hydrogen–bond engineering strategy through the radio-frequency plasma modification of COF linkages, establishing a hydrogen–bond strength gradient (OH···N <em>vs.</em> SH···N) to probe the structure-function interplay that modulates PCET pathways. Systematic investigations reveal that hydrogen–bond strengthening at imine linkages enables dual functionality: creating both dynamic proton reservoirs and more accessible proton conduction pathways. This synergistic regulation reduces the energy barrier for direct 2e<sup>−</sup> ORR by 19.6% while suppressing high-energy intermediates in stepwise pathways, as confirmed by experiments and density functional theory calculations. The optimized SH-COF with appropriately stronger hydrogen bonds achieves exceptional photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production: 2.97 and 4.70 times that of corresponding OH-COF and pristine COF, respectively. Integrated crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis quantitatively correlates hydrogen–bond strength with charge transfer efficiency, establishing a relationship between hydrogen–bond energy and PCET kinetics. Our findings not only demonstrate plasma modification as an effective strategy for post-synthetic hydrogen–bond tuning but fundamentally advance the understanding of how hydrogen-bond thermodynamics govern PCET mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 274-287"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luyuan Yang , Yitao Yang , Min Yang , Yucai Qin , Xiaoxin Zhang , Saeed Soltanali , Jian Liu , Weiyu Song
{"title":"Boosting CO2-mediated aromatic cycle via mesoporous design in propane aromatization catalysis","authors":"Luyuan Yang , Yitao Yang , Min Yang , Yucai Qin , Xiaoxin Zhang , Saeed Soltanali , Jian Liu , Weiyu Song","doi":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64950-9","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64950-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how structure regulates reaction pathways is critical for the rational design of propane (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>)-coupled CO<sub>2</sub> aromatization (PCA) catalysts. Here, alkaline treatments precisely tuned zeolite pore size (3.8 → 8.9 Å) and Al distribution, boosting benzene, toluene, and xylene selectivity from 18% (Ga-T-ZSM-5) to 57% (Ga/M-ZSM-5). Mechanistic studies, including <sup>13</sup>CO<sub>2</sub> isotope tracing, mass spectrometry, pulse reactions, and <em>in-situ</em> Fourier transformed infrared confirmed that this reaction follows a dual-cycle hydrocarbon pool mechanism. Critically, CO<sub>2</sub> was inserted into the hydrocarbon pool, generating oxygenated intermediates that underwent dehydration and cyclization to form aromatic intermediate species, thereby accelerating the aromatic cycle. The intensified aromatic cycle generated bulky polycyclic aromatics that may obstruct micropores under diffusion-limited conditions. Introducing mesopores alleviated such accumulation by facilitating rapid molecular transport of these high-carbon species. The synergy between the CO<sub>2</sub>-mediated hydrocarbon pool pathway and mesopore-enhanced diffusion of aromatic intermediates significantly boosted aromatic selectivity. This interplay provides fundamental insights for future catalyst design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9832,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Journal of Catalysis","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 226-235"},"PeriodicalIF":17.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}