Focus 26 January 2021

Catalysis

Catalysis lies at the heart of the chemical industry. It encompasses heterogeneous catalysis, homogeneous catalysis and biocatalysis. This page showcases our recent publications that report cutting edge research across the field of catalysis.

Featured articles

Interrogating site dependent kinetics over SiO₂-supported Pt nanoparticles

Kim and co-workers introduce a new ‘kinetic site deconvolution’ method to identify active sites on heterogeneous catalysts by linking reaction rates to specific adsorption environments.
- Taek-Seung Kim
- Christopher R. O’Connor
- Christian Reece
ArticleOpen Access7 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Spectroscopic visualization of reversible hydrogen spillover between palladium and metal–organic frameworks toward catalytic semihydrogenation

The authors report an in situ investigation of interfacial hydrogen spillover in Pd/ZIF-8 structures with X-ray and Raman techniques. A mechanistic picture of how Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst mediate alkyne semihydrogenation to alkynes is described.
- Qiaoxi Liu
- Wenjie Xu
- Yujie Xiong
ArticleOpen Access22 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Accessing parity-forbidden d-d transitions for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction driven by infrared light

This study demonstrates the effectiveness and generality of utilizing ultrathin Cu-based hydrotalcite-like hydroxy salts as catalysts for infrared light-driven CO₂ reduction based on their d-d orbital transition mechanism.
- Xiaodong Li
- Li Li
- Xinliang Feng
ArticleOpen Access7 Jul 2023 Nature Communications
Water-assisted oxidative redispersion of Cu particles through formation of Cu hydroxide at room temperature

Redispersion of sintered metal species requires high temperatures in reactive atmospheres. Here, the authors report room temperature redispersion of supported Cu particles via formation of mobile hydroxylated Cu species induced by gaseous H₂O and anchoring of the Cu species by surface OH groups.
- Yamei Fan
- Rongtan Li
- Qiang Fu
ArticleOpen Access8 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Influence of electric double layer rigidity on CO adsorption and electroreduction rate

High-pressure infrared spectroscopy shows concentrated cations suppress CO adsorption. Here the authors report two electrochemical interfaces forming distinct double layer structures and reaction rates at elevating pressure and various potentials.
- Jiajie Hou
- Bingjun Xu
- Qi Lu
ArticleOpen Access2 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Grave-to-cradle photothermal upcycling of waste polyesters over spent LiCoO₂

The increasing production of lithium-ion batteries and plastics presents significant challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. This study highlights the utilization of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes as photothermal catalysts to transform various waste polyesters into valuable monomers.
- Xiangxi Lou
- Penglei Yan
- Jinxing Chen
ArticleOpen Access28 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Well-defined diatomic catalysis for photosynthesis of C₂H₄ from CO₂

Principal interest lies in diatomic catalysts (DACs) for efficient CO2 to C2H4 photoconversion yet optimizing catalytic performance and exploring reaction mechanisms are impeded by heteronuclear atom random distribution. Here, a novel up-bottom ion-cutting architecture is proposed for fabricating well-defined DACs.
- Zhongkai Xie
- Shengjie Xu
- Shuyan Song
ArticleOpen Access18 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Distance effect of single atoms on stability of cobalt oxide catalysts for acidic oxygen evolution

Dissolution of Co atoms in acidic media impedes the application of cobalt oxides in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Here, the authors reveal a stabilizing effect induced by Ir single atoms on cobalt oxides that suppress Co dissolution.
- Zhirong Zhang
- Chuanyi Jia
- Jie Zeng
ArticleOpen Access26 Feb 2024 Nature Communications
Copper nanoparticles encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 as a stable and selective CO₂ hydrogenation catalyst

Here, authors report an inter-site structural heterogeneity induced effect of hierarchical single atom Fe catalysts for robust oxygen reduction. Dynamic evolutions and insights into structure-activity relationship are presented.
- Vijay K. Velisoju
- Jose L. Cerrillo
- Pedro Castaño
ArticleOpen Access6 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Bubble-water/catalyst triphase interface microenvironment accelerates photocatalytic OER via optimizing semi-hydrophobic OH radical

Temperature has demonstrated the potential to regulate the photocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This study confirms that the temperature-induced bubble-water/catalyst triphase interface microenvironment significantly enhances OER by optimizing the formation and deprotonation of semi-hydrophobic OH radicals.
- Guanhua Ren
- Min Zhou
- Haifeng Wang
ArticleOpen Access15 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Mediating trade-off between activity and selectivity in alkynes semi-hydrogenation via a hydrophilic polar layer

The semi-hydrogenation of alkynes faces the trade-off between activity and selectivity due to undesirable over-hydrogenation. Here the authors report an efficient additive-free WO3-based single-atom Pd catalytic system with a vertical size effect of hydrogen spillover to mediate the trade-off between activity and selectivity.
- Jinqi Xiong
- Shanjun Mao
- Yong Wang
ArticleOpen Access9 Feb 2024 Nature Communications
Distribution of Pt single atom coordination environments on anatase TiO₂ supports controls reactivity

Elucidating structure-function relationships is crucial for developing efficient catalysts. Here, the authors elucidate Pt single atom coordination environments on anatase TiO₂ and correlate active site structure with CO oxidation activity.
- Wenjie Zang
- Jaeha Lee
- Xiaoqing Pan
ArticleOpen Access2 Feb 2024 Nature Communications
Low-temperature hydroformylation of ethylene by phosphorous stabilized Rh sites in a one-pot synthesized Rh-(O)-P-MFI zeolite

Isolated Rh³⁺ sites are stabilized inside the MFI zeolite channels with phosphorous which is added during zeolite synthesis in the form of a phosphonium zeolite template. This Rh³⁺ shows high activity in the low-temperature ethylene hydroformylation.
- Minjie Zhao
- Chengeng Li
- Avelino Corma
ArticleOpen Access7 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
A nonmetallic plasmonic catalyst for photothermal CO₂ flow conversion with high activity, selectivity and durability

In this work, the authors design a Mo₂N/MoO₂-x nonmetallic plasmonic catalyst by regulating synergy between two specific active sites. Highly efficient, selective, and durable CO₂ hydrogenation under relatively mild reaction conditions is achieved
- Xueying Wan
- Yifan Li
- Yujie Xiong
ArticleOpen Access10 Feb 2024 Nature Communications
Extent of carbon nitride photocharging controls energetics of hydrogen transfer in photochemical cascade processes

Savateev et al. investigate proton-coupled electron transfer from persistent graphitic carbon nitride radical to oxygen and imines. The results of their study find application in cascade photocatalysis – selective tetramerization of benzylic amines.
- Oleksandr Savateev
- Karlo Nolkemper
- Markus Antonietti
ArticleOpen Access24 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Photocatalytic ethylene production by oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane with dioxygen on ZnO-supported PdZn intermetallic nanoparticles

The selective oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane is attracting increasing attention as a method for ethylene production. Here, PdZn supported on ZnO affords record-breaking photocatalytic ethane-to-ethylene conversion rate, emphasizing the pivotal role of the interface between PdZn and ZnO in the process.
- Pu Wang
- Xingyu Zhang
- Tierui Zhang
ArticleOpen Access26 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Atomically synergistic Zn-Cr catalyst for iso-stoichiometric co-conversion of ethane and CO₂ to ethylene and CO

Designing catalysts with atomically synergistic sites shows great promise as a pathway for advanced catalyst development. Here the authors report Zn-Cr catalyst with atomically binuclear active sites for iso-stoichiometric co-conversion of ethane and CO₂ through proximal atomic synergy.
- Ji Yang
- Lu Wang
- Ji Su
ArticleOpen Access30 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Catalytic carbon–carbon bond cleavage in lignin via manganese–zirconium-mediated autoxidation

Efforts to produce aromatic monomers through catalytic lignin depolymerization were focused on aryl–ether bond cleavage, while the carbon–carbon bonds of a large fraction of aromatic monomers in lignin are difficult to cleave. Here, the authors report a catalytic autoxidation method using manganese and zirconium salts as catalysts to cleave the C–C bonds in lignin-derived dimers and oligomers from pine and poplar.
- Chad T. Palumbo
- Nina X. Gu
- Gregg T. Beckham
ArticleOpen Access29 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Homolytic H₂ dissociation for enhanced hydrogenation catalysis on oxides

Zhu et al. report a quantitative and time-resolved analysis of hydrogen activation on Ga₂O₃, specifically shedding light on the long-standing puzzle of homolytic dissociation as opposed to the heterolytic pathway on oxides.
- Chengsheng Yang
- Sicong Ma
- Xinhe Bao
ArticleOpen Access15 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Elucidating protonation pathways in CO₂ photoreduction using the kinetic isotope effect

Yin et al. reveal a protonation pathway in CO2 photoreduction on TiO2, challenging electron activation theories and diversifying photocatalyst design, distinct from Fischer-Tropsch and Sabatier processes.
- Shikang Yin
- Yiying Zhou
- Pengwei Huo
ArticleOpen Access10 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Pt-doped Ru nanoparticles loaded on ‘black gold’ plasmonic nanoreactors as air stable reduction catalysts

An air-stable plasmonic catalyst using Pt-Ru on black gold achieves 90% selectivity in acetylene semi-hydrogenation using plasmonic photochemistry. Mechanistic experiments highlight the role of non-thermal and thermal effects for this reaction.
- Gunjan Sharma
- Rishi Verma
- Vivek Polshettiwar
ArticleOpen Access24 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Lithium carbonate-promoted mixed rare earth oxides as a generalized strategy for oxidative coupling of methane with exceptional yields

Lithium carbonate-promoted mixed rare earth oxides can be used as redox catalysts for OCM at 700 °C and achieve a single-pass C2+ yield up to 30.6%. The high activity is assigned to the peroxide and OH radicals induced by Pr⁴⁺ in the redox catalyst.
- Kun Zhao
- Yunfei Gao
- Fanxing Li
ArticleOpen Access27 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Highly loaded bimetallic iron-cobalt catalysts for hydrogen release from ammonia

Inexpensive iron catalysts often exhibit low activity in ammonia decomposition due to a strong iron-nitrogen binding energy. Here the authors demonstrate that combining iron with cobalt to form a Fe-Co bimetallic catalyst overcomes this limitation, presenting a promising solution for enhancing ammonia decomposition efficiency.
- Shilong Chen
- Jelena Jelic
- Malte Behrens
ArticleOpen Access29 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Vitamin C-induced CO₂ capture enables high-rate ethylene production in CO₂ electroreduction

Efficiently producing multicarbon chemicals through electrochemical CO₂ reduction is essential for achieving economically feasible carbon neutrality. Here, the authors present molecularly enhanced CO₂-to-*CO conversion and *CO dimerization for high-rate ethylene production by nanoconfinement of ascorbic acid.
- Jongyoun Kim
- Taemin Lee
- Dae-Hyun Nam
ArticleOpen Access2 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Elucidating the structure-stability relationship of Cu single-atom catalysts using operando surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy

Understanding the structure-stability relationship of catalysts is imperative for the development of high performance electrocatalytic devices. Here the authors use operando attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy to quantitatively monitor the evolution of Cu single-atom catalysts in electrochemical CO2 reduction.
- Li Zhang
- Xiaoju Yang
- Xuan Yang
ArticleOpen Access14 Dec 2023 Nature Communications
Direct probing of single-molecule chemiluminescent reaction dynamics under catalytic conditions in solution

Research into the dynamics of chemical reactions at the single-molecule level is a pivotal undertaking. Here, the authors present a direct investigation of the chemiluminescent reaction dynamics of single molecules in solution, providing spatiotemporally resolved insights into chemical reactions.
- Ziqing Zhang
- Jinrun Dong
- Jiandong Feng
ArticleOpen Access2 Dec 2023 Nature Communications
Accelerating CO₂ electrochemical conversion towards industrial implementation

Despite significant progress in CO2 conversion field, there remains a significant gap between fundamental research and the industrial demands. This Comment discusses key performance parameters for industrial applications and outlines current limitations in the field.
- Doris Segets
- Corina Andronescu
- Ulf-Peter Apfel
CommentOpen Access1 Dec 2023 Nature Communications
Precise synthetic control of exclusive ligand effect boosts oxygen reduction catalysis

Deconvoluting and quantitating ligand effect from the typical strain-ligand effects in a real catalytic structure remains challenging. Here, the authors report a core/shell catalyst model to quantitate how much ligand effect solely contributes to electrocatalytic performance through experimental design.
- Lu Tao
- Kai Wang
- Shaojun Guo
ArticleOpen Access28 Oct 2023 Nature Communications
Pulsed electroreduction of low-concentration nitrate to ammonia

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia has emerged as an alternative strategy for effluent treatment and ammonia production. Here, the authors report a pulsed potential approach to overcome the sluggish reaction kinetics caused by the limited distribution of negatively charged nitrate near the working electrode and the competing side reactions.
- Yanmei Huang
- Caihong He
- Yifu Yu
ArticleOpen Access14 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
The role of halogens in Au–S bond cleavage for energy-differentiated catalysis at the single-bond limit

Investigation of the reaction process at the single-bond interface is key to understanding the catalytic reaction mechanism. Here, the authors develop a STM-BJ method to monitor the catalytic process from the perspective of single-bond energy.
- Peihui Li
- Songjun Hou
- Xuefeng Guo
ArticleOpen Access24 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Electrosynthesis of chlorine from seawater-like solution through single-atom catalysts

Chlor-alkali process plays an important role in the chemical industry. However, large overpotential and low selectivity of currently used catalysts lead to high energy consumption. Here the authors report Ru-O₄ single site catalysts for chlorination evolution with 1000 h stability at 1000 mA cm⁻² in a seawater-like environment.
- Yangyang Liu
- Can Li
- Shenlong Zhao
ArticleOpen Access29 Apr 2023 Nature Communications
A CO₂ electrolyzer tandem cell system for CO₂-CO co-feed valorization in a Ni-N-C/Cu-catalyzed reaction cascade

Tandem concepts for electroreduction of CO₂ offer a valuable toolkit to tackle sluggish reaction kinetics and raise the production of e-chemicals. Here, the authors report a cascade system with two coupled electrolyzers using Ni-N-C and Cu-based catalysts for enhanced CO₂ to multi-carbon conversion
- Tim Möller
- Michael Filippi
- Peter Strasser
ArticleOpen Access14 Sep 2023 Nature Communications
Maximizing single-pass conversion does not result in practical readiness for CO₂ reduction electrolyzers

The authors comment that maximizing product concentration is a more meaningful target for CO2 electrolyzers than maximizing single-pass conversion.
- Shashwati C. da Cunha
- Joaquin Resasco
CommentOpen Access7 Sep 2023 Nature Communications
Self-adaptive amorphous CoO_xCl_y electrocatalyst for sustainable chlorine evolution in acidic brine

Achieving stable and selective chlorine production is of high interest yet challenging. Here the authors report an amorphous CoOxCly catalyst prepared by in situ electrodeposition in acidic saline electrolyte which shows ~100% chlorine evolution selectivity with low overpotential and high stability over 500 h.
- Mengjun Xiao
- Qianbao Wu
- Chunhua Cui
ArticleOpen Access2 Sep 2023 Nature Communications
Scalable electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals from biomass by suppressing non-Faradaic transformations

Electrooxidation of biomass provides a sustainable route to produce valuable chemicals, but suffers from non-Faradaic degradation in alkaline electrolysis at high reactant concentration. Here, the authors develop a single-pass continuous flow reactor to tackle this challenge, achieving kilogram-scale and continuous electrooxidation of glucose to formate and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with high selectivity and high concentration.
- Hua Zhou
- Yue Ren
- Haohong Duan
ArticleOpen Access12 Sep 2023 Nature Communications
Chalcogen-bridged coordination polymer for the photocatalytic activation of aryl halides

Chalcogen-bridged naphthalene diimide coordination polymers are designed and synthesised as potent excited state reductants for the activation of inert bonds in a series of aryl halides.
- Le Zeng
- Tiexin Zhang
- Chunying Duan
ArticleOpen Access6 Jul 2023 Nature Communications
Enhancing polyol/sugar cascade oxidation to formic acid with defect rich MnO₂ catalysts

This work develops defective MnO2 catalysts with Frustrated Lewis Pairs through a coordination number reduction strategy to enhance the aerobic oxidation of various polyols/sugars to formic acid.
- Hao Yan
- Bowen Liu
- Ning Yan
ArticleOpen Access26 Jul 2023 Nature Communications
In-situ spectroscopic probe of the intrinsic structure feature of single-atom center in electrochemical CO/CO₂ reduction to methanol

Deciphering the reaction mechanisms of CO/CO2 electroreduction to methanol remains challenging. Here the authors report the higher electron density of single-Co-atom center, along with a different adsorption configuration of *CO, is crucial for promoting the CO electroreduction to methanol.
- Xinyi Ren
- Jian Zhao
- Bin Liu
ArticleOpen Access9 Jun 2023 Nature Communications
Tunable CO₂ electroreduction to ethanol and ethylene with controllable interfacial wettability

The mechanism of how interfacial wettability impacts the CO₂ electcgq Herein, the authors describe the design and realization of controllable equilibrium of kinetic controlled *CO and *H to reveal its contribution to ethylene and ethanol pathways.
- Yan Lin
- Tuo Wang
- Jinlong Gong
ArticleOpen Access16 Jun 2023 Nature Communications
Nearly 100% selective and visible-light-driven methane conversion to formaldehyde via. single-atom Cu and W^δ+

Direct solar-driven methane (CH₄) reforming is highly desirable but challenging. Here, the synergy of atomic Cu species and partially reduced tungsten (W^δ+), stabilized over an oxygen-vacancy-rich WO₃, enables exceptional CH₄ conversion to formaldehyde (HCHO) under visible light.
- Lei Luo
- Xiaoyu Han
- Junwang Tang
ArticleOpen Access10 May 2023 Nature Communications
Computation-based regulation of excitonic effects in donor-acceptor covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalysis

The donor-acceptor (D-A) interaction and exciton binding energy have been investigated for a series of D-A pairs by DFT calculations. Here, the authors synthesize the corresponding D-A COFs, and demonstrate that their photocatalytic hydrogen production activities match well with the calculation results.
- Yunyang Qian
- Yulan Han
- Hai-Long Jiang
ArticleOpen Access29 May 2023 Nature Communications
Selective formation of acetate intermediate prolongs robust ethylene removal at 0 °C for 15 days

Efficient ethylene removal below room temperatures is of great importance to food transportation and storage. Here the authors have developed an efficient gold-platinum nanoalloy catalyst for trace ethylene removal at 0 °C for 15 days.
- Mingyue Lin
- Haifeng Wang
- Toru Murayama
ArticleOpen Access20 May 2023 Nature Communications
Electrosynthesis of polymer-grade ethylene via acetylene semihydrogenation over undercoordinated Cu nanodots

Cu-based catalysts for the conversion of C₂H₂ to C₂H₄ are plagued by side reactions. Here, Cu nanodots for C₂H₂ semihydrogenation are reported to reach current densities >400 mA cm⁻² and selectively produce polymer-grade ethylene over 130 h.
- Weiqing Xue
- Xinyan Liu
- Jie Zeng
ArticleOpen Access14 Apr 2023 Nature Communications
Designing tailored combinations of structural units in polymer dielectrics for high-temperature capacitive energy storage

Polymer dielectrics face huge challenges in the harsh environments of emergent applications. Now, increased energy storage of polymer dielectrics at temperatures up to 250 °C by designing tailored combinations of structural units is reported.
- Rui Wang
- Yujie Zhu
- Qi Li
ArticleOpen Access26 Apr 2023 Nature Communications
Achieving volatile potassium promoted ammonia synthesis via mechanochemistry

Potassium oxide is used as a promotor in industrial ammonia synthesis, although metallic potassium is better in theory. Here, the authors demonstrate metallic potassium, an unstable metal that easily volatilizes at high temperature, can be used as a promotor for ammonia synthesis.
- Jong-Hoon Kim
- Tian-Yi Dai
- Jong-Beom Baek
ArticleOpen Access22 Apr 2023 Nature Communications
Concerted oxygen diffusion across heterogeneous oxide interfaces for intensified propane dehydrogenation

Non-oxidative dehydrogenation technologies suffer from the thermodynamic equilibrium limitations and severe coking. Here, the authors report the intensified propane dehydrogenation to propylene by the chemical looping engineering on nanoscale core-shell redox catalysts.
- Sai Chen
- Ran Luo
- Jinlong Gong
ArticleOpen Access5 May 2023 Nature Communications

Catalysis

Featured articles

Search

Quick links