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Structure sensitivity in heterogeneous catalysis is usually apparent from a strong dependence of the catalytic performance on the size of supported nanoparticles. Here, Hensen and co-workers introduce a form of structure sensitivity dependent on the size of the support. By tuning the size of the ceria–zirconia support, cobalt nanoparticles can be supported, achieving the optimum metal–support interaction. A facile oxygen transport is enabled at the corresponding interface, resulting in remarkable CO2 methanation activity.
Reporting data according to standards accepted by the community is fundamental to the progress of science. In the broad area of catalysis, best practice principles are well consolidated in some subfields, but they are still developing in others.
Catalysts are the heart of CO2 electroreduction technology. Now, a catalyst has been developed that converts CO2 into C2+ products with very high selectivity, stability, and energy efficiency at industrially relevant current densities.
Macrocyclic peptide natural products are important medicinal compounds. The catalytic properties of an unusual peptide cyclase enzyme have recently been described — providing opportunities for the engineering and synthesis of structurally complex peptides with novel biological activities.
Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into multicarbon (C2+) products is a highly attractive route for CO2 utilization. Now, a fluorine-modified copper catalyst is shown to achieve current densities of 1.6 A cm−2 with a C2+ Faradaic efficiency of 80% for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in a flow cell.
Photoswitching of stereochemistry opens up the possibility of controlling the selectivity of catalytic reactions in a non-invasive manner. Here the authors report a set of phosphoramidite-based molecular switches that allow reversible switching of chirality—and hence tuning of catalytic performance—even as competing pairs of chiral catalysts.
The biogenesis and stereochemical origin of many natural products remain unknown. Now the biosynthetic pathway of brevianamide A is elucidated. An isomerase is discovered that can catalyse pinacol rearrangement without a cofactor and determine the stereochemistry of the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring.
Penicillin-binding protein-type thiosterases are recently discovered trans-acting enzymes constructing macrocycles during non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis. Now, their synthetic potential is explored and a protein crystal structure provides insights into their unusual stereochemical requirement.
Understanding the nature of active sites is central to controlling the activity of a given catalyst. This work combines operando characterization and computational techniques to examine the oxygen evolution reaction mechanism on RuO2 surfaces.
Metal–support interactions can effectively modify the catalytic properties of heterogeneous composites. Here, the authors report the possibility of controlling the interaction between cobalt and a ceria–zirconia support by changing the particle size of the latter, resulting in a superior CO2 hydrogenation system.