Dry reforming of methane (DRM) converts CH4 and CO2 into syngas, but Ni catalysts are limited by inefficient active site utilization and deactivation. Ni/ZrO2 catalysts with bulk Ni loadings of 0.89, 2.78, 4.92, and 9.66 wt
Hydrogenolysis of plentiful lignin offers a sustainable approach to producing aromatic renewable feedstocks and intermediates for biofuels. This study demonstrates that a low-cost catalyst derived from Li-ion cell-phone battery waste can serve as an excellent substitute to expensive noble metal catalysts for the hydrogenolysis of alkali and methanol-fractionated lignin, yielding phenols. Catalyst was prepared by pyrolyzing the electrode coating in spent Motorola SNN5749A, 3.6 V cellphone batteries at 600 °C in air and was characterized as LiCo0.9Ox on graphite carbon using elemental analysis, SEM, EDX, XRD and XPS. The hydrogenolysis of alkali lignin and methanol fractionated alkali lignin in methanol produced liquefaction yields of 62 and 73
Boronic acids and esters are among the most versatile building blocks in modern organic synthesis. However, their preparation remains largely dominated by classical solution-phase chemistry. In recent years, unconventional catalytic strategies have emerged that exploit alternative reaction environments and activation modes, enabling access to distinct reactivity patterns. The review discusses non-conventional strategies for synthesising boronic acids and esters, focusing on electrochemical, mechanochemical, microwave-assisted and unconventional media-based approaches developed between 2020 and 2025. The analysis focuses on the impact of alternative reaction environments on (catalyst) activity, selectivity and process efficiency, as compared with classical solution-phase systems. The review identifies areas in which unconventional approaches offer genuine synthetic and operational advantages, while also outlining their current limitations and future directions.
Ni/CeO2 catalysts for dry reforming of methane (DRM) were prepared via a medium energy, solvent-free mechanochemical route by ball milling ceria with Ni precursors (nitrate or chloride salts). The effect of precursor type and milling time on surface area, structure, and redox properties was assessed by N2-physisorption technique (BET), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR). Catalytic performance was benchmarked against catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation (IW). Brief milling produced catalysts with higher initial activity and, in selected cases, a more favorable activity-retention behavior than the impregnated reference. Results from a multi-technique analytical approach which combines high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), indicate that the mechanical action promotes the formation of a distinctive Ni–ceria interfacial nanostructure, whose distribution and accessibility depend on mechanochemical synthesis parameters and correlate with catalytic behavior in DRM.
Quinacridone derivatives have recently emerged as promising organic photocatalysts due to their availability, strong visible-light absorption and accessible redox properties; however, their broader application in homogeneous photocatalysis has been hindered by poor solubility and stability. Herein, we report an optimized and resource‐efficient N-alkylation protocol that enables simple access to soluble quinacridone derivatives under significantly milder conditions than those commonly employed. With this approach, a new N,N′-substituted quinacridone derivative was prepared, fully characterized, and evaluated as an organic photocatalyst. This catalyst promotes efficiently the visible‐light‐driven aerobic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides in homogeneous conditions, operating at very low catalyst loading (0.1 mol
The immobilization of 1-methyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1-ium iodide in a supramolecular capsule formed from 2,8,14,20-tetra-undecyl-resorcin[4]arene and water in the presence of hydrochloric acid enabled the reaction of silane with arylacetylenes. This organocatalyzed reaction predominantly yielded the corresponding semihydrogenated products. The presence of the three components, ammonium, HCl, and capsule, was necessary to obtain significant catalytic activity at 60 °C. This easily accessible catalytic system was tested on nine arylacetylenes following the optimization of the operating conditions.
Herein we report on the transesterification of waste cooking oil (WCO) to biodiesel as an alternative route to the attainment of green biodiesel over LaMoO3 catalyst. Preliminary results suggest that hexane, as a solvent and co-solvent plays a significant role in enhancing the solubility of the reacting species and elevating the triglycerides transesterification with methanol to fatty acid-methyl esters (FAME). At the same reaction condition, the addition of hexane as a co-solvent enhances the triglyceride’s conversion to 88.7
A critical drawback of bis(imino)pyridylcobalt precatalysts is their poor activity with increasing ethylene polymerization temperature. The incorporation of trifluoro-substituents together with benzhydryl steric groups has simultaneously enhanced several parameters (catalytic activity, thermal stability, polymer molecular weights, melting points) of unsymmetrical bis(imino)pyridyl cobalt catalysts in ethylene polymerization. Upon activation with MAO or MMAO, these thermally stable cobalt precatalysts exhibited high activities on the level of 107 g mol− 1 h− 1 at 70 °C, producing linear polyethylene with high molecular weights exceeding 100 kg mol⁻¹ and moderate dispersities (Đ = 2.1–2.8). Notably, the polymerization remained active even at 100 °C with a high activity of 2.22 × 106 g mol− 1 h− 1. Synergistic optimization of ligand substituents and polymerization conditions enabled tuning of activities and polyethylene molecular weights: sterically less hindered precatalysts showed higher activities than their bulkier counterparts, whereas the opposite trend was observed for the molecular weights of the resulting polyethylene. High melting points (131.8–142.4 °C) with sharp endothermic peaks of resulting polyethylene confirmed the formation of strictly linear polyethylene, further evidenced in ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. However, the absence of unsaturated chain-end signals in the NMR spectra may suggest that chain-transfer reactions could predominantly occur through interactions with aluminum species under the applied conditions. This strategy of concerted steric and electronic effects is highly attractive for future studies in other catalytic systems.
Abstract New approaches to enable the application of carbon catalysts in advanced water treatment processes have gained increasing attention. Additive manufacturing, particularly 3D printing, offers a pathway to transform powder catalysts into macrostructured forms. Carbon-based materials have demonstrated significant promise as catalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants through ozonation. This study evaluates the performance of 3D-printed carbon-based catalysts (3DPCCs) in the ozonation of oxalic acid (OxAc), a recalcitrant organic compound. While these catalysts initially exhibited limited mechanical stability under reaction conditions optimised for powder catalysts, adjustments were made to the system to enhance performance. A novel stirrer equipped with a perforated case was designed and operated at 200 rpm in a semi-batch reactor setup. This configuration enabled promise ozonation of OxAc, achieving a 90% removal rate within 180 min, thus confirming the catalytic efficacy of 3DPCCs under optimised conditions.
Hydrogen is widely regarded as a potential alternative to fossil fuels. However, its inherently low volumetric density hinders its direct storage and transport. Ammonia has emerged as a viable hydrogen carrier for addressing this limitation. This work reviews all available literature on ammonia cracking from year 2010 to 2024. Articles on ammonia cracking in internationally accepted indexed journals were reviewed and a comparison among different catalytic materials was made. It evaluates the pathways of ammonia decomposition, emphasising the reaction mechanisms and possible rate-determining steps. The primary focus is on metal oxides as leading catalyst precursors and the potential of inorganic perovskites as direct catalysts and catalytic supports for catalytically active metals such as Ru, Ni, Co and Fe for ammonia decomposition. Several descriptors for catalytic activity, including nitrogen binding energies onto the catalytically active sites, basicity, and promotional effects, are herein critically explored. Furthermore, the role of support material properties, metal-support interactions, and catalyst deactivation processes in shaping activity is analysed. Lastly, this review also highlights insights from theoretical and computational studies that contribute to advancing catalyst design for ammonia decomposition.
Copper nanoparticles efficiently catalyze the 1,3 dipolar Huisgen reaction, producing the 1,4 triazole isomer. In this research, calcium copper titanate nanoparticles were synthesized, and then their activity in the azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction and 1,2,3-triazole production was investigated. The structural and chemical composition of the synthesized material was analyzed using advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BET), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). After identifying the nanoparticles, their catalytic activity was examined. The synthesis of this catalyst offers several advantages, including the potential to produce nanoparticles with high catalytic efficiency, performance under mild reaction conditions, the use of environmentally friendly solvents, and the possibility of reusing the catalyst. A comprehensive review of the catalytic activity of nanoparticles demonstrates their potential for various applications in organic synthesis and catalysis.
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a new type of clean, low-cost and renewable power generation device. And the development of low-cost and high-efficiency advanced electrode-materials is a priority. In this study, a series of Fe3C/FeN− X carbon nanosheets (-CNS) were designed, derived by the calcination of N-doped and Fe coated zeolitic-imidazolate-framework (ZIF) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The catalytic activity and electric generation performance of Fe3C/FeN− X-CNS cathode material were studied in single chamber MFC using domestic sewage as an inoculum substrate. Fe3C/FeN− 5-CNS catalyst shows a comparable ORR performance to the commercial Pt/C. More active sites gained from its complex stacked structure have been obtained over this catalyst, giving a maximum initial potential of 0.10 V, a high limit current density of − 6.35 mA·cm− 2, and a maximum output power density of 688 ± 7 mW·m− 2. Besides, it also performs well stability during the operation. Thus, this novel and low-cost Fe3C/FeN− X@ZIF cathode catalyst provides a promising alternative to Pt-based materials for sustainable energy applications in MFC.
Bimetallic nanozymes have emerged as a promising class of nanomaterials due to their superior catalytic performance and wide application potential. This review provides an overview of the latest advancements in the structural design, catalytic mechanisms, and applications of bimetallic nanozymes in biomedicine and environmental science. These nanozymes adopt diverse architectures, such as core–shell, nanoclusters, and metal–organic frameworks, to systematically enhance catalytic efficiency. However, challenges such as improving catalytic activity, scalability, and ensuring biosafety still need to be addressed. Future research will focus on developing new bimetallic combinations and optimizing synthesis methods to further expand their applications in multiple fields.
The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a primary bottleneck that hampers the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. The exploration of transition metal phosphides (TMPs) as promising electrocatalysts for OER has attracted considerable interest in recent research. However, there remains a scarcity of studies focusing on the structural and morphological transformations that TMPs undergo due to inevitable surface reconstruction during the oxygen evolution reaction. In this work, a novel catalyst manganese-iron phosphide (MnFeP-500) electrocatalyst with remarkable activities was developed by sol-gel method for OER in alkaline medium. The synthesized MnFeP-500 catalysts supported on Ni foam exhibited over-potentials of 115 mV at 10 mA cm− 2 and 498 mV at 150 mA cm− 2, respectively for OER. Also, the physical and chemical properties of the prepared catalysts were studied by different characterization techniques. To evaluate its potential as a promising catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction, a long-term durability test of the MnFeP-500 catalyst was performed in an alkaline medium, which demonstrated a stable performance over a continuous period of 15 h. The advancements achieved in this research offer important insights for the strategic design of a cost-effective, durable, and high-performance OER electrocatalyst in alkaline medium.
Catalyst performance is one of the most decisive aspects for adding value to the industrial prospects of the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin-derived oils to fuels. Deactivation of the catalyst, associated with blockage of pores and active sites due to diffusion limitations and the polymerization of bulky phenolic-type compounds, presents a significant challenge. In the present study, textural properties (pore diameter and surface area) are optimized by doping Al 2 O 3 with La- and/or Ce-precursors prior to inducing a phase transformation and pore coarsening through heat exposure. Response surface methodology and analysis of variance were applied to evaluate the optimal ratios (between 0 and 5 wt%) of the dopants to maximize the pore diameter while preserving the surface area for three different impregnation approaches. The dopants were either impregnated simultaneously or separately and calcined at 1100 °C–500 °C. Finally, the overall performance of synthesized Ni-Mo catalysts, supported on doped Al 2 O 3 , for the HDO process of vanillin under continuous-flow conditions ( T = 314 °C, P = 5 bar(g), and WHSV = 35 h − 1 ) was assessed. Statistically significant regression models for tuning the textural properties of the supports were developed, showing that a maximized pore diameter is obtained by doping with 5 wt% La. However, the findings of this study indicate that Ni-Mo/Al 2 O 3 catalysts doped with 1 wt% La and 1 wt% Ce are favored for the direct HDO process. An additional beneficial aspect is the low amount of carbon deposition on these catalysts.
Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction is crucial for converting natural gas into value-added chemicals like ethylene. Despite the development of over 2000 catalysts, achieving a C2 (C2H4 + C2H6) yield of 30
This perspective paper explores the pivotal intersection of sustainability, industrial processes, and catalytic CO2 valorization. Industrial activities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating a shift towards positioning CO2 as a valuable resource rather than a pollutant. Catalytic valorization not only mitigates emissions but also fosters a circular economy by using CO2 as carbon pool for fuels and chemical synthesis. This perspective highlights recent advances, emerging technologies, and economic considerations in CO2 valorization, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. It evaluates economic viability, identifies challenges, and underscores the importance of infrastructure, market acceptance, and regulatory frameworks. As industries pursue sustainability, CO2 valorization offers a transformative solution for a greener industrial landscape.
This work uses machine learning (ML) procedures to investigate the effect of the properties of different cobalt-based catalysts on the oxidation of toluene and propane. The hydrocarbon conversion was modeled using 600 ANNs and 8 supervised regression algorithms. An optimization framework for the input variables was subsequently developed, using the best neural networks to minimize both the catalyst costs and the energy consumption for reaching 97.5
Energy catalysis serves as a pivotal bridge to connect the energy revolution with sustainable development, which not only benefits to address the current energy and environmental challenges but also provides a solid technical foundation for the construction of a zero-carbon society in the future for humanity. The research of energy catalysis cannot be carried out without the role of catalysts. However, how to characterize the relationship between the physicochemical properties and catalytic performance of the catalysts during the in situ reactions is crucial for the rational design of catalysts. Fortunately, in situ molecular vibrational spectroscopic techniques hold the undeniable importance in energy catalysis due to providing more dynamic and transient information of energy catalytic system under the working conditions. In this review, we systematically introduce the fundamentals of in situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy and sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy (a second-order nonlinear spectroscopy technique with surface-selectivity and sub-monolayer sensitivity), and their practical applications for energy catalysis. Finally, we propose the future potential applications and challenges of these in situ spectroscopic techniques, hoping that this review will better help researchers understand in situ spectroscopic techniques and expand their application scopes in energy catalysis.
Persistent exposure to bromophenol blue can have detrimental impacts on aquatic ecosystems and provide major health and ecological concerns to humans. In this present study a high temperature solid state technique was used to synthesize Ca-Doped BaTiO3 nanomaterials to remove bromophenol blue (BPB) under green energy utilization. The structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the material were thoroughly examined using XRD, FTIR, PL, UV–Vis DRS, and SEM. The electrical characterization further highlighted the conductive properties emphasising on increased light absorption, decreased electron-hole recombination, and improved charge carrier mobility. Ca doping dramatically enhances photocatalytic activity in comparison to pristine BaTiO3 by altering the electronic structure, boosting charge carrier mobility, and generating advantageous oxygen vacancies that promote the production of reactive species (ROS). Consequently, in visible light, the Ca-doped BaTiO3 demonstrated an incredible 97.5 ·O_2^- ), according to mechanistic studies employing radical scavengers. The degradation process followed a pseudo-first-order paradigm with nanomaterial maintaining good stability over five consecutive cycles. The prospect of Ca-doped BaTiO3 as a strong and long-lasting photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications is highlighted by the synergistic impact of Ca doping on band structure modulation, light harvesting, and charge separation enhancement.
