Research on catalysts that speed chemical reactions. Covers methane conversion, zeolite catalysis, and AI-guided catalyst design.
A research team at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics synthesized renewable nylon monomers from poplar wood using a Pd/C catalyst. The total carbon yield was found to be 39.2%, enabling further conversion to valuable chemicals.
A new electrocatalyst, Co2MnO4 spinel, shows high stability in acid environments for the oxygen evolution reaction. The researchers used density functional theoretical calculations and multi-dissolution pathways to explain its high stability.
Researchers have developed a new method for producing hydrogen peroxide using copper-doped titanium dioxide as a catalyst. The process exhibits high selectivity and yield, making it a safe and sustainable alternative to traditional methods.
A new catalyst developed by researchers extracts hydrogen from liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) easily and efficiently. The breakthrough offers a promising solution to adopting hydrogen fuel for transportation, addressing a long-standing challenge.
Researchers identify two key principles determining reaction specificity in converting CO2 and ethane into synthesis gas or ethylene. The formation energy of the bimetallic catalyst and binding energy between the catalyst and oxygen released from CO2 are crucial in driving reaction selectivity.
Cerium oxide mesocrystals can be fabricated in a controlled way using radiation chemistry, enabling tuning for applications such as solar cells and fuel catalysts. The unique structure of these nanomaterials allows for customization of optical, magnetic, or electronic properties.
Researchers at Stanford University have created a new catalyst that can convert carbon dioxide into gasoline up to 1,000 times more efficiently than existing standards. The breakthrough allows for the production of long-chain hydrocarbons, making it easier to handle and store, with potential applications in a carbon-neutral cycle.
Scientists from Tokyo Tech have developed a reusable catalyst for oxidative C–H functionalization, making the process faster and more efficient. The catalyst, murdochite-type Mg6MnO8 nanoparticles, can catalyze the selective oxidation of alkylarene compounds under mild reaction conditions.
Cornell University chemists have developed a class of nonprecious metal derivatives that can efficiently power cars and generate electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions. The breakthrough could enable wider deployment of hydrogen fuel cells, replacing combustion engines and reducing waste.
A research team at PNNL has developed a system that converts waste carbon from sewage, food crops, and algae into fuels while removing impurities. The electrocatalytic oxidation fuel recovery system generates hydrogen to power its own operation, making it potentially carbon-neutral.
University of Warwick scientists developed a new method to produce indolic amides, carboxylic acids, and auxins using enzymes that mimic plant production. The process is reusable, produces minimal waste products, and could help make pharmaceutical and agrochemical manufacturing more environmentally friendly.
Researchers from Waseda University have developed an alternative technique, sampled current voltammetry (SCV), to accurately determine the activity of electrocatalysts used in water-splitting reactions. The study shows that SCV can provide reliable measurements of electrocatalytic performance at constant steady-state applied voltages.
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a scalable way to assemble nanowires into nanoribbons, a promising material for sophisticated electronic devices and catalysts. The method involves weaving together nanowires with chalcogen atoms and heat, resulting in atomically thin ribbons with unique properties.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a novel catalyst that significantly improves the efficiency of propylene production. The catalyst utilizes carbon dioxide efficiently and exhibits high selectivity, stability, and long-term reusability.
A team of scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China developed an oxide-derived Cu catalyst with a superior Cu(100)/Cu(111) interface, which displayed high Faradaic efficiency during CO2 reduction reaction. The interface played a critical role in C-C coupling and exhibited superior catalytic performance.
Researchers developed an auto-switchable phosphazene-based catalyst to create well-defined diblock terpolymers in a single step, overcoming the limitations of traditional two-step polymerizations. This innovative approach offers vast potential for producing diverse polymers for various industrial applications.
Researchers have developed a new nanocatalyst for the dry reforming of methane, overcoming coking resistance with its confined core-shell structure. The catalyst's superior carbon resistance is attributed to the confinement and electron transfer between In and Ni.
A new method of molecular-level control, called induced activation, doubles the efficiency of widely used industrial catalysts. This approach manipulates the catalyst surface by controlling reducing agents at the catalyst activation stage.
Researchers at Penn State have been awarded a $3.4 million contract from the REMADE Institute to develop a flexible, two-stage chemical recycling process for mixed plastic waste. The process aims to decompose multiple types of plastic and convert them into valuable chemicals that can be used to create new products.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a new method for creating chemical subunits using blue LEDs and copper, reducing the need for precious metals. This breakthrough has potential applications in pharmaceutical and photoelectronic development.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new water-splitting process and material that maximize the efficiency of producing carbon-free green hydrogen. The hybrid catalysts show superior performance for both oxygen and hydrogen splitting, making it an affordable and accessible option for industrial partners.
Scientists from GIST developed a photoswitchable catalyst that deactivates upon UV light exposure, facilitating controlled chemical reactions. The research paves the way for sophisticated synthesis mechanisms in chemistry and applications like photolithography.
A research team has developed a new strategy to create molecular compounds without multi-step syntheses, using a system of three catalysts. The catalysts work together to selectively insert an aryl group into unactivated alkenes, offering a sustainable and efficient solution for organic synthesis.
A new catalytic approach directly converts solid biomass into natural gas with a low carbon footprint, achieving nearly complete conversion of various agricultural and forestry materials. This process reduces fossil energy depletion and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 26% and 34%, respectively.
A team of researchers at MIT has identified and modeled a major reason for poor performance in electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion systems, which is caused by a local depletion of CO2 gas near the electrodes. By pulsing the current off and on, they can replenish the gas levels, allowing the process to continue efficiently.
Researchers at RIKEN successfully treated cancer in mice using metal catalysts that assemble anticancer drugs inside the body. The technique avoids indiscriminate tissue damage and increases cancer-inhibiting activity by 1000 times.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a theory showing how manipulating quasiparticles could help improve chemical reactions. By applying electric fields, holes can be made to migrate across the surface of catalyst particles, activating neighboring sites and increasing the efficiency of the reaction.
Scientists visualized the distribution of atoms in cobalt iron oxide nanoparticles and studied structural changes on the surface during oxygen evolution reaction. The findings provide atomic insights into compositional changes affecting catalytic performance.
Researchers at Cardiff University have demonstrated the suitability of gold as a catalyst to produce methanol and acetic acid from methane in natural gas. The novel method uses gold nanoparticles, which exhibit different physical and chemical properties compared to larger material counterparts.
Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed a new method to introduce heavy hydrogen isotopes into drugs, potentially making them more effective. The technique involves the use of epoxides and a titanium-based catalyst, allowing for precise control over the placement of deuterium atoms.
The University of Central Florida researchers have developed an alcohol-based power source for cars and other technology that uses less fuel and produces fewer emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. The ethanol fuel cell has achieved a maximum power density and operation time of over 5,900 hours, making it a promising alternat...
Researchers create new route for producing PCTA monomer using plant-based acrylate and acetaldehyde, achieving overall yield of 61%. The method also produces UNOXOL diol in high yield, reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers have designed new catalysts that can improve the efficiency of hydrogen production through water electrolysis, potentially reducing costs by up to 80%. The breakthrough could help achieve the US goal of zero emissions by 2030.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a catalyst technology that converts methane into ethane and ethylene with high efficiency and selectivity. The new technology uses platinum-based MXene structures to break down methane bonds, producing valuable chemicals without emitting the most abundant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
Researchers develop highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene under room temperature, using water as a hydrogen source and reducing energy consumption. The process achieves high Faradaic efficiency and selective ethylene production via electron-coupled proton transfer pathways.
Researchers have paired Barton's base, a 1980s catalyst, with click chemistry to accelerate complex molecule generation in biomedical research and drug development. The new ASCC method skips intermediate steps, reducing waste and enhancing 'green credentials',
A new artificial intelligence framework called TinNet combines machine-learning algorithms and theories to identify new catalysts for efficient energy production. By understanding how catalysts interact with different intermediates, researchers can design robust catalytic processes that improve daily life.
A catalyst innovation has improved the stability of direct-ethanol fuel cells for nearly 6,000 hours, solving three key problems. This breakthrough could lead to mass adoption of clean cars powered by DEFC technology within five years.
Researchers at Tianjin University have designed a novel carbon-coated Ni-Co alloy catalyst that improves the stability and efficiency of in-situ aqueous phase hydrodeoxygenation. The catalyst achieved a hydrocarbon yield of 92.6%, making it a promising alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University study hydroxyapatite's properties as a catalyst, finding that iron incorporation is energetically comparable and preferentially localized. The study uses density functional theory calculations to analyze the introduction of iron ions in the HAp lattice.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg have developed novel, inexpensive catalysts for alkynes reactions. Alkynes are activated through a soft manner, mimicking gold and platinum-based catalysts, with aluminum oxide being a more accessible alternative.
Researchers have developed efficient catalysts for ammonia synthesis under mild conditions using ternary ruthenium complex hydrides. The unique configuration and function mechanism of these complexes enables non-dissociative activation of nitrogen, leading to superior kinetics and favored ammonia production.
By introducing defects, researchers created chemically active hBN that can hold precious metal atoms, enabling cost-effective catalysts and potential applications in energy storage and sensors. This breakthrough challenges the long-held assumption that inert materials cannot be activated.
Researchers developed a simpler, greener method for producing Grignard reagents using environment-friendly paste-based technology. This new process drastically cuts down on the use of hazardous organic solvents and could lead to reduced production costs and environmental benefits.
Researchers developed a photocatalytic oxidative reforming process to convert bio-polyols into CO under ambient conditions. The Z-scheme catalyst structure facilitated adsorption and activation of dioxygen, promoting hydroxyl radicals and enhanced CO production rate.
Researchers have developed a highly active and stable nickel-carbon catalyst for the light-driven methanation of CO2, converting it into methane with high efficiency. The new catalyst, named Ni@C, demonstrated a high rate of conversion and selectivity under artificial UV, visible, and IR light.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new approach to modify the surface of copper catalysts, improving the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful fuels. The technique involves coating the copper with thin films of ionomers, which steer the reaction towards generating carbon-rich products.
Researchers at TU Wien discovered that a rhodium catalyst can be highly chemically active in some regions while completely inactive in others. The team found that the arrangement of atoms on the surface differs from grain to grain, leading to varying catalytic properties.
A team of MIT researchers has created a biohybrid photocatalyst that can mimic photosynthesis, improving the yield of chemical reactions for generating pharmaceuticals. The new catalyst uses a light-harvesting protein to capture energy from red light and transfer it to a metal-containing catalyst.
Researchers proposed rational design of nanocatalysts using metal-support interaction descriptor, identifying optimal balance between adhesion and cohesion energies. This theory guides the design of ultrastable heterogeneous metal nanocatalysts, overcoming sintering issues and improving productivity.
Scientists at KAUST have created catalysts that can convert CO2 into valuable hydrocarbons, such as gasoline-grade isoparaffins, with high selectivity rates. The development paves the way for a circular carbon economy and drop-in fuels from CO2.
A new iron-based perovskite material has been developed to intensify solar thermochemical CO2 splitting. The material achieves an unprecedented CO production rate of 381 mL g−1 min−1 with 99% CO2 conversion at 850 ºC, outperforming state-of-the-art materials.
A team at Brookhaven National Laboratory has identified a common industrial catalyst that can efficiently convert methane to methanol with or without water. The findings suggest strategies for improving the water-free conversion, achieving 30% selectivity in the absence of water, and 80% selectivity with water.
Researchers at USTC developed fine cubic Cu2O nanocrystals that exhibit high selectivity for propylene epoxidation with O2 to produce propylene oxide. The mechanism underlying this enhanced catalytic performance was also demonstrated.
Researchers from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics designed a chainmail catalysis system for CO oxidation, achieving near 100% conversion at room temperature. The graphene-isolated Pt catalyst overcomes the issue of deep oxidation and enables efficient CO conversion.
Researchers review strategies to enhance Cu-based catalysts' performance in CO2 reduction, including surface structure tuning and local environment regulation. The study aims to overcome current challenges and outline future opportunities for efficient CO2 conversion.
Researchers develop a multifunctional supramolecular catalysis protocol using open-cage solutions to achieve diverse cage-confined catalysis. The protocol enables selective mass transfer, C-H activation, and anionic intermediate stabilization, promoting acid/base-catalyzed cascade reactions.
Researchers linked microscopic and macroscopic approaches to describe a technologically important chemical reaction under realistic conditions. This allows understanding why catalyst particle size plays a crucial role in chemical processes.
University of Rochester researchers have developed a novel three-component cross-coupling reaction using iron catalysts, which could potentially bring iron to the front of the class. The reaction enables faster and less expensive synthesis of previously difficult-to-make drug-like compounds in a single step.
Researchers at USTC have successfully synthesized small-sized Pt intermetallic nanoparticle catalysts with ultralow Pt loading and high mass activity. These catalysts exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, potentially decreasing the cost of fuel cells.