Research on catalysts that speed chemical reactions. Covers methane conversion, zeolite catalysis, and AI-guided catalyst design.
Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Rochester aim to improve seawater-to-fuel technology by refining a crucial step in the process. The researchers seek to design catalysts that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide into usable fuels, making the process more energy efficient and safer.
KAUST researchers have developed a robust catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide gas with 100% selectivity, overcoming the limitations of precious metals. The innovative method uses MOFs to create mixed metal catalytic nanoparticles in a homogenous mixture.
Scientists have discovered that hydroxyapatite, a mineral present in human bones, can efficiently decompose hazardous organic compounds when activated using mechanical stress. This breakthrough could lead to the development of cheap, noble-metal-free catalysts for controlling volatile organic compounds.
Scientists have developed a suite of advanced tools to study the oxygen evolution reaction, a key step in producing hydrogen fuel from water. They observed catalyst nanoparticles accelerate oxygen generation at unprecedented detail, identifying a single limiting step in the reaction.
Researchers at KAUST developed a new family of catalysts that leverage aromaticity for improved performance in reactions such as hydrogen production and ester formation. The PN3(P) pincer complexes exhibit high catalytic activity, but more importantly, provide insights into the role of aromaticity in catalysis.
Researchers have discovered a new aerogel electrocatalyst formed from inexpensive metal alloys, enabling highly efficient electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide. The process achieves an efficiency of 93% with minimal byproducts.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new microscopy technique that allows for the measurement of atomic acidity on surfaces. This breakthrough enables analysis of catalysts on an atomic scale, which is crucial for improving chemical reactions.
Researchers have developed a new method for synthesizing zeolite catalysts that improves catalytic performance by up to five-fold. The improved hierarchical zeolite catalysts show unprecedented improvement in stability and selectivity, potentially reducing the need for costly turnarounds.
University of Delaware researchers report a breakthrough process that can convert hard-to-recycle plastics into usable molecules. The hydrocracking process requires less energy than other technologies and can treat various plastics, even when mixed together.
Researchers have identified a new light-driven enzyme, fatty acid photodecarboxylase (FAP), that converts fatty acids into alkanes and alkenes under blue light. The enzyme's complex photocycle drives this transformation, and its structure has been elucidated using serial femtosecond crystallography.
A new heterogeneous coupling catalyst for OCM has been developed, achieving a C2 yield of 10.9% at low temperatures. The catalyst's surface coupling mechanism controls the formation of C2 species, increasing selectivity and yield.
Scientists develop new catalyst to efficiently synthesize aziridines with high enantiopurity, a crucial step towards creating novel medicines. The reaction method also shows potential for other stereo-selective synthetic reactions.
Researchers have created a new catalyst that allows for more efficient and sustainable production of aromatic hydrocarbons using renewable sources like woody biomass. The catalyst reduces the need for high temperatures and pressures, minimizing energy costs and emissions.
Researchers create nanostructured bimetallic catalysts with enhanced activity and stability, offering a cost-effective alternative to noble metal-based catalysts. The new material is stabilized on a conductive surface using a polymeric material, enabling predictable catalysis performance.
Researchers from Boston College and Yale University found a mechanistic switch in the oxygen evolution reaction that uses water to produce hydrogen gas. The switch occurs when applying voltage to the catalyst surface, enabling efficient electrocatalysts to be chosen or optimized depending on the potential regime.
A recent study has unveiled a new principle that active charge transfer at the interface between non-noble metals can enhance the catalytic performance of complex oxide catalysts. The researchers found that CeO2-deposited spinel oxide nanocubes exhibited a 12-times higher CO oxidation rate than pristine Co3O4 NCs.
Researchers developed a photo-oxygenation catalyst that destabilizes and removes amyloid plaques, enhancing immune system clearance. The treatment significantly reduced amyloid protein in mouse brains, with human brain samples supporting its potential use in humans.
Researchers at St Petersburg University have synthesized polymers from biomass, making them recyclable and potentially replacing traditional plastics. The new polymers are based on terpenols, natural compounds found in plants like mint and white fir trees, and can be recycled at moderate temperatures.
A recent X-ray study clarifies the reaction mechanism of lithium manganese oxide (Li2MnO3) and finds it suitable as a catalyst for high-energy electrode materials. The discovery paves the way for exploring alternative battery technologies, including lithium-air and lithium-carbon dioxide batteries.
A team at the Indian Institute of Science developed a catalytic version of the Fischer indole synthesis that primarily produces one enantiomer. The reaction involves a dynamic kinetic resolution mechanism with a chiral catalyst, resulting in moderate yields and good to excellent enantiomeric selectivity.
Researchers designed a nanodendrite Pt-Cu alloy electrocatalyst with high-index surfaces and graded composition, achieving excellent mass and area activities for oxygen reduction reaction. The catalyst's unique morphology and composition provide a high specific surface area to improve Pt utilization and enhance ORR activity.
Researchers at KIST have created a large-scale CO2 conversion system using a sea urchin-shaped nano copper catalyst, which increases catalytic activity and yields ethylene by over 50%. The findings suggest that increasing copper hydroxide content is key to enhancing efficiency.
Osaka University researchers have developed an air-stable and highly active single-crystal cobalt phosphide nanorod catalyst for the reductive amination of carbonyl compounds. The catalyst overcomes limitations of conventional cobalt catalysts, retaining high activity after multiple uses.
Researchers have developed a zeolite-based nanocatalyst that achieves 2.5-times higher ammonia decomposition performance than conventional commercial catalysts while using only 40% of ruthenium metal. This new catalyst overcomes stability issues and enables large-capacity hydrogen transport via ammonia decomposition.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a refractory metal alloy that can withstand extreme temperatures and is viable for additive manufacturing. The team also created an electrocatalyst that enables the conversion of water and carbon dioxide into higher weight hydrocarbons, set to reduce fuel costs.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a method to deposit high-dispersed Fe species into ZSM-5 micropores, resulting in high selectivity of cyclohexanone (92%-97%) and improved catalyst activity. The Fe content can be precisely controlled by varying ALD cycles.
Researchers at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics developed a dual-bed catalyst that achieves highly efficient and selective conversion of syngas to gasoline-range liquid hydrocarbons. The catalyst showed excellent stability, with selectivities of C5-11 and C3-11 in the hydrocarbon products reaching 80.6% and 98.2%, respectively.
Researchers at MIT have created synthetic mucins with a polymer backbone that mimic the structure and function of naturally occurring mucins, effectively neutralizing the bacterial toxin that causes cholera. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for infectious diseases and potentially less resistance to antibiotics.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum and University of Duisburg-Essen developed a stable copper catalyst for CO2 conversion using boron. The catalyst's selectivity and long-term stability were improved, enabling the formation of larger carbon compounds that can be used as base chemicals or fuels.
Scientists at the DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have successfully demonstrated a biocrude conversion process that can operate continuously for over 2,000 hours without losing effectiveness. The process converts various types of biocrude from wastewater and food waste into high-quality renewable diesel fuel.
Researchers discovered that the potato toxin α-solanine is biosynthesized from the spirosolane α-tomatine found in tomatoes. The conversion involves a dioxygenase enzyme called DPS, which can be suppressed with an inhibitor, offering a potential basis for suppressing poisonous compound synthesis in potatoes.
Researchers at RUDN University found that fluorine-containing compounds can simplify the purification of catalysts from reaction products, making them reusable. This technology could improve ruthenium-based catalysts for pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Scientists successfully achieved homogeneous catalyst by dissolving electrocatalytic metals in molten gallium, improving formic acid selectivity and reducing hydrogen evolution. The new method brings a significant breakthrough for synthesizing heterogeneous catalysts with enhanced stability.
Researchers have developed a Sn/reduced graphene oxide catalyst for efficient formic acid synthesis from CO2 through electrochemical reduction. The catalyst achieved a Faradic efficiency of 98% and significantly reduced overpotential, enabling the production of high-purity formic acid.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method for producing propylene, a key component of plastics, that uses less energy. The technique, which involves the use of two catalysts, produces yields up to 30% higher than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for more energy-efficient plastics production.
Researchers have developed a new catalyst for the low-temperature hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol with high activity and selectivity. The sulfur vacancy-rich few-layered MoS2 catalyst achieves 94.3% methanol selectivity at 180°C, outperforming commercial catalysts.
Cu-based small-pore zeolites have been demonstrated to be promising candidates for NH3-SCR catalysts due to their unique structural features and physicochemical properties. The latest advances in Cu-SSZ-13 applied to the NH3-SCR reaction highlight the significant opportunity presented by zeolite-based catalysts.
Researchers have developed a dual-functioning catalyst that breaks down common drugs in wastewater while efficiently converting water into hydrogen for fuel. The catalyst, composed of cobalt oxide and titanium dioxide with platinum nanoparticles, showed promise in degrading antibiotics and producing substantial amounts of hydrogen.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a sustainable method for synthesizing vicinal diamines, crucial in medications for influenza and colorectal cancer. The process uses molecular iodine as a catalyst, reducing the need for rare and toxic metals.
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a scalable method to create ordered porous metallic oxide thin films using a range of transition metals. The process enables the production of highly ordered nanohole arrays ideal for various industrial applications.
Researchers at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have developed a novel approach to synthesize chiral tetraarylmethanes, a type of spherical molecule. The new method enables efficient access to this previously underexplored chemical space, with promising activity against cancer cells and enterovirus.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) have discovered the mechanism behind catalyst transformation, revealing a pathway for improved fuel cell performance. The study found that PBMO catalysts exhibit enhanced stability and conductivity when transforming from perovskite to layered structures.
Researchers at the UAB have designed minimalist biostructures that imitate natural enzymes, carrying out two differentiated and reversibly regulated activities. These peptides can be used to create 'intelligent' nanomaterials with tailor-made combinations of catalytic functions for practical applications.
Scientists from China create a Turing structure on inorganic materials, exhibiting efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalytic activity. The study showcases the potential for designing cheaper catalysts with higher performance.
Researchers at BESSY II discover that low-intensity blue light can alter the properties of MoS2 layers, making them metallic and catalytically active. This finding could enable the production of hydrogen as an energy carrier with no CO2 emissions.
Thomas Schwartz is advancing his dissection of the Lebedev process, a multi-step chemical reaction used to make butadiene from biomass-derived ethanol. Understanding this process will help create new catalysts for increased butadiene yield.
Researchers have identified the metallic state of Ag nanoclusters during oxidative dispersion, revealing a transitional state at high temperatures. The study used in situ imaging methods to demonstrate the dynamic dispersion and redispersion of supported metal catalysts.
Japanese researchers create simulation method for theoretical estimation of catalytic reaction efficiency, enabling forecasting of reactant conversion and product selectivity. The method can be applied to various catalyst systems, contributing to a carbon-free society.
Researchers found that minute amounts of zinc oxide in intimate contact with copper significantly improve the methanol production process. The study reveals how the choice of support material affects the behavior of active catalyst components, leading to changes in reaction selectivity.
Scientists have discovered that covering metal catalyst surfaces with thin two-dimensional oxide materials can significantly enhance chemical reactions. The new method uses partially covered palladium surfaces with silica films to boost carbon dioxide production by 20%. This approach allows for more efficient and effective catalytic co...
Researchers developed gold-phosphorus nanosheets that selectively oxidize methane to methanol with high efficiency. The nanosheets enable mild oxidation of methane into CH3 species, followed by oxidation via hydroxyl groups into methanol.
Scientists at KAUST create an efficient catalyst that converts CO2 and hydrogen into methane using photothermal energy, reducing the need for external heat sources. The reaction achieves nearly 100% selectivity and impressive efficiency, offering a sustainable way to convert harmful greenhouse gases into valuable fuel.
Researchers create a 'ship-in-a-bottle structure' by slowly moving reactive components to the surface, where they form stalagmite-like spikes of metal oxides. This process enables purification and recovery of pure and precious metals from alloys in electronic waste.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new catalyst that significantly increases styrene manufacturing yield, reducing energy use by 82% and carbon dioxide emissions by 79%. The catalyst achieves a single-pass yield of 91%, outperforming conventional technologies.
Researchers have developed novel Bi-BiVO4 Mott-Schottky heterostructure catalysts for efficient urea synthesis under ambient conditions. The spontaneous charge transfer at the heterointerfaces promotes targeted adsorption and activation of CO2 and N2 molecules, effectively suppressing CO poisoning.
Researchers from USTC establish bridges between atoms and make catalysts of high quality. They apply substitutional doping method to prepare Co-doping MoS2 monolayer, which shows dramatically increased exchange current density during electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction.
Scientists from GIST have developed a novel catalyst material that improves the longevity and performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. The CoC2O4 catalyst enables efficient electric transportation systems, including drones and large-scale energy storage devices.
Researchers have synthesized a rare metal complex of nitrous oxide, demonstrating its strong binding ability to metals, potentially opening new avenues for using it in synthetic chemistry. The findings could also help degrade N2O to harmless substances, mitigating its impact on the atmosphere.
Researchers developed a two-step amination strategy to enhance the intrinsic activity of M-N/C catalysts, leading to improved current density and Faraday efficiency. The new method enabled CO2 electrocatalytic reduction at an industrial level, with a remarkable current density of over 400 mA cm−2.
Researchers have developed a computational model to improve the production of polyisobutenyl succinic anhydrides (PIBSAs) for auto industry formulations. The study reveals the detailed mechanism of Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions, enabling faster and more efficient synthesis with reduced energy input.