Themed collection Most popular 2021 catalysis articles, 2021

Hot carrier activation and photothermal heat can be constructively coupled using plasmonic photothermal catalysts for synergistically promoted solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency.

Surface organometallic chemistry bridges the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalysts.

New pathways for carbon capture and sequestration are needed to tackle the challenge of rising anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.

In this review article, the authors discuss the use of machine learning algorithms as tools for the prediction of physical and chemical properties of ionic liquids.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels.

Influence of synthesis and processing on the nature of ultimate product and the ionic transport properties of superionic conductors.

This review discusses photocatalytic CO₂ conversion using defective TiO₂, with emphasis on the mechanism, the role of defects on CO₂ adsorption–activation and product selectivity, as well as challenges of defective TiO₂ to produce solar fuels.

In recent years the 2D concept has been transferred from conventional 2D materials to porous 2D framework materials. This minireview takes a closer look onto the preparation of 2D framework materials and their merits for energy applications.

An N–CH₃-selective trialkylamine oxidation to N-formamides is reported in continuous flow using gaseous O₂. A novel, enhanced-solubility dicyanoanthracene organophotocatalyst switched the photochemical mechanism from electron to energy transfer.

The osmium(II) complex functioned as a panchromatic photosensitizer and drove CO₂ reduction.

Selective electrocarboxylation of nucleophilically susceptible organic halides without sacrificial anodes is enabled by inorganic salt additives, which suppress the nucleophilicity of anions in the electrolyte.

Mesoionic N-heterocyclic olefin (mNHO) catalysed consecutive N-methylation of primary and secondary amines was accomplished under 1 atm CO₂ pressure in the presence of 9-BBN as a reducing agent nearly at room temperature.

Oxygen-defective molybdenum sub-oxide coupled with Pt nanoparticles affords high methanol yield in liquid-phase CO₂ hydrogenation via reverse Mars–van Krevelen mechanism.

This work highlights the importance of a rational design for more energetically suitable nitrogen reduction reaction routes and mechanisms by regulating the electronic band structures with phase-selective defect sites.

The mechanism of [2 + 2] cycloadditions activated by visible light and catalyzed by bis-cyclometalated Rh(III) and Ir(III) photocatalysts was investigated, combining density functional theory calculations and spectroscopic techniques.

Combination of kinetic and DFT studies revealed a subtle balance for substituent effect toward the regioselectivity of the product in metal-free and base-catalyzed diboration of arylacetylenes.

Photomediated core modification of organic photocatalysts through a radical/radical cation cross-coupling process enables the ability to stabilize radical ions and prevent undesirable side reactions.

Cationic zinc Lewis acids catalyse the C–H borylation of heteroarenes using pinacol borane (HBPin) or catechol borane (HBCat).

Densely-arrayed Cu nanopyramids have spatial confinement induced by the additional Cu–O bond. This promotes C–C coupling, regulates post-C–C coupling, and retains both oxygen atoms in an alternative pathway toward ethylene glycol formation from CO.

Heterogeneous chemo-bio catalytic hydrogenation is an attractive strategy for clean, enantioselective CX reduction.

Direct metal-free near infra-red photoredox catalysis is applied to oxidation, reduction and photosensitization, involving cyanines as photocatalysts. Mechanistic insights through kinetic and quenching experiments are also reported.

The desire for a carbon-free society and the continuously increasing demand for clean energy make it valuable to exploit green ammonia (NH₃) synthesis that proceeds via the electrolysis driven Haber–Bosch (eHB) process.

CO₂ can be efficiently converted into C₂₊ products on CeO₂ modified CuO catalysts and the faradaic efficiency could reach 75.2% with a current density of 1.21 A cm⁻².

H₂O₂-dependent epoxidation of unfunctionalized styrenes is achieved with high (R)-enantioselectivity and moderate to excellent TONs by combining site-mutated variants of cytochrome P450BM3 monooxygenase and a dual-functional small molecule (DFSM).

The local charge redistribution in BiFeO₃/BiVO₄ hybrids promotes the targeted adsorption and activation of inert gas molecules and guarantees the exothermic coupling of *NN* with generated CO via C–N coupling reactions to form *NCON* precursor.

A novel amino acid based reaction system for CO₂ capture and utilization (CCU) to produce formates is presented applying a ruthenium-based catalyst. Noteworthy, CO₂ can be captured from ambient air and converted to formates in one-pot (TON > 50 000).

Single-atom Ni terminating agent is introduced to coordinate with sp² or sp³ N atoms in the heptazine units of PCN, realizing visible-light photocatalytic overall water splitting to H₂O₂ and H₂ without additional cocatalyst.

The two challenges of electron–hole recombination and photocorrosion for two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides in the application of photocatalytic water splitting are simultaneously suppressed by rational design of heterojunctions.

Efficient activation of CO₂ at low temperature was achieved by reverse water–gas shift via chemical looping (RWGS-CL) by virtue of fast oxygen ion migration in a Cu–In structured oxide, even at lower temperatures.

Highly modular three-bond three-component cascade featuring palladium as dual photoredox/cross coupling catalyst.