Article
Energy & Fuels
A. G. Margellou, A. A. Koutsouki, D. E. Petrakis, M. G. Kontominas, P. J. Pomonis
Summary: This study examines the catalytic transesterification of rapeseed oil for biodiesel production using four mixtures of MgO-CaO oxides as heterogeneous catalysts. The addition of CaO to pure MgO oxide reduces the catalytic activity and decreases the yield of methyl ester.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valdis Kampars, Ruta Kampare, Aija Krumina
Summary: A method for preparing MgO nanoparticles was developed, and it was found that PEG played an important role in the catalyst synthesis process. The study also showed that the calcination temperature and crystallite size of the catalysts affected the FAME yield.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lai-Fan Man, Tsz-Lung Kwong, Wing-Tak Wong, Ka-Fu Yung
Summary: The novel mesoporous Zn/MgO hexagonal-nano-plate catalyst showed high catalytic activity in the base-catalyzed transesterification of Camelina oil, likely due to its high surface area and appropriate mesopore size. The addition of Zn increased the basic sites density of the catalyst, leading to a synergistic interaction that enhanced catalytic activity.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rauf Foroutan, Seyed Jamaleddin Peighambardoust, Reza Mohammadi, Bahman Ramavandi, Daria Camilla Boffito
Summary: Hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from poultry's bones was modified with MgO/K2CO3 to produce a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from non-edible Moringa oleifera oil. Through experimental design, the biodiesel yield was optimized, and the catalyst's reusability was evaluated, indicating its potential as a sustainable catalyst for biodiesel production.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Christina Wildfire, Victor Abdelsayed, Dushyant Shekhawat, Robert A. Dagle, Stephen D. Davidson, Jianli Hu
Summary: In this study, microwave synthesis of ammonia over Ru/MgO catalysts was conducted at 320℃ under ambient pressure with different Ru loading levels. Higher Ru loading showed better dispersion, leading to decreased sintering and enhanced activity and stability. The microwave reactor also offered faster catalyst recovery compared to traditional thermal convectional Haber Bosch (HB) technology.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Syed Saman, Aamna Balouch, Farah Naz Talpur, Ayaz Ali Memon, Bibi Maryam Mousavi, Francis Verpoort
Summary: A green and facile route was performed to synthesize magnesium oxide nanoparticles using Ziziphus mauritiana leaves extract, which were then applied as an active catalyst for biodiesel production from the same plant's seed oil. The catalyst was characterized by various techniques and successfully recycled six times for the transesterification of Ziziphus seed oil, with the produced biodiesel meeting ASTM and EN biodiesel standard specifications.
APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nabanita Ghosh, D. Rhithuparna, Samuel Lalthazuala Rokhum, Gopinath Halder
Summary: There is a global search for renewable energy sources due to the unpredictability of petroleum supplies and environmental problems from fossil fuel use. Biodiesel has gained interest as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel, with a focus on ethical issues related to its production process and impact on food, land acquisition, global trade, deforestation, and ecological toxicity.
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Wenna Ge, Quanmao Wei, Fusheng Zhang, Zhixin Feng, Xiangge Bai, Shile Feng, Guangyan Qing, Yahua Liu
Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) exhibit sensitive chemoselectivity and precise structure modulation, providing insights into various practical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Biyun Ren, Bing Chen, Jianxiong Zhao, Yang Guo, Xin Zhang, Xian Chen, Yangyang Du, Zhiqin Deng, Guangyu Zhu, Feng Wang
Summary: Lanthanide-doped ScF3 nanoparticles were synthesized and studied for their thermal enhancement of upconversion, showing a significant increase in emission within a certain temperature range and high temperature sensitivity. The development of new methods may inspire the creation of thermally enhanced upconversion nanoparticles with high emission intensities.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Akash Pratim Bora, Lutukurthi D. N. V. V. Konda, Srinivas Pasupuleti, Krishna Sandilya Durbha
Summary: A novel MgO/MgSO4 nanocatalyst was synthesized using solution combustion method with thiourea as the fuel. For the first time, the sulfonated group was induced over the basic catalyst, MgO, using thiourea for biodiesel production. The synthesized nanocatalyst exhibited bifunctional characteristics and demonstrated high stability in the simultaneous transesterification and esterification of high FFA-containing waste cooking oil into biodiesel in the presence of ultrasound. The optimized parameters for the process were predicted, and the resulting nanocatalyst showed significant future perspective for industrial production of biodiesel from low-cost, high FFA-containing feedstock.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shanshan Zhang, Lilong Zhou, Zhengjie Li, Ali Asghar Esmailpour, Kunjie Li, Shuhuan Wang, Runjing Liu, Xiaoyan Li, Jimmy Yun
Summary: CoOx-doped micron-sized hollow MgO rods exhibit excellent catalytic performance in treating phenol wastewater, with high removal ratio and reusability.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Reza Khoshbin, Maryam Naeimi, Fatemeh Mohamad Alikhani, Monireh Sadat Hosseini Hashemi, Hiresh Moradi
Summary: A series of MgO/ZnAl2O4 nanocatalysts were prepared and evaluated for their physicochemical properties. The catalysts with porous structure and highly dispersed active phase were successfully synthesized by different synthesis methods and fuel ratios. Among them, the sample synthesized with a urea to citric acid ratio of 1:2 exhibited the best catalytic performance and stability.
ADVANCED POWDER TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kristine Lazdovica, Valdis Kampars, Anastasija Gaile
Summary: Designing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalyst is necessary for biodiesel production. In this study, new catalysts of 0.3-CaO-MgO/SBA-15 and 0.8-CaO-MgO/SBA-15 were prepared and compared. The 0.3-CaO-MgO/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited higher purity, larger surface area, and pore volume, leading to excellent catalytic activity for biodiesel production.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Guowei Yang
Summary: Since the first observation of fullerene nearly three decades ago, allotropes of carbon, including carbon nanotube and graphene, have been the focus of considerable research due to their remarkable properties. Recently, carbyne nanocrystals (CNCs) have been synthesized in the laboratory and have shown potential applications in various fields.
MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING R-REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qinglin Yuan, Jiajun Zhao, Dong Hyeon Mok, Zemin Zheng, Yixing Ye, Changhao Liang, Lin Zhou, Seoin Back, Kun Jiang
Summary: Se-based nanoalloys are a promising class of metal chalcogenides with tunable crystalline and electronic structures, showing great potential in renewable energy conversion and utilization. By controlling the alloying component, a flexible control over the oxygen reduction reaction pathway has been achieved, and an optimized scaling relationship between oxygenated ORR intermediates has been discovered on certain nanocrystals.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andrea Merenda, Samantha A. Orr, Yang Liu, Blanca Hernandez Garcia, Amin Osatiashtiani, Gabriel Morales, Marta Paniagua, Juan A. Melero, Adam F. Lee, Karen Wilson
Summary: In this study, a dual-catalyst bed configuration was developed to achieve efficient conversion of levulinic acid into gamma-Valerolactone (GVL). By utilizing sulfated zirconia (SZ) and ZrO2/SBA-15 as the Bronsted and Lewis acid catalysts, respectively, high conversion and selectivity were achieved in the esterification and hydrogenation reactions. The dual-bed system showed significantly higher productivity compared to the individual catalysts or their physical mixture.
Article
Physics, Applied
Begona Abad, Kirstin Alberi, Katherine E. Ayers, Sushmee Badhulika, Chunmei Ban, Helene Bea, Fanny Beron, Julie Cairney, Jane P. Chang, Christine Charles, Mariadriana Creatore, Hui Dong, Jia Du, Renate Egan, Karin Everschor-Sitte, Cathy Foley, Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, Myung-Hwa Jung, Hyunjung Kim, Sarah Kurtz, Jieun Lee, Diana C. Leitao, Kristina Lemmer, Amy C. Marschilok, Bogdana Mitu, Bonna K. Newman, Roisin Owens, Anna-Maria Pappa, Youngah Park, Michelle Peckham, Liane M. Rossi, Sang-Hee Shim, Saima Afroz Siddiqui, Ji-Won Son, Sabina Spiga, Sedina Tsikata, Elisa Vianello, Karen Wilson, Hiromi Yuasa, Ilaria Zardo, Iryna Zenyuk, Yanfeng Zhang, Yudi Zhao
Summary: Women have made significant contributions to applied physics research and their involvement is crucial for ongoing progress. The Roadmap on Women in Applied Physics, written by female scientists and engineers, aims to celebrate their achievements, showcase established and early career researchers expanding boundaries in their fields, and increase visibility of women's impact on applied physics research. The topics covered include plasma materials processing and propulsion, super-resolution microscopy, bioelectronics, spintronics, superconducting quantum interference device technology, quantum materials, 2D materials, catalysis and surface science, fuel cells, batteries, photovoltaics, neuromorphic computing and devices, nanophotonics and nanophononics, and nanomagnetism. The intention is to inspire more women to enter these fields and foster inclusivity within the scientific community.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
P. Rajapaksha, R. Orrell-Trigg, D. Shah, S. Cheeseman, K. B. Vu, S. T. Ngo, B. J. Murdoch, N. R. Choudhury, H. Yin, D. Cozzolino, Y. B. Truong, A. F. Lee, V. K. Truong, J. Chapman
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health challenge, which requires innovative nanomaterials and antimicrobial strategies. In this study, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial nanomaterial combining light-responsive ZnO nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide was developed for water depollution. The nanocomposite demonstrated strong antimicrobial efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium bacteria, and also showed potential for photocatalytic degradation of dye.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sasha Yang, Binbin Qian, Yuan Wang, Kenji Taira, Qiaoqiao Zhou, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee, Lian Zhang
Summary: In this study, the reductive thermal processing of iron oxide catalyst derived from fly ash waste was investigated. The resulting catalyst showed enhanced activity for the ketonization reaction of acetic acid due to the introduction of surface oxygen vacancies and acid-base sites.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Gabriel Morales, Marta Paniagua, Daniel de la Flor, Maria Sanz, Pedro Leo, Clara Lopez-Aguado, Hector Hernando, Samantha A. Orr, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee, Juan A. Melero
Summary: Mesoporous silica-supported Zr-MOF-808 catalysts were synthesized and tested for the aldol condensation of furfural and methyl isobutyl ketone to bio-jet fuel precursors. The addition of Zr-MOF-808 nano-crystals to silica scaffolds resulted in well-dispersed Zr species with strong Lewis acidity. The Zr-MOF-808/silica hybrid materials exhibited higher condensation activity compared to unsupported Zr-MOF-808, and the textural properties of the silica support played a significant role in the catalytic performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joao Otavio Mendes, Andrea Merenda, Karen Wilson, Adam Fraser Lee, Enrico Della Gaspera, Joel van Embden
Summary: The growth of (001) oriented antimony chalcogenide thin films can be controlled by tuning the substrate nanostructure, which is crucial for enhancing the performance of these films.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Hamidreza Arandiyan, Putla Sudarsanam, Suresh K. Bhargava, Adam F. Lee, Karen Wilson
Summary: Biomass is a renewable energy source that is being increasingly utilized due to concerns about climate change caused by fossil fuel consumption. Waste biomass-derived fuels and chemicals offer a solution to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and achieve "Net Zero 2050 CO2 emissions" with environmental, health, and economic benefits. This review focuses on the use of perovskite oxide catalysts for biomass valorization, discussing their structure-reactivity relationships in various reactions. The study highlights the prospects and challenges for the broader application of perovskite oxide catalysts in biomass valorization.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sabina Siles-Quesada, Christopher M. A. Parlett, Alexander C. Lamb, Jinesh C. Manayil, Yang Liu, Jim Mensah, Hamidreza Arandiyan, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee
Summary: Researchers successfully synthesized an ordered macroporous KIT-6 material with 370nm macropores, a face-centered cubic Ia3d structure, and 5nm mesopore channels. After functionalization, this material allows rapid diffusion and esterification of fatty acids. Compared with traditional mesoporous PrSO3H/KIT-6, the esterification rate of fatty acids increased by 5 times, and it also showed a 33% enhancement compared with ordered macroporous PrSO3H/SBA-15.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Prince J. J. Sagayaraj, Ashil Augustin, Mariyappan Shanmugam, Brahmari Honnappa, Thillai Sivakumar Natarajan, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee, Karthikeyan Sekar
Summary: This review discusses the sustainable production of solar fuels through reduction of molecular CO2 using photocatalysts, emphasizing the importance of this approach for controlling global warming. The unique properties of graphene quantum dots (GQD), such as enhanced solar light absorption and high photocatalytic efficiency, are highlighted. Additionally, the challenges and future outlook of GQD-based photocatalytic systems for solar fuels production are presented.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiajia Zhao, Yuan Wang, Hamidreza Arandiyan, Anita M. D'Angelo, Aaron Seeber, Daksh Shah, Rachel A. Caruso, Ivan S. Cole, Yunxia Yang, Karen Wilson, Renata Lippi, Adam F. Lee
Summary: We demonstrate how subtle changes in a mixed phase zirconia support induce large changes in catalyst activity and selectivity. Ru/Sn0.2Zr0.8O2 catalyst exhibited similar structrue and metal ion distribution as Ru/ZrO2, but XRD evidence showed new crystalline phases where Sn substituted for Zr. Operando infrared spectroscopy identified linear surface CO* as a catalytic spectator, and Sn0.2Zr0.8O2 promoted CO2 decomposition, favoring a reverse water gas shift pathway.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Physical
Vannia C. dos Santos-Durndell, Lee J. Durndell, Mark A. Isaacs, Adam F. Lee, Karen Wilson
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vannia C. C. dos Santos-Durndell, Lee J. J. Durndell, Mark A. A. Isaacs, Adam F. F. Lee, Karen Wilson
Summary: Despite its significance in aqueous phase reactions and those wherein water is a by-product, the hydrophobicity of catalysts is often neglected. In this study, we synthesized WOx/ZrOx impregnated periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) with varying organic framework content. The incorporation of phenyl groups into the framework of mesoporous SBA-15 silica imparted surface hydrophobicity and tuned the solid acidity, leading to excellent turnover frequencies (TOFs) for the esterification reactions. The hydrophobic, solid acid catalysts showed superior activity and stability compared to the hydrophilic catalysts, making them suitable for aqueous phase synthesis.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuemei Liu, Chaonan Cui, Shuoshuo Wei, Jinyu Han, Xinli Zhu, Qingfeng Ge, Hua Wang
Summary: This study presents a new strategy for designing efficient photocatalysts that can convert CO2 into hydrocarbons by utilizing synergistic catalytic sites. The findings provide a solution for the selective photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CH4.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chengxian Hu, Dan Wang, Lu Wang, Ying Fu, Zhengyin Du
Summary: A novel one-pot, three-component reaction conducted under electrochemical conditions was studied. The reaction involved 2-aminothiophenols, aldehydes, and malononitrile, using TBABF4 as an electrolyte and CuI as a catalyst. The proposed reaction mechanism suggested that CuI served as an electron relay. This method offers simplified operation, high atom economy, and mild reaction conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhi Yang, Yu Chen, Linxi Wan, Yuxiao Li, Dan Chen, Jianlin Tao, Pei Tang, Fen-Er Chen
Summary: A highly enantioselective method for the complete hydrogenation of pyrimidinium salts using Ir/(S,S)-f-Binaphane complex as the catalyst was developed. This method provides easy access to fully saturated chiral hexahydropyrimidines, which are prevalent in many bioactive molecules. The reactions exhibit high yields and enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions without additives. Successful application of this methodology in a continuous flow fashion further extends its practical utility.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tina Jeoh, Jennifer Danger Nill, Wujun Zhao, Sankar Raju Narayanasamy, Liang Chen, Hoi-Ying N. Holman
Summary: In this study, the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose was investigated using real-time infrared spectromicroscopy. The spatial heterogeneity of cellulose was found to impact the hydrolysis kinetics. Hydration affected cellulose ordering, and Cel7A preferentially removed less extensively hydrogen bonded cellulose.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tiphaine Richard, Walid Abdallah, Xavier Trivelli, Mathieu Sauthier, Clement Dumont
Summary: An effective method of grafting functionalities onto lignin based on glycerol carbonate has been developed using an efficient nickel-catalysed telomerisation reaction. This method allows lignin to have new reactive functions and reduces the glass transition temperatures of modified lignins, thereby expanding the application range of lignin-based resins.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing Qi, Xiyan Wang, Gan Wang, Srinivas Reddy Dubbaka, Patrick ONeill, Hwee Ting Ang, Jie Wu
Summary: This study presents a green and environmentally friendly approach for the synthesis of imides using electrocatalytic oxidation with H2O as the oxygen source. The method eliminates the need for toxic or expensive oxidants and achieves high yields under mild reaction conditions. It shows broad substrate compatibility and potential for industrial applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Babasaheb Sopan Gore, Lin-Wei Pan, Jun-Hao Lin, Yi-Chi Luo, Jeh-Jeng Wang
Summary: Here, we report a visible light-promoted intramolecular radical cascade reaction for the construction of fluorenol and naphthalene-fused cyclopropyl carbaldehyde derivatives. This method offers mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, excellent step efficiency, and scalability, without the need for external chemical oxidants. The novelty of this protocol was demonstrated by synthesizing chrysene analogs and performing late-stage functionalizations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juho Antti Sirvio, Idamaria Romakkaniemi, Juha Ahola, Svitlana Filonenko, Juha P. Heiskanen, Ari Ammala
Summary: This article discusses the method of using supramolecular interaction between an aromatic hydrogen bond donor and lignin to achieve rapid delignification of softwood at low temperatures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunyan Meng, Chunxiang Pan, Na Liu, Hongjiang Li, Zixiu Liu, Yao Deng, Zixiang Wei, Jianbin Xu, Baomin Fan
Summary: A novel visible light-driven synthesis method for 2,3-diamines has been developed, which has mild conditions, avoids the use of metal reagents, and can synthesize diamines and diols in one pot.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingqing Huang, Haiyang Huang, Mengyao You, Xinxin Zhang, Longgen Sun, Chao Chen, Zhichao Mei, Ruchun Yang, Qiang Xiao
Summary: A direct air-oxidized strategy for the synthesis of benzo[b]phosphole oxides was developed in this study. Arylphosphine oxides were transformed into phosphinoyl radicals, which were further combined with various alkynes to achieve the desired products. DFT calculations revealed the mechanism of phosphinoyl radical formation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anwei Wang, Jiayin Huang, Chunsheng Zhao, Yu Fan, Junfeng Qian, Qun Chen, Mingyang He, Weiyou Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates an innovative strategy for the aerobic oxidation of C(sp(3))-H bonds using gamma-valerolactone. By optimizing the reaction conditions and utilizing specific catalysts, efficient oxidation of C(sp(3))-H bonds is achieved with good chemoselectivity in certain cases.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shun Li, Likai Tong, Zhijian Peng, Bo Zhang, Xiuli Fu
Summary: Sulfide compounds show promise as electrocatalysts for water splitting, but their performance is limited by factors such as limited active sites and hindered substance transport. This study successfully prepared a high-entropy sulfide (ZnCoMnFeAlMg)(9)S-8, which reduced grain size and increased specific surface area, enabling the realization of a dual-functional catalyst with multiple catalytic sites. High entropy also modulated the electronic properties of sulfides, reducing the potential energy barrier for hydrolysis. This research introduces a new approach for functionalizing high entropy nanomaterials and improves the performance of water splitting catalysts.
