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At least 73 records · Page 4

Catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide by a zinc hydride compound, [Tptm]ZnH, and conversion to the methanol level

The zinc hydride compound, [Tptm]ZnH, may achieve the reduction of CO 2 by (RO) 3 SiH (R = Me, Et) to the methanol oxidation level, (MeO) x Si(OR) 4–x , via the formate species, HCO 2 Si(OR) 3 . Furthermore, because insertion of CO 2 into the Zn–H bond is more facile than insertion of HCO 2 Si(OR) 3 , conversion of HCO 2 Si(OR) 3 to the methanol level only occurs to a significant extent in the absence of CO 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol over defect-laden hexagonal boron nitride: insights into reaction mechanisms

Abstract We present a density functional theory-based mechanistic understanding of CO 2 hydrogenation to value-added products on a nitrogen-vacancy (V N ) defect in hexagonal boron nitride ( dh -BN). Activation occurs through back-donation to the π * orbitals of CO 2 from the frontier orbitals (defect state) of the h- BN sheet that are localized near a nitrogen-vacancy. Subsequent hydrogenation to methanol (CH 3 OH) and formic acid (HCOOH) proceed through vacancy-facilitated co-adsorption of hydrogen and CO 2 . More importantly, our reaction pathway analyses complimented by microkinetic modeling indicate that dh -BN is potentially a low-temperature, selective catalyst for CO 2 reduction to methanol. Our findings are in agreement with experiments conducted in a mechanical reactor that show high selectivity towards methanol formation for CO 2 hydrogenation on defect induced h- BN.

Jiang, Tao (ORCID:0000000304197288)↗

Passive selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and method for low-temperature combustion (LTC) engine

A combustion mode module is configured to switch operation of a low-temperature combustion (LTC) engine between a spark ignition (SI) mode, a positive valve overlap (PVO) mode, and a negative valve overlap (NVO) mode. A spark control module is configured to control a spark plug to generate a spark in a cylinder of the LTC engine when the LTC engine is operating in the SI mode. A valve control module is configured to control intake and exhaust valves of the cylinder to yield a PVO and a NVO when the LTC engine is operating in the PVO mode and the NVO mode, respectively. An air/fuel (A/F) control module is configured to adjust a desired A/F ratio of the LTC engine to a rich A/F ratio when operation of the LTC engine is switched to the PVO mode from either one of the SI mode and the NVO mode.

Yun, Hanho↗

Biomimetic Metal-Free Hydride Donor Catalysts for CO 2 Reduction

The catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to fuels and value-added chemicals is of significance for the development of carbon recycling technologies. One of the main challenges associated with catalytic CO 2 reduction is product selectivity: the formation of carbon monoxide, molecular hydrogen, formate, methanol, and other products occurs with similar thermodynamic driving forces, making it difficult to selectively reduce CO 2 to the target product. Significant scientific effort has been aimed at the development of catalysts that can suppress the undesired hydrogen evolution reaction and direct the reaction toward the selective formation of the desired products, which are easy to handle and store. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, where the CO 2 reduction is achieved using NADPH cofactors in the Calvin cycle, in this study we explore biomimetic metal-free hydride donors as catalysts for the selective reduction of CO 2 to formate. Here, we outline our recent findings on the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters that control the hydride transfer from metal-free hydrides to CO 2 . By experimentally measuring and theoretically calculating the thermodynamic hydricities of a range of metal-free hydride donors, we derive structural and electronic factors that affect their hydride-donating abilities. Two dominant factors that contribute to the stronger hydride donors are identified to be (i) the stabilization of the positive charge formed upon HT via aromatization or by the presence of electron-donating groups and (ii) the destabilization of hydride donors through the anomeric effect or in the presence of significant structural constrains in the hydride molecule. Hydride donors with appropriate thermodynamic hydricities were reacted with CO 2 , and the formation of the formate ion (the first reduction step in CO 2 reduction to methanol) was confirmed experimentally, providing an important proof of principle that organocatalytic CO 2 reduction is feasible. The kinetics of hydride transfer to CO 2 were found to be slow, and the sluggish kinetics were assigned in part to the large self-exchange reorganization energy associated with the organic hydrides in the DMSO solvent. Finally, we outline our approaches to the closure of the catalytic cycle via the electrochemical and photochemical regeneration of the hydride (R–H) from the conjugate hydride acceptors (R + ). We illustrate how proton-coupled electron transfer can be efficiently utilized not only to lower the electrochemical potential at which the hydride regeneration takes place but also to suppress the unwanted dimerization that neutral radical intermediates tend to undergo. Overall, this account provides a summary of important milestones achieved in organocatalytic CO 2 reduction and provides insights into the future research directions needed for the discovery of inexpensive catalysts for carbon recycling.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Azo(xy) vs Aniline Selectivity in Catalytic Nitroarene Reduction by Intermetallics: Experiments and Simulations

Intermetallic nanoparticles are promising catalysts in hydrogenation and fuel cell technologies. Much is known about the ability of intermetallic nanoparticles to selectively reduce nitro vs alkene, alcohol, or halide functional groups; less is known about their selectivity toward aniline vs azo or azoxy condensation products that result from the reduction of a nitro group alone. Because azo(xy)arenes bear promise as dyes, chemical stabilizers, and building blocks to functional materials but can be difficult to isolate, developing high surface area nanoparticle catalysts that display azo(xy) selectivity is desirable. To address this question, we studied a family of nanocrystalline group 10 metal (Pd, Pt)- and group 14 metal (Ge, Sn, Pb)-containing intermetallics-Pd 2 Ge, Pd 2 Sn, Pd 3 Sn 2 , Pd 3 Pb, and PtSn-in the catalytic reduction of nitroarenes. In contrast to monometallic Au, Pt, and Pd nanoparticles and "random" PdxSn1 – x nanoalloys, which are selective for aniline, nanoparticles of atomically precise intermetallic Pd 2 Ge, Pd 2 Sn, Pd 3 Sn 2 , and PtSn prefer an indirect condensation pathway and have a high selectivity for the azo(xy) products. The only exception is Pd 3 Pb, the most active among the intermetallic nanoparticles studied here, which is instead selective for aniline. Employing a novel application of molecular dynamics-based on machine learned potentials within a DeePMD framework-to heterogeneous catalysis, we are able to identify key reaction species on the different types of catalysts employed, furthering our understanding of the unique selectivity of these materials. By demonstrating how intermetallic nanoparticles can be as active yet more selective than other more traditional catalysts, this work provides new physical insights and opens new opportunities in the use of these materials in other important chemical transformations and applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

From lignin to market: a technical and economic perspective of reductive depolymerization approaches

Lignin has grown into one of the main candidates to replace fossil-based resources as it is the largest renewable source of aromatic building blocks. The complex structure of polymeric lignin, however, requires depolymerization to simpler building blocks for the chemical industry. One of the most promising depolymerization approaches is reductive depolymerization of which two process configurations are currently studied in pilot scale installations for upscaling to industrial scale: (i) reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF), and (ii) reductive catalytic depolymerization (RCD). Both technical and techno-economic aspects will be covered within this review, discussing the advantages and challenges of both approaches regarding processing, production costs, product output, and applications. In this regard, RCF benefits from its decreased energy and solvent consumption linked with being a one-step process and delivers a product with a high monomer content (∼25–45 wt%). RCD, on the other hand, has the advantage of continuous processing and reduced catalyst fouling and delivers a product that mainly consists of oligomers (<10 wt% monomers). The complete overview of both processes presented here addresses their potential, and can guide future researchers, policy makers and companies to make thoughtful decisions on lignin valorization.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗