Catalytic reactivity of surfaces: in recognition of François Gault
This special issue of Catalysis Science & Technology pays tribute to the scientific work of François Gault.
Grand challenges for catalysis in the Science and Technology Roadmap on Catalysis for Europe: moving ahead for a sustainable future
This perspective discusses the general concepts that will guide future catalysis and related grand challenges based on the Science and Technology Roadmap on Catalysis for Europe prepared by the European Cluster on Catalysis.
Challenges and breakthroughs in post-combustion catalysis: how to match future stringent regulations
This short overview briefly summarizes the prominent evolutions and scientific breakthroughs in the development of end-of-pipe technologies with respect to the standard regulations of atmospheric pollutant emissions from automotive exhaust.
Study of the remarkable reactivity of HNCO/urea with NO2 in the NOx SCR by urea process over an oxide-based catalyst
An exceptional reactivity between NO2 and the reductant species was demonstrated during NO2-SCR experiments with urea, when only NO2 was used as NOx.
Influence of Re–M interactions in Re–M/C bimetallic catalysts prepared by a microwave-assisted thermolytic method on aqueous-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid
Re–M/C catalysts were simply synthesized and a kinetic study was performed to provide insight into the effect of Re–M interactions.
Improved dispersion of transition metals in mesoporous materials through a polymer-assisted melt infiltration method
Dispersed metal particles smaller than 2 nm, thermally stable and exhibiting improved catalytic performances are produced by melt infiltration into mesoporous supports.
Ab initio coverage-dependent microkinetic modeling of benzene hydrogenation on Pd(111)
Coverage-dependent calculations are required for an accurate DFT-based prediction of the activity and a correct mechanistic understanding of catalytic hydrogenation.
Zeolite morphology and catalyst performance: conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons over offretite
The synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance of offretite with four distinct crystal morphologies (oval, hexagonal, broccoli-like, and spherical) are presented.
Imaging and chemically probing catalytic processes using field emission techniques: a study of NO hydrogenation on Pd and Pd–Au catalysts
Nitric oxide hydrogenation is investigated on palladium and gold–palladium alloy crystallites, i.e. the extremity of sharp tip samples aimed at modelling a single catalytic grain.
The effect of CeO2–ZrO2 structural differences on the origin and reactivity of carbon formed during methane dry reforming over NiCo/CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts studied by transient techniques
The kinetic rate of inactive and active carbon formation in DRM over CeZrO2-supported NiCo alloy particles depends on the support's oxygen mobility.
A family of solar light responsive photocatalysts obtained using Zn2+ Me3+ (Me = Al/Ga) LDHs doped with Ga2O3 and In2O3 and their derived mixed oxides: a case study of phenol/4-nitrophenol decomposition
Decomposition of dangerous organic contaminants under irradiation with sunlight by Zn2+ Me3+ (Me = Al/Ga) LDHs doped with Ga2O3 and In2O3 and their derived mixtures of mixed oxides.
Reactivity of methanol over copper supported on well-shaped CeO2: a TPD-DRIFTS study
Methoxy and formate species resulting from methanol adsorption on Cu supported on well-shaped CeO2 are morphology-dependent.
Paper
Na-promoted Ni/ZrO2 dry reforming catalyst with high efficiency: details of Na2O–ZrO2–Ni interaction controlling activity and coke formation
Balanced, strong interaction of Ni–Na2O–ZrO2 catalyst components under CO2 reforming of methane is a criterion of good catalytic activity and stability.
Highly dispersed copper (oxide) nanoparticles prepared on SBA-15 partially occluded with the P123 surfactant: toward the design of active hydrogenation catalysts
Mesoporous SBA-15 silica containing intra-wall embedded polymeric P123 surfactant and presenting a high density of surface silanol groups effectively stabilizes copper phases.
Participation of interfacial hydroxyl groups in the water-gas shift reaction over Au/MgO catalysts
OH at 3750 cm−1 reacts with CO only in the presence of Au, indicating the importance of the Au/MgO interface.
Paper
The controlled catalytic oxidation of furfural to furoic acid using AuPd/Mg(OH)2
The selective oxidation of furfural to furoic acid is achieved at mild reaction conditions over an AuPd/Mg(OH)2 heterogeneous catalyst.
Paper
Carboxylic acid formation by hydroxyl insertion into acyl moieties on late transition metals
With a DFT approach, we systematically examined the barriers for OH insertion into acyl moieties on late transition metals, a reaction pertinent to the catalytic decarboxylation of biomass.
Kinetics of hydrogen adsorption during catalytic reactions on transition metal surfaces
A study of the kinetics of the hydrogenation of ethylene promoted by hydrogen was performed by using a high-flux molecular beam in order to probe the intermediate pressure regime between the ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) used in surface-science experiments and the atmospheric conditions used in catalysis, the so-called “pressure gap”.
Mechanistic study of the role of Au, Pd and Au–Pd in the surface reactions of ethanol over TiO2 in the dark and under photo-excitation
In situ infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and catalytic reactions are employed to explore the photo-oxidation and photo-reforming of ethanol over TiO2 and M/TiO2 (M = Au, Pd and Au–Pd) catalysts.
Hydrogenolysis of alkanes: reactions of n-butane on Ru/zeolite catalysts
Ru/13X zeolite catalysts containing 0.6, 2 and 5.7% Ru prepared by reduction or decomposition of the hexammine complex are active and stable for n-butane hydrogenolysis between 400 and 460 K; oxidation leads to greatly increased activity.
Development of basicity in mesoporous silicas and metallosilicates
We report herein an experimental study on the development of basicity on mesoporous silicas and metallosilicates (Nb- and Ce-) on SBA-15 and MCF porous structures.
Heterocyclic bismuth(III) compounds with transannular N→Bi interactions as catalysts for the oxidation of thiophenol to diphenyldisulfide
Aerial oxidation of thiophenol to diphenyl disulfide proceeds with high reaction rates, total conversion and selectivity in ionic liquids by using diorganobismuth(III) catalysts.
Paper
Aldose to ketose interconversion: galactose and arabinose isomerization over heterogeneous catalysts
Isomerization of glucose, galactose and arabinose to corresponding keto-sugars was studied in the present work over a range of heterogeneous catalysts.
Highly active Au/δ-MoC and Au/β-Mo2C catalysts for the low-temperature water gas shift reaction: effects of the carbide metal/carbon ratio on the catalyst performance
Water gas shift reaction catalyzed by Mo carbides surfaces and on Au supported thereon is studied by experiments and computational methods.
Influences of M–Sn intermetallics (M = Ni, Cu) prepared by mechanical alloying on phenol hydroxylation
This work discusses the effect of the crystal structure of Ni–Sn and Cu–Sn intermetallic catalysts on phenol hydroxylation.
About this collection
Guest Editors, Ioana Fechete, Hicham Idriss, Geoffrey Bond, Graham Hutchings and François Garin are delighted to introduce this themed issue on catalytic reactivity of surfaces in recognition of the scientific contributions of François G. Gault, a French scientist, whose 85th birthday we celebrate this year. The issue includes original research papers and review articles regarding relevant aspects of catalysis across many areas, including the elucidation of the mechanistic details of catalytic reactions and understanding nano effects in catalysis.