Themed collection Catalysis Science & Technology Open Access Spotlight 2025

Digital approaches will accelerate progress in the catalytic transformation of lignocellulosic biomass to chemical and fuels.

This work reviews advances in CO₂-to-DME synthesis under mild conditions, emphasizing gas and liquid-phase routes, catalyst design, and a novel methyl formate pathway, highlighting both its potential and current limitations.

The recent progresses in the ethylene conversion catalyzed by Ni-aluminosilicates, including types of catalysts depending on the support, active sites, oligomerization mechanism and kinetics and catalyst deactivation are examined in this review.

This review systematically outlines the development of photocatalytic lignin conversion, critically reviews the advantages and limitations of photocatalytic systems from the key studies, highlights key challenges and future perspectives.

The extrinsic and intrinsic factors having a crucial impact on efficient and selective electrochemical CO₂ reduction have been reviewed and discussed in this review.

Excited decatungstate (DT) abstracts hydrogen atoms from water with a quantum yield of ∼0.01 which means only 1 out of 100 photons absorbed yields hydroxyl radicals.

MOF-808(Hf) with grafted trialkylphosphines loaded with Pd catalyses Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of functionalised aryl boronic acids with aryl chlorides and demanding cross-couplings of electron-deficient nucleophiles.

A hierarchical heterogeneous palladium on nickel foam-based catalyst system was demonstrated for the selective hydrogenation of quinoline and quinoline derivatives under low H₂ pressures, with green solvents (ethanol, ethanol water mixture).

Proof of concept: for the first time, a bifunctional Ag/Hβ zeolite catalyst is used in the non-oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to dimethoxymethane in the gas phase. It shows high selectivity, a dynamic Ag oxidation state and robust properties.

Heterogeneous nitrous oxide hydrogenation using molecular rhodium precatalysts.

Flaponite is a novel flavin-LAPONITE® hybrid photocatalyst with enhanced activity, easy recovery, and improved recyclability compared to flavin alone.

NO_x abatement from H₂ internal combustion engines (H₂-ICEs) is challenging due to high H₂O content and unburned H₂ in the exhaust.

Phosphate-modified CaNb₂O₆ is a highly active and reusable catalyst for xylose dehydration to furfural.

In the pursuit of a stable hydrogen evolution photosensitiser, we demonstrate the incorporation of a series of hydrogen-bond-rich guanidine-containing iridium(III) complexes into a photocatalytic system, assessed by the automated Chemspeed platform.

A facile and green photocatalytic approach to obtain highly pure α-pinene, allowing total utilization of turpentine as a biomass resource.

A cationic Cu catalyst ligated to a chiral NHC ligand, which has an (ortho-carbamoyl)phenyl group on the nitrogen atom of (S,S)-diphenylimidazolidinylidene, efficiently promoted the asymmetric [1,3]-methoxy rearrangement of N-methoxyanilines.

A recyclable catalytic system for the one-pot hydrolytic hydrogenation of xylan to xylitol has been developed.

A design strategy that optimizes surface functionalization from the metal powder precursor to the final 3D-printed self-catalytic reactors is proposed.

Mn(Br)(P-OP)(CO)₃ complexes based on low donor phosphine–phosphite ligands provide effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbonyl substrates under mild conditions.

The use of heterogeneous photocatalysts to degrade hard-to-remove pharmaceuticals from polluted water offers a promising approach for efficient water treatment and hydrogen generation.

Niobium oxide dispersed on high-surface-area graphite was evaluated for 1-butanol dehydration. The synthesis method governs Nb dispersion, structure and stability: deposition–precipitation yields highly selective (≥90% C4 olefins), stable catalysts.

The need for sustainable hydrogen production has driven the search for efficient, earth-abundant catalysts.

An innovative SiO₂–[PEIH]_x[POM] nanocatalyst efficiently converts fructose to HMF and oxidizes HMF to DFF, achieving a high TON of 1720 via a sustainable pathway.

Although Cu-catalyzed click reactions are widely reported with high efficiency and faster rates, their limited scope in pharmacological use has prompted growing interest and new advances in developing metal-free click chemistry in recent years.

La_cus sites on defective La₂O₃ catalyze propane dehydrogenation but deactivate due to strong propene adsorption. In situ decoration of La_cus sites with H₂ forms new sites, weakens adsorption, and improves catalyst stability and selectivity.

Nanostructured NiO electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction, fabricated for the first time by plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition, offer attractive performances, tunable as a function of morphology and composition.

Single-atom tungsten catalysts (W_SAC/SDA) enable selective oligomerization of isobutene to branched hydrocarbons (diisobutenes), highlighting their catalytic potential in the production of reformulated gasoline and fuel additives.

A combined experimental and theoretical study reveals La₂CuO₄ as a promising catalyst for the electrooxidation of methanol.

Selective oxidation reactions can be a useful tool in the generation of metabolites of bioactive compounds for analytical and toxicology studies.

The advancement of electrified chemical processes prompts interest in novel technologies such as plasma-based methane (CH₄) conversion into high-demand chemicals.

5 wt% Ni catalysts over Ce_1−xTi_xO_2−δ supports with controlled Ti dopant composition were synthesized. Ti doping can promote the reducibility of ceria and influence the formation of Ni species (NiO and NiTiO₃) and their catalytic performance.

A sulfonated carbon catalyst was rapidly synthesized via a one-pot microwave method, achieving >90% biodiesel conversion under mild conditions.

Electronic tuning of the para-R group of the Ni precatalyst allows a means to regulate the branching density and the M_w of the PE. The E_1/2 value of the precatalyst has been used as a quantitative descriptor of this electronic effect.

The pretreatment of carbon support in Pd catalysts has a marked effect on final performance in the solvent free oxidation of benzyl alcohol, due to the introduction of oxygen functionality and subsequent increased dispersion of active metal.

In this study, the role of the base in CO₂ hydrogenation to formate over a Ru^(III)@MCM catalyst is investigated by evaluating the influence of key reaction parameters, including temperature, pressure, pH, solvent, and amine type.

Local confinement of the active site, estimated by CO bite angle from CO-DRIFTS, directs hydroformylation of ethylene over phosphonic acid modified Rh₁/TiO₂ catalysts.

Propane oxidative dehydrogenation with CO₂ is key for on-purpose propene production. V/CHA zeolites emerge as candidates. Insights into catalytic performance using box-and-whisker plots support data representation for catalyst design.

For limonene oxide isomerization to dihydrocarvone, the relationship between catalyst acid strength and activity as well as selectivity is demonstrated.

This study examines fructose dehydration to HMF over hydrothermally synthesized SrNb₂O₆, yielding 74.9% HMF (78.5% selectivity) via optimal acidity. The catalyst showed good recyclability, retaining stability over six runs with minor activity loss.

Bamboo activated carbon in bed-packed column flow system.

Two isomeric PSMAs were synthesized for photocatalytic hydrogen production, and PY-α-CPTCN possesses enhanced intramolecular π-conjugation, leading to superior light absorption and charge transport, thus achieving a higher hydrogen evolution rate.

Heterometallic cooperativity can improve catalyst performance in lactide polymerisation, yet some heterocombinations do not cooperate. This work shows how the metal roles change with different heterocombinations, affecting polymerisation efficiency.

Compared to the Pd_NP/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst, the Pd₁/(ZnMn₂O₄@MnO₂) (Pd₁/ZMO) catalyst exhibits significantly reduced noble metal loading from 1 wt% to 0.25 wt%, while increasing the mass activity by 4 times for the CO esterification to methyl formate.

A stable, defect-rich peroxo-TiO₂ photocatalyst with low bandgap and high S_BET (>380 m² g⁻¹) shows high solar photocatalytic activity and regeneration.

SO₂ sensitivity (the loss of catalyst per mol SO₂ taken up by the catalyst) is proposed as a measure for the deactivation for Cu-CHA catalysts under SCR conditions.

Different activation methods were applied to rice husk biochar from slow pyrolysis for use as sustainable catalyst support. Results show activation method greatly affects performance, with KOH activation yielding especially strong results.

A novel synthesis of 1,4- and 1,5-diketones based on a gold(I)-catalyzed hydration reaction is herein described. Application to chemoenzymatic cascades is also shown under mild conditions.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles possess inherent strain, which facilitates the stabilization of various reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide and its dissociation products, on their surfaces, thereby altering their surface activity.

HERFD-XANES, VtC-XES and electroanalysis reveal how Fe coordination dictates CO₂ reactivity, guiding catalyst design. N-coordinated Fe–OH on N-doped graphene activates CO₂ to form bicarbonates, unlike FeTCPP, where direct Fe–CO₂ coordination occurs.

A DFT and machine learning study of hydrogen adsorption on 2000 random surface configurations of a prototypical medium-entropy oxide reveals important local environment descriptors.

The preferred location of Ru^(III) single-sites in amorphous silica was studied. Ru^(III) prefers octahedral coordination with 3 or 4 OSi ligands in areas with large rings and hydride affinity of these Ru^(III) single-sites varies widely.

Two molecular rectangles of a new primary amide-based ligand, made from a one-pot self-assembly route under ambient conditions, are found to be excellent recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of various coumarin-3-carboxylic acids.

The optimisation of a suitable mixed ligand dirhodium(II,II) catalyst for chemoselective hydroaminomethylation of olefins was carried out using four previously synthesised heteroleptic dirhodium(II,II) acetato-bipyridyl complexes (1–4).

Mechanistic studies were conducted for the visible-light-mediated cyclopropanation reaction of alkenes with diazoacetate, catalyzed by a phenalenyl-based organic hydrocarbon (PLY) and co-catalysed by iodine, using DFT.

An N,N-dialkylation methodology has been established with a nickel azo catalyst, where the redox active azo group performs radical-promoted imine hydrogenation.

A green photocatalytic strategy with Au/TiO₂ for synthesizing deuterated compounds by using heavy water (D₂O) as the deuterium source. Deuterium substitution of the major product predominantly occurs at the second carbon.

We evaluate the cost and environmental impacts of the scalable production of a newly developed catalyst, which includes the synthesis of the strontium titanate support and the deposition of Pt onto it.

A gram-scale synthesis of a Zn(II)-based coordination polymer, Zn(DAB), with a 2D layered structure is reported, exhibiting excellent electrocatalytic performance and energy storage capabilities.

Aluminosilicates enable direct C–C bond formation of furans with naturally sourced allylic alcohols at room temperature. C(sp²)–H alkylation shows structure-dependent efficiency and selectivity.

CuO-modified TiO₂/MnO_x composites enable dual-mode diclofenac degradation under dark and UV-A conditions via distinct redox and activation pathways. Multiple techniques confirm non-radical and radical mechanisms.

To address the serious concern of excessive CO₂ emissions, the conversion of environmental CO₂ into methane via a CO₂ methanation reaction is promising.

Chemical valorisation and kinetic studies of biobased levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone in high yields and promising E factors, using unique stable solid Lewis acid hafnium/silicas prepared in versatile fashions from morphologically distinct silicas.

This research optimises FeNiB electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production, improving OER efficiency and stability by understanding the impact of Fe/Ni ratios on catalyst performance and reaction mechanism.

Platinum nanoparticles were successfully deposited on TiO₂via dry ball milling synthesis. The catalyst showed high activity and stability in dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane with a hydrogen production rate of 670 mmol_H2 g_Pt⁻¹ min⁻¹.

The electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of levulinic acid (LA) has been identified as a sustainable and energy-efficient route for the production of high-value chemicals, including γ-valerolactone (GVL) and valeric acid (VA).

A scalable process for the synthesis Fe–N–C catalysts for the ORR is introduced. After annealing in ammonia, the Fe–N–C catalysts exhibit an onset potential of 0.97 V and a potential of 0.89 V vs. RHE at a current density of −1 mA cm⁻² in 0.1 M KOH.

Cu-functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with needle or plate morphology were synthesized and tested as effective green catalysts for CO oxidation.

An integrated operando bulk and surface-sensitive X-ray absorption spectroscopy was employed to elucidate the intrinsic roles of Co and Fe at the active sites during the oxygen evolution reaction in Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_xFe_1−xO_3−δ catalysts.

Using continuous-flow/online analysis we investigate how the thickness of a supported ionic-liquid phase in the mesopores of a monolithic silica microreactor affects Z-selectivity in the hydrosilylation of 1-alkynes by different rhodium complexes.

DFT studies clarify the roles of alkali metal cations and P-substituents in the H–P addition and formation and possible deactivation reactions of the catalytically active phosphinites in alkyne hydrophosphorylation promoted by M-HMDS precatalysts.