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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

A series of heterogeneous catalysts, based on Pt and Au, have been developed for MOlecular Solar Thermal (MOST) system energy release. Low oxidation states as well as a reduced support, such as carbon, are key to a rapid back-conversion reaction.

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) employs organic hydrogen donors such as alcohols and formic acid as hydrogen source, enabling a more sustainable process at milder conditions compared to conventional hydrogenation use molecular hydrogen gas.

By using a Pt/SiO₂ catalyst, the hydrogenation of N-benzyl nicotinamide, a structural mimic of the coenzyme NAD⁺ required for enzymatic reactions, to 1,4-dihydro-N-benzyl nicotinamide was accomplished.

As the combination of Co with other non-noble metals is a viable way to improve the catalytic properties of Co in methane dry reforming (DRM), we studied Co₃O₄/β-Ga₂O₃ to understand the influence of Ga and the Co–Ga₂O₃ interface in DRM.

This study presents an effective synergistic mechanism between plasma and light in gold-modified TiO₂ materials for the direct conversion of methane into value-added C₂₊ hydrocarbons.

New boron-doped carbon nanomaterial as a promising catalyst for H₂ evolution and hydrogenation reaction.

Electrostatic potential profile of the electric double layer.

This study introduces a safe and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing iron phosphide nanoparticles, which exhibit approximately twice the catalytic activity of those synthesized from conventional toxic precursors in nitrile hydrogenation.

We report a highly active and regioselective NphB prenyltransferase variant (V49W/S214H/A232S/Y288P) to synthesize cannabigerolic acid using geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid efficiently.

This article describes a practical and sustainable carbon nanotube–CuFe₂O₄-catalyzed borylation reaction of alkenes and alkynes that operates with low catalytic loading (0.05 mol%), under air, and allows recycling of the heterogeneous catalyst.

Oxygen vacancies are highly stable in the subsurface, near Zr⁴⁺ species on CZO(111). While Ni single atoms strongly bind to the CZO(111) surface, they destabilize oxygen vacancy formation in their vicinity.

Changes in solvent composition are used to control the adsorption of formate on metal catalysts and thus the rate of formate-driven transfer hydrogenation.

In this study, we investigate the chemical nature, structural changes and site blocking effects of P modification on a Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst used for the hydrogenation of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs).