Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials
Published on: May 15, 2015
H2 dissociation over NbO: the first step toward hydrogenation of Mg
Keisuke Takahashi1, Shigehito Isobe, Somei Ohnuki
1Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University , N-13, W-8, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
Abstract:
Niobium-based oxide nanoparticles have proven to be catalytically effective toward hydrogenation of Mg where H2 dissociation over the niobium-oxides is considered to be a crucial reaction step. However, the role of niobium oxides toward H2 dissociation still remains unclear as to what atomic configurations are responsible for the catalytic activity. H2 dissociation over different surface planes of Nb, NbO, and Nb2O5 as well as small NbO clusters is performed by using a density functional theory. The calculations reveal that H2 dissociation, adsorption energy, and the bond type between H and surfaces (clusters) depend on the atomic configurations of Nb and O. In particular, H2 adsorption on NbO(111) is enhanced by O atoms without forming O-H bond where the bond type of H and surface is found to be an electron pairing. Thus, NbO(111) could not only be a effective catalyst but also potentially prevent the formation of MgO during the hydrogenation of Mg. The results should be helpful in developing and tailoring the efficient catalyst toward H2 dissociation and hydrogenation of Mg.
More Related Videos
08:40Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
06:32A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions
Published on: August 17, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...