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Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...

Catalysis

Catalysis

The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called 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...

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
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 Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Introduction
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications

Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications

Published on: June 21, 2017

Nanostructured hydrotreating catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen evolution.

Carlos G Morales-Guio¹, Lucas-Alexandre Stern, Xile Hu

¹Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), EPFL-ISIC-LSCI, BCH 3305, Lausanne, CH 1015, Switzerland. xile.hu@epfl.ch.

Chemical Society Reviews

|March 15, 2014

Summary

Scientists are developing advanced non-noble metal catalysts for efficient hydrogen production from water splitting. Nanostructuring common materials shows promise for creating cost-effective electrocatalysts for clean energy applications.

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A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions

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Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications

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Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

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A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions

A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions

Published on: August 17, 2016

Area of Science:

Catalysis and Materials Science
Renewable Energy Technologies

Background:

Societal needs drive catalysis research, particularly for clean fuel production.
Electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production is a long-standing goal, gaining recent traction with solar energy integration.
Earth-abundant materials are increasingly explored for catalyst development.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of recent advancements in non-noble metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
To highlight the potential of nanostructured hydrotreating catalysts as efficient HER electrocatalysts.

Main Methods:

Review of recent developments in non-noble metal catalysts for HER.
Focus on nanostructuring techniques applied to industrial hydrotreating catalysts.
Exploration of synthesis and nanostructuring approaches for energy conversion catalysts.

Main Results:

Emergence of new catalysts based on earth-abundant materials for HER.
Demonstration of nanostructuring industrially relevant hydrotreating catalysts as viable HER electrocatalysts.

Conclusions:

Nanostructuring approaches offer a promising pathway for developing highly efficient electrocatalysts.
These advancements could significantly contribute to future energy conversion technologies and sustainable fuel production.