Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
07:57
Author Spotlight: A Rapid, Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis Of Nickel Hydroxide Nanosheets
Published on: August 18, 2023
2.5K
Nickel@Siloxene catalytic nanosheets for high-performance CO2 methanation
Xiaoliang Yan1,2, Wei Sun3,4, Liming Fan5
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030024, P. R. China. yanxiaoliang@tyut.edu.cn.
Nature Communications
|June 15, 2019
Summary
Nickel@siloxene nanocomposites show excellent catalytic activity for converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into synthetic fuels. The precise location of nickel within the siloxene structure is key to achieving high efficiency in this CO2 conversion process.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising catalysts for CO2 conversion.
- 2D siloxene nanosheets, derived from earth-abundant elements, remain underexplored for catalysis.
- Heterogeneous catalysis is crucial for converting CO2 into valuable synthetic fuels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the catalytic potential of nickel@siloxene nanocomposites for CO2 methanation.
- To explore the influence of nickel's location (interior vs. exterior) on catalytic performance.
- To develop a method for controlling nickel's placement within siloxene nanosheets.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of nickel@siloxene nanocomposites with controlled nickel locations.
- Utilizing siloxene's terminal groups and solvent variation for nucleation and growth control.
- Characterization of nanocomposite structure and catalytic activity for CO2 methanation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated remarkable catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability of nickel@siloxene.
- Identified that nickel's location significantly impacts catalytic performance and reaction pathways.
- Achieved a CO2 methanation rate of 100 mmol gNi-1 h-1 with >90% selectivity when nickel is located between siloxene sheets.
Conclusions:
- Nickel@siloxene nanocomposites are highly effective catalysts for CO2 methanation.
- Precise control over nickel's location within the siloxene structure is critical for optimizing catalytic efficiency.
- This study opens new avenues for designing advanced 2D material catalysts for sustainable energy applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Turnover Number and Catalytic Efficiency
20.4K
The turnover number of an enzyme is the maximum number of substrate molecules it can transform per unit time. Turnover numbers for most enzymes range from 1 to 1000 molecules per second. Catalase has the known highest turnover number, capable of converting up to 2.8×106 molecules of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen per second. Lysozyme has the lowest known turnover number of half a molecule per second.
Chymotrypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down proteins during digestion....
Chymotrypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down proteins during digestion....
20.4K
01:07Catalytically Perfect Enzymes
5.0K
The theory of catalytically perfect enzymes was first proposed by W.J. Albery and J. R. Knowles in 1976. These enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions at high-speed. Their catalytic efficiency values range from 108-109 M-1s-1. These enzymes are also called 'diffusion-controlled' as the only rate-limiting step in the catalysis is that of the substrate diffusion into the active site. Examples include triose phosphate isomerase, fumarase, and superoxide dismutase.
Most enzymes...
Most enzymes...
5.0K
01:28Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
5.7K
Unlike the easy catalytic hydrogenation of an alkene double bond, hydrogenation of a benzene double bond under similar reaction conditions does not take place easily. For example, in the reduction of stilbene, the benzene ring remains unaffected while the alkene bond gets reduced. Hydrogenation of an alkene double bond is exothermic and a favorable process. In contrast, to hydrogenate the first unsaturated bond of benzene, an energy input is needed; that is, the process is endothermic. This is...
5.7K
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
14.0K
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...
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...
14.0K
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
9.0K
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.
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.
9.0K
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
3.8K
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...
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...
3.8K