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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: 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.

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation

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Published on: July 18, 2017

Copper-based single-atom alloys for heterogeneous catalysis.

Fengjuan Qin¹, Wenxing Chen¹

¹Energy & Catalysis Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China. wxchen@bit.edu.cn.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)

|February 22, 2021

Summary

Copper-based single-atom alloys offer a cost-effective alternative to noble metals for industrial catalysis. These advanced materials demonstrate high activity and selectivity in key energy conversion reactions.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Catalysis
Nanotechnology

Background:

Traditional noble metal catalysts face limitations in meeting industrial demands for energy catalysis.
Single-atom alloy (SAA) catalysts offer a promising, cost-effective alternative with high atom utilization and selectivity.
Copper-based SAAs are gaining prominence in various critical industrial chemical transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the applications and research progress of copper-based single-atom alloys in heterogeneous catalysis.
To analyze the factors influencing the catalytic performance of these advanced materials.
To highlight the potential of SAAs in addressing the limitations of traditional catalysts.

Main Methods:

Literature review of SAA applications in hydrogenation/dehydrogenation, CO2RR, HER, OER, and NORR.
Analysis of synthesis methods and composition content effects on catalytic performance.
Integration of characterization and testing methods to evaluate SAA efficacy.

Main Results:

Copper-based SAAs exhibit significant potential across diverse catalytic reactions, including selective hydrogenation, CO2RR, HER, OER, and NORR.
SAA structure, synthesis methods, and composition content are critical factors influencing catalytic activity and selectivity.
High atom utilization and selectivity are key advantages of SAAs over traditional catalysts.

Conclusions:

Copper-based single-atom alloys are a vital area of research for developing efficient and sustainable industrial catalysts.
Further investigation into synthesis and composition optimization can unlock the full potential of SAAs.
SAAs represent a significant advancement in heterogeneous catalysis, particularly for energy-related applications.