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Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the alkali metals are unusually low for metals and decrease going down the group, while the density increases going down the group with the exception of potassium (Table 1).
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals

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 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...

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.

Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer

Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer

Ions are atoms or molecules bearing an electrical charge. A cation (a positive ion) forms when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons from its valence shell, and an anion (a negative ion) forms when a neutral atom gains one or more electrons in its valence shell. Compounds composed of ions are called ionic compounds (or salts), and their constituent ions are held together by ionic bonds: electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged cations and anions.

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

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Published on: June 21, 2017

Main-Group Nonmetal Single-Selenium-Atom Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Junmei Pu¹, Songrui Wei², Haoran Zou³

¹School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P. R. China.

Inorganic Chemistry

|May 6, 2025

Summary

We developed a scalable method to create selenium single atoms embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (Se SA/NC). This material shows excellent performance and stability for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), outperforming noble metal catalysts.

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Published on: October 5, 2019

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Electrochemistry
Catalysis

Background:

Developing efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for sustainable energy technologies.
Nonmetal single-atom catalysts offer a promising alternative to expensive noble metal catalysts.
Nitrogen-doped carbon materials provide a robust support for single-atom catalysts.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a scalable synthesis strategy for nonmetal selenium single atoms supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (Se SA/NC).
To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance and stability of Se SA/NC for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
To elucidate the mechanism behind the enhanced HER activity.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of Se SA/NC via hydrogen bonding and subsequent calcination.
Electrochemical characterization of Se SA/NC for alkaline HER.
Experimental and theoretical studies (e.g., DFT calculations) to understand the catalytic mechanism.

Main Results:

A scalable method for producing Se SA/NC with 3.2 wt% Se single atoms was established.
The optimized Se SA/NC exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity and excellent stability for alkaline HER.
Se single atoms significantly lowered the reaction barrier, enhancing the HER performance.

Conclusions:

Se SA/NC is a highly efficient and stable electrocatalyst for alkaline HER.
The study demonstrates the potential of nonmetal single-atom catalysts for energy applications.
This work provides a feasible strategy for designing advanced nonmetal single-atom catalysts for HER.