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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 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 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.

Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview

Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview

Interfacial electrochemical methods focus on the phenomena occurring at the boundary between an electrode and a solution, as opposed to bulk methods that concentrate on the solution's overall properties. These interfacial methods are classified as either static or dynamic based on the presence of a nonzero current in the electrochemical cell and the consistency of analyte concentrations. Static methods, such as potentiometry, measure the cell's potential without any significant current...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

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

Synthesis 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

Adaptive Catalytic Nanointerfaces for Controlled Hydrogen Evolution: an in Situ Electrochemical Approach.

Carlos Herreros-Lucas¹, Melanie Guillén-Soler¹, Lucía Vizcaíno-Anaya¹

¹Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago deCompostela, 15782, Spain.

Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)

|May 23, 2025

Summary

Precious metal nanoparticles used in electrocatalysis can be reactivated. Introducing sulfur as a mediator allows for controlled switching between active and resting states, extending nanoparticle lifespan.

Keywords:

confined electrocatalyst electrochemical switching hydrogen production reconfigurable step‐edge

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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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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

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Electrochemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Precious metal nanoparticles are crucial for electrocatalysis but often have limited reusability.
Deactivation of nanoparticles limits their application duration and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a method for reactivating deactivated precious metal nanoparticles for electrocatalytic applications.
To demonstrate a controllable switching mechanism for nanoparticle activity using sulfur.

Main Methods:

Confining palladium nanoparticles (Pd) within corrugated carbon nanofibers.
Developing an electrochemical methodology to induce surface reconfiguration of deactivated palladium sulfide (PdSx) nanoparticles.
Utilizing sulfur as an inorganic mediator to trigger the release of sulfur and form active Pd(0) nanoparticles.

Main Results:

Successfully reactivated deactivated Pd nanoparticles by electrochemical treatment in the presence of sulfur.
Demonstrated a reversible switching between a highly active state (polysulfides enhancing hydrogen adsorption) and a resting state (sulfur passivating the surface).
Achieved controlled on-off switching of electrocatalytic response.

Conclusions:

Introduced a novel protocol for controlling nanoparticle performance in catalytic reactions.
Significantly extended the operational lifespan of precious metal nanoparticles through reversible surface reconfiguration.
Highlighted the potential of sulfur as a mediator for nanoparticle reactivation and performance modulation.