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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 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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

Discovering Ni/Cu Single-Atom Alloy as a Highly Active and Selective Catalyst for Direct Methane Conversion to

Manish Kothakonda¹, Sarah LaCroix¹, Chengyu Zhou¹

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.

ACS Catalysis

|July 10, 2025

Summary

Single-atom alloy (SAA) catalysts efficiently convert methane to ethylene. This novel approach overcomes catalyst deactivation and enhances C-H bond activation for valuable chemical production.

Keywords:

first-principles simulation methane activation methane to ethylene conversion single-atom alloy thermal catalysis

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

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

Published on: July 18, 2017

Area of Science:

Catalysis
Materials Science
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Direct methane conversion offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum.
Catalyst deactivation via coke formation and poor C-H bond activation are key challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To design efficient single-atom alloy (SAA) catalysts for direct methane conversion.
To overcome bottlenecks in methane activation and C-C coupling.

Main Methods:

Utilized electronic structure theory for SAA stability screening.
Evaluated catalytic reactivity for methane to C2 products.
Combined selectivity analysis with kinetic modeling.

Main Results:

Identified nickel on copper (Ni/Cu) as a highly active and selective SAA catalyst.
Demonstrated Ni/Cu SAA's efficiency in transforming methane to ethylene.
Provided insights into SAA composition tuning for catalytic performance.

Conclusions:

SAA catalysts offer a promising strategy for direct methane conversion.
Ni/Cu SAA is a highly effective catalyst for producing ethylene from methane.
This research guides the rational design of advanced catalysts for methane valorization.