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Related Concept Videos

Heterogeneous Catalysis01:22

Heterogeneous Catalysis

131
Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
131
Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

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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.
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Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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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Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:13

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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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Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation01:28

Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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...
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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts
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Hydrophobic Surface Modification Enables Tandem Ag/Cu Catalysis for CO2 Electroreduction.

Yu-Cheng Liu1, Kang-Shun Peng1, Yu-Jhih Shen1

  • 1Department of Applied Chemistry and Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 20, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Hydrophobic modification of silver-copper (Ag-Cu) tandem catalysts significantly boosts carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction to C2+ products in flow cells. This strategy enhances performance by improving CO2 transport and catalyst interaction.

Keywords:
CO2RRFlow CellHydrophobic ModificationIn-Situ RamanTandem Catalysts

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

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

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Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Silver-copper (Ag-Cu) tandem catalysts show potential for enhanced C2+ formation in CO2 electroreduction.
  • However, Ag/Cu catalysts fabricated via PVD/sputtering lack ionomers and exhibit pure copper-like behavior in flow cells, failing to show tandem enhancement.
  • Surface hydrophobicity is crucial, as exposed Ag surfaces reduce hydrophobicity, hindering CO2 transport and tandem pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of hydrophobic surface modification on Ag-Cu tandem catalysts for CO2 electroreduction.
  • To address the limitations of CO2 transport and tandem pathway suppression in flow cells.
  • To optimize Ag-Cu catalyst performance for C2+ product selectivity and partial current density.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of well-defined layered Ag/Cu catalysts using PVD/sputtering.
  • Hydrophobic surface modification using 1-dodecanethiol (DDT).
  • Performance evaluation in flow cells, including contact-angle measurements, Faradaic efficiency, partial current density, and product selectivity (e.g., ethanol/ethylene ratio).
  • In situ Raman spectroscopy to analyze reaction intermediates.

Main Results:

  • The DDT-modified Ag/Cu catalyst (DDT-Ag/Cu) achieved a 74.09 ± 1.69% Faradaic efficiency for C2+ products.
  • A high partial current density of 370.5 ± 8.45 mA cm-2 was recorded at 500 mA cm-2.
  • DDT-Ag/Cu outperformed benchmark Cu and unmodified Ag/Cu catalysts by approximately 65%.
  • Ethanol selectivity was enhanced, doubling the ethanol-to-ethylene ratio from ~0.5 to ~1.0.
  • In situ Raman spectroscopy indicated distinct intermediates under hydrophobic conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Hydrophobic surface modification using DDT is an effective strategy to enhance Ag-Cu tandem catalyst performance in CO2 electroreduction flow cells.
  • Improved hydrophobicity facilitates CO2 transport to the catalyst surface, promoting tandem pathways.
  • The study clarifies the intrinsic behavior of Ag-Cu tandem catalysis and offers a practical approach for boosting C2+ formation efficiency.