Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

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
Surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic regulation for constructing nanobubble-enriched catalyst interfaces to achieve
Dongjie Zhang1, Haitao Li2, Yin Zhang2
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Fine Chemicals, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
Abstract:
Due to the mass transfer limitations of gas molecules, achieving efficient hydrogenation of alkynols in the aqueous phase under mild conditions, especially at ambient pressure, remains a significant challenge. Compared with high-investment engineering solutions, a catalyst-design-based strategy for overcoming H2 mass transfer limitations is more attractive. In this work, catalysts were locally modified with L-tryptophan to construct Ni/SiO2-50TRY catalysts featuring nanoscale coexistence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The nanoscale-distributed hydrophobic regions effectively adsorbed, anchored, and enriched nanobubbles (NBs) on the catalyst surface. This mechanism fundamentally overcomes the diffusion limitation of H2 and significantly enhances the hydrogenation rate of alkynols. The hydrogenation efficiency of 1,4-butynediol over the locally hydrophobic Ni/SiO2-50TRY catalyst is 6.7 times higher than that of unmodified Ni/SiO2 and 3.9 times higher than that of commercial Raney Ni. The NBs enriched on the catalyst surface were further successfully observed by liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. The relationship between surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and the diffusion-distribution behavior of reactive species was further analyzed through molecular dynamics simulations, revealing that NBs formation and species redistribution on the catalyst surface are fundamentally driven by polarity-induced surface entropy increases. Such wettability-governed distribution behavior has profound implications for the rational design and development of heterogeneous catalysts.
More Related Videos
12:08Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
06:32A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions
Published on: August 17, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: 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 surface of...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
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
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.
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Catalysis
Catalysis