Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Evaluations of ZnCoS/ZnCdS with Twin Crystal Structure for Multifunctional Redox Photocatalysis in Energy Applications
Published on: July 25, 2025
Decoupling Substrate Adsorption and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation on Dual-Site Catalyst for Efficient
Xuanyi Wang1, Yujia Yuan1, Rongyang Yin1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai200062, China.
None:
Electrocatalytic benzylic C(sp3)-H bond activation is one of the most effective and attractive means of hydrocarbon valorization; unfortunately, breaking the inherent low reactivity and similarity barriers of the C(sp3)-H bond remains a great challenge. In this paper, a dual-site MnO2/Co3O4/NC catalyst has been obtained for the electrocatalytic oxidation of lignin-sourced p-methoxy toluene (p-MT), which, excitingly, presents as high as 91.7% p-methoxy benzaldehyde (p-MBA) selectivity and 89.0% Faradaic efficiency (FE), along with a p-MT conversion of 93.4% under a mild catalytic environment, which ranks among the best of the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts ever reported. Additionally, different from previous reports, for the dual-site catalyst, it decouples the processes of substrate adsorption and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, with the former localized on the Co site and the latter on the Mn site, which avoids competitive adsorption and accelerated dissolution of active sites. More importantly, a *OOH catalytic pathway has been proposed and validated on the dual-site catalyst to play a dominant role in inhibiting the generation of various byproducts. Additionally, the dual-site catalyst exhibits broader applicability to the activation of different C(sp3)-H compounds than the single-site catalyst. This work provides a rational design for benzylic C(sp3)-H bond activation catalysts and offers in-depth insights into the electrocatalytic reaction pathway.
Related Concept Videos
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Catalysis
Catalysis
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...
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
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...
