Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 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
Synergistic RhFe Single-Atom Alloy and Nanoalloy Sites for Highly Efficient and Robust Heterogeneous Hydroformylation
Tao Zhang1, Jianing Li1, Haijing Wang2
1State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, China.
Abstract:
Transforming homogeneous olefin hydroformylation into a robust heterogeneous process is hindered by Rh leaching and CO-induced suppression of H2 activation. Here, we report a dual-site RhFeSAA+NA/hydroxyapatite (HAP) catalyst featuring spatially differentiated RhFe single-atom alloy (SAA) and nanoalloy (NA) sites that overcomes the fundamental conflict between CO tolerance and reactivity. This cooperative architecture delivers >99% conversion and selectivity for styrenic and α-olefins (C6-C10) at 60 °C, and a TOF of 30,225.9 h-1 for propene hydroformylation at 110 °C with excellent antileaching ability. Mechanistic and operando studies reveal that the RhFe nanoalloy sites remain robust under CO-rich conditions to facilitate H2 dissociation, while neighboring single-atom alloy sites mediate the catalytic cycle. Hydrogen spillover from NA sites reconstructs the defect-rich Fe-HAP interface, creating a phosphate hydroxyl microenvironment that stabilizes interfacial CO and provides a local reservoir for carbonyl insertion. These findings demonstrate that dual-site catalysis coupled with interfacial engineering can bypass competitive adsorption in complex multisubstrate transformations.
Related Concept Videos
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 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...
Heterogeneous Catalysis
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.
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation
