Phys.org December 17, 2024 The synergistic integration of all the components for efficient light harvesting, cascade electron transfer, and efficient biocatalytic reactions presents a formidable challenge. Researchers in the UK described the bottom-up construction of a visible-light-driven chemical–biological hybrid nanoreactor with augmented photocatalytic efficiency by anchoring an α-carboxysome shell encasing on the surface of a hydrogen-bonded organic molecular crystal, a microporous α-polymorph of tetra(4′-carboxyphenyl)pyrene (TBAP-α). Within this hybrid photobiocatalyst, TBAP-α functioned as an antenna for visible-light absorption and exciton generation, supplying electrons for hydrogen production by H–S in aqueous solutions. This coordination allowed the hybrid nanoreactor to execute hydrogen evolution […]
Tag Archives: Catalysts
Researchers use new cobalt-modified nano material to make fuel cells more robust, sustainable
Phys.org October 11, 2023 Using the Pt metal as the shell material of the catalyst in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells not only increases the surface area but also creates an interfacial interaction between the core metal and platinum, which results in enhanced catalytic activity. Researchers in Canada surface doped Pd@Pt nanoparticles with cobalt to further boost their durability and activity. Characterizing the synthesized catalyst with X-ray absorption fine structure at the Pt L3-edge and cobalt K-edges, together with performance tests, revealed information about the effect of the dopants on the catalytic activity of catalysts. The results of the local […]
Novel titanium dioxide catalyst shows promise for electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction
Phys.org September 5, 2023 CO2 can be selectively reduced by gold, lead, etc. supported on conductive carbon. However, the high pH in the vicinity of the electrode raises concerns about the catalyst and catalyst support degradation. Researchers in Japan used chemically stable titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder as an alternative to carbon. TiO2 maintained its particle shape and crystalline structure after in-liquid plasma treatment was used to improve its electrochemical properties. When its electrochemical properties were evaluated, they observed the disappearance of Ti4+ and Ti3+ redox peaks derived from TiO2 and a decrease in hydrogen overvoltage. The hydrogen overvoltage relationship suggested […]
Nanoparticles make it easier to turn light into solvated electrons
Nanowerk January 17, 2023 Solvated electrons are powerful reducing agents capable of driving some of the most energetically expensive reduction reactions. It has been proposed that solvated electrons, which are powerful reducing agents, could be produced by photoexcitation of roughened metal electrodes, but no study has demonstrated a clear mechanism for their generation. A team of researchers in the US (Rice University, Stanford University, UT Austin) has shown that plasmons create solvated electrons in water. They showed that the yield of solvated electrons in water was increased more than 10 times for nanoparticle-decorated electrodes compared to smooth silver electrodes. Based […]
A new catalyst to slow down global warming
Phys.org September 2, 2022 An international team of researchers (Russia, USA – University of Notre Dame) has developed a new simplified method of producing industrial cobalt-nickel catalysts for carbon dioxide processing that makes the process simple and inexpensive. The catalysts are a bulk alloy with a porous surface and nanoscale grains that form foamy high-activity particles. Due to the structure and the synergistic interaction of Co with Ni, the catalysts are characterized by a more intense interaction with CO2 molecules and high stability. They focused on exploring the possibilities of full utilization of carbon dioxide, simplifying the production of effective […]
Low-temp photocatalyst could slash the carbon footprint for syngas
Science Daily January 10, 2020 Traditional thermocatalytic processes to produce syngas require high temperatures and suffer from coke-induced instability. A team of researchers in the US (Rice University, Princeton University, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara) has developed a plasmonic photocatalyst consisting of a Cu nanoparticle ‘antenna’ with single-Ru atomic ‘reactor’ sites on the nanoparticle surface, ideal for low-temperature, light-driven methane dry reforming. This catalyst provides high light energy efficiency when illuminated at room temperature. In contrast to thermocatalysis, long-term stability (50 h) and high selectivity (>99%) were achieved in photocatalysis. This photocatalyst design could be relevant for future energy-efficient industrial processes…read more. […]