MOF-derived In–Cu bimetallic oxides are highly efficient electrocatalysts for the transformation of CO2 into CO in an aqueous electrolyte.

Emulsions having a high internal-phase volume fraction—termed as HIPEs for high internal phase emulsions—are in high demand as templates for functional macroporous materials. Designing molecular surfactants with appropriate amphiphilicity plays a critical role in the HIPE preparation. In this study, successful tailoring of the amphiphilicity of the originally hydrophobic block co-polymer of polystyrene-b-polyvinylpyridine (PS-b-P4VP) is reported. In combination with trifluoroacetic acid, less than 5 wt% of the polymer-CF3COOH system is feasible as a surfactant for HIPE preparation; this is lower than the amounts typically needed for commonly used commercial surfactants. Using the HIPEs as templates, well-defined closed- and open-cell macroporous triacrylate-based monoliths are fabricated simply through the adjustment of the ratio of the water phase to oil phase. After coating the resulting macroporous material with polypyrrole nanoparticles, the system can be exploited as an NIR-sensitive filter for bacteria; it not only excludes oversized bacteria, but it also kills the bacteria with the help of NIR-induced heat.

The hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) is a very significant reaction, and it is a typical route for producing important chemicals from biomass. Efficient catalysts without any additive for the hydrogenolysis of HMF to DMF under mild conditions are highly desirable. Herein, we found that the Pd/C catalyst prepared in γ-valerolactone (Pd-GVL/C) is an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of HMF to DMF, and 95.6% of DMF could be obtained at 80 °C without any additive. The GVL interacted with Pd particles and enhanced the activity of the catalyst. It is the first example to achieve the hydrogenolysis of HMF to DMF below 100 °C without any additive.

Herein, we successfully loaded Ru nanoparticles onto TiO2 nanosheet catalyst, which could exhibit highly efficient catalytic activity during the conversion of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone at mild condition.

Novel porous organic polymers with multifunctional sites using plant-derived polyphenols as the building blocks showed superior applications in CO2 fixation and I2 adsorption.

Tetrahydrofurfural (THFF) and 5-hydroxymethyltetrahydro-2-furaldehyde (5-HMTHFF) are important chemicals. Synthesis of THFF and 5-HMTHFF from the selective hydrogenation of furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is highly desirable. However, it is a...

The selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols can reach high selectivity and activity at room temperature using Pt nanoparticles immobilized on a non-porous AlO support stabilized by aspartic acid. Aspartic acid molecules had a significant steric effect on C[double bond, length as m-dash]C hydrogenation and could modify the electronic state of metal particles.

Cu-based complex formed from Cu­(OAc)2 and [2,2′]-bipyridinyl-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (BPYDCDE) ligand was synthesized for the first time. It was found that the complex could catalyze aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones very efficiently without any external base at ambient temperature and pressure, and the yield of the desired product reached >99% in 2–5 h. Combination of experimental and theoretical studies showed that the ligand enhanced the electron population on the Cu center by a ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) effect, which made OAc– in the complex have the appropriate alkalinity and be a good leaving group, and the Cu center and the OAc– catalyze the reaction cooperatively. Moreover, the amount of OAc– in the complex was much less than that of the external base added in the catalytic systems reported, suggesting that the basic anion in the complex is more efficient for promoting the reaction than the external base added.