Catalysts for the oxidation of H2O are an integral component of solar energy to fuel conversion technologies. Although catalysts based on scarce and precious metals have been recognized as efficient catalysts for H2O oxidation, catalysts composed of inexpensive and earth-abundant element(s) are essential for realizing economically viable energy conversion technologies. This Perspective summariz...

The liquid phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol is an important reaction for generating benzaldehyde and benzoic acid that are largely required in the perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. The current production systems suffer from either low conversion or over oxidation. From the viewpoint of economy efficiency and environmental demand, we are aiming to develop new high-performance and cost-ef...

A homogeneous Cu-based catalyst system consisting of [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6, N,N'-di-tert-butylethylenediamine (DBED), and p-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) mediates efficient aerobic oxidation of alcohols. Mechanistic study of this reaction shows that the catalyst undergoes an in situ oxidative self-processing step, resulting in conversion of DBED into a nitroxyl that serves as an efficient cocatal...

Potassium and calcium salts are well known catalysts for the reaction between carbon and O2. Current airport runway deicing agents typically use formulations containing alkali or alkaline-earth metals (see C&E News, 01/01/01, p. 30). Very effective oxidation protection of aircraft brakes is thus of great practical and fundamental interest. Phosphorus and boron compounds are known to inhibit unc...

The present work demonstrates a generalized strategy using water-only hydrothermal oxidation to construct complex biomimetic micronanostructures on a series of metals and alloys, resulting in superhydrophilic surfaces. This general approach is environmentally-benign and cost-effective, which offers a unique clue for the rational fabrication of micronanoscale architectures and superhydrophilic s...

Enzymes that catalytically transform small molecules such as CO, formate, or protons are naturally composed of transition metal cluster units bound into a larger superstructure. Artificial biomimetic catalysts are often modeled after the active sites but are typically molecular in nature. We present here a series of fully integrated porous materials containing Fe(4)S(4) clusters, dubbed "biomim...

this paper reports results of a study regarding the activities of nano structure mn/γ-al2o3 and γ-al2o3 catalysts for oxidation of 2-propanol (as a model of volatile organic compound). nanostructure of catalysts was revealed using xrd, sem and tem techniques. catalytic studies were carried out in u-shaped packed bed reactor under atmospheric pressure and at the reaction temperature of 150- 500°...

The catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide over several binary (MxOy/TiO2) and ternary (V2O5/MXOY/TiO2) supported metal oxide catalysts was systematically investigated. The supported metal oxide components were essentially 100% dispersed as surface metal oxide species, as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy characterization. The sulfur dioxide oxidation turnover frequencies of the...

Two ruthenium aqua complexes were shown to be effective catalysts in chemical and photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons. A remarkable activity (up to 90% yield and 100% selectivity) was performed in conversion of sulfide to sulfoxide by homogeneous photooxidation.