PLA emerged as a promising polymer because of its property as a compostable, biodegradable thermoplastic made from renewable sources. PLA can be polymerized from monomers (Lactide or Lactic acid) obtained by fermentation processes from renewable sources such as corn starch or sugarcane. For PLA synthesis, ring opening polymerization (ROP) of Lactide monomer is one of the preferred methods. In t...

Aqueous phase reforming (APR) of biomass derived feedstock producing hydrogen was reviewed. The APR process was discussed based on different feedstock categories such as sugars, polyols and ethanol. The mechanism of APR was analyzed referring to different structures of feedstock. The reaction pathways of APR were investigated. The usage of catalysts should be judged by feedstock on the requirem...

The synthesis of bulk amounts of high quality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is accomplished by optimizing the chemical compositions and textural properties of the catalyst material used in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of methane. A series of catalysts are derived by systematically varying the catalytic metal compounds and support materials. The optimized catalysts consist of Fe/...

The presence of biogenic or process-derived impurities poses a major problem on the efficient catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone; hence, studies on their influence on catalyst stability are now required. Herein, the influence of sulfuric acid as feed impurity on the performance of Ru-based heterogeneous catalysts, including Ru/ZrO2 and mono- and bimetal...

The stability of a bimetallic Au–Pd/TiO2 catalyst was examined in a packed bed microreactor for the oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol dissolved in toluene. The catalyst was prepared by co-impregnation with a Au–Pd weight ratio of 1 : 19. Experiments were performed at 80–120 °C, oxygen concentration 0–100% and total pressure 4 bara. Principal products observed were cinnamaldehyde, 3-phenyl-1-propano...

The crystalline stereocomplexed polycarbonates can be prepared by mixing enantiopure polymers with opposite configuration, which derived from the asymmetric copolymerization with CO2 using enantiopure catalyst or/and chiral epoxides. Herein, we develop a powerful strategy for producing crystalline intramolecular stereocomplexed polycarbonates from racemic catalysts, which possess similar therma...

Bimetallic nanostructured core-shell structures are commonly used as catalysts in a wide variety of reactions. We surmised that the addition of an additional metal would potentially allow catalytic tailoring with the possibility of an increase in activity. Here a tri-metallic catalytic structure, consisting of clustered catalytic Pt on the surface of a Pd shell supported on a rod shaped Au core...

The usefulness of Pt-based nanomaterials for catalysis can be greatly enhanced by coupling morphology engineering to the strategic presence of a second or even third metal. Here we demonstrate the design and preparation of stellated Ag-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles where significant activity difference between the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) may be re...

Pd-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling of arenes provides efficient access to biaryl compounds. The biaryl product forms via C-H activation of two arenes to afford a Pd(II)ArAr' intermediate, which then undergoes C-C reductive elimination. The key Pd(II)ArAr' intermediate could form via a "monometallic" pathway involving sequential C-H activation at a single Pd(II) center, or via a "bimetallic...

Highly efficient and selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide represents one of the biggest scientific challenges in artificial photosynthesis, where carbon dioxide and water are converted into chemical fuels from solar energy. However, our fundamental understanding of the reaction is still limited and we do not have the capability to design an outstanding catalyst with great activ...