The activation and catalytic performance of two representative Zr-containing intermetallic systems, namely Cu-Zr and Pd-Zr, have been comparatively studied operando using methanol steam reforming (MSR) as test reaction. Using an inverse surface science and bulk model catalyst approach, we monitored the transition of the initial metal/intermetallic compound structures into the eventual active an...

A longstanding challenge in production chemistry is the development of catalytic methods for the transformation of carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. Silane and borane promoted reductions can be fined-tuned to provide a number of C1-building blocks under mild conditions, but these approaches are limited because of the production of stoichiometric waste compounds. Here we report on the conver...

Exploiting carbon dioxide as co-monomer with epoxides in the production of polycarbonates is economically highly attractive. More effective catalysts for this reaction are intensively being sought. To promote better understanding of the catalytic pathways, this study uses density functional theory calculations to elucidate the reaction step of CO2 insertion into cobalt(III)-alkoxide bonds, whic...

Growth temperature alters temperature dependence of the photosynthetic rate (temperature acclimation). In many species, the optimal temperature that maximizes the photosynthetic rate increases with increasing growth temperature. In this minireview, mechanisms involved in changes in the photosynthesis-temperature curve are discussed. Based on the biochemical model of photosynthesis, change in th...

Great efforts of the scientific community are focused on development catalysts for reduction carbon dioxide (CO2) to useful molecules such as monoxide, formic acid, methanol, ethanol, methane, ethylene, or acetate. Various metal porphyrin complexes were synthesized and studied develop highly active selective catalysts. While substituents core (the primary coordination sphere) determine reactivi...

Sensory behaviors are often flexible, allowing animals to generate context-appropriate responses to changing environmental conditions. To investigate the neural basis of behavioral flexibility, we examined the regulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) response in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. CO2 is a critical sensory cue for many animals, mediating responses to food, conspecifics, predators, a...

Kinetic and isotopic measurements for catalysts and conditions that rigorously excluded transport and thermodynamic artifacts led to a common sequence of elementary steps for reactions of CH4 with CO2 or H2O and for its stoichiometric decomposition on Ni/MgO catalysts. Turnover rates for forward reactions of CH4/CO2 and CH4/H2O mixtures were proportional to CH4 pressure (5–450 kPa) and independ...

A quartz ampoule with grains is mechanically activated in a dry air-like atmosphere 0.5 % of one the major greenhouse gases CO2, CH4, and N2O. The rub against each other walls during activation, leading to triboelectric charging erosion. IR spectroscopy shows disappear activation. After rests for five days. spectra recorded after this period show no reappearance gases.

Adaptation to alternating CO2 concentrations is crucial for all organisms. Carbonic anhydrases-metalloenzymes that have been found in all domains of life-enable fixation of scarce CO2 by accelerating its conversion to bicarbonate and ensure maintenance of cellular metabolism. In fungi and other eukaryotes, the carbonic anhydrase Nce103 has been shown to be essential for growth in air (~0.04% CO...

Breathing high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) can trigger panic and anxiety in humans. CO2 inhalation has been hypothesized to activate neural systems similar to those underlying fear learning, especially those involving the amygdala. Amygdala activity is also upregulated by stress. Recently, however, a separate pathway has been proposed for interoceptive panic and anxiety signals, as p...