Electronic coupling enhanced PtCo/CeO2 hybrids as highly active catalysts for the key dehydrogenation step in conversion of bio-derived polyols

Lewis Acid Sites Assisted PtCu/CeO2-C Enabling High-Performance for Oxygen Reduction

Improvement in the durable and active low-Pt nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the essential target for clean energy. Herein, an efficient CeO2 supported PtCu alloy catalyst (PtCu/CeO2-C) for ORR in acid media is developed. The CeO2 support can effectively anchor the PtCu particles and inhibit their migration during the long-life cycling, which is beneficial to the catalytic performance. According to the electrochemical experiments, the specific and mass activities of PtCu/CeO2-C are 1.09 mA cm-2 and 0.49 A mgPt -1 at 0.9 V, which are 9.9 and 6.1 times as large as that of Pt/C, demonstrating its outstanding ORR activities in acid media. Moreover, the theoretical studies confirm that oxygen vacancies (VO) as Lewis acid sites can facilitate the adsorption and dissociation of O2, regulate the electronic structure of Pt, and thus endow PtCu/CeO2-C with an efficient 4-electron ORR pathway. The results suggest that the rational design of supported Pt-based catalysts is of great significance for efficient ORR reaction.

Combined dehydrogenation of glycerol with catalytic transfer hydrogenation of H2 acceptors to chemicals: Opportunities and challenges

Catalytic transformation of low-cost glycerol to value-added lactic acid (LA) is considered as one of the most promising technologies for the upgradation of glycerol into renewable products. Currently, research studies reveal that anaerobic transformation of glycerol to LA could also obtain green H₂ with the same yield of LA. However, the combined value-added utilization of released H₂ with high selectivity of LA during glycerol conversion under mild conditions still remains a grand challenge. In this perspective, for the first time, we conducted a comprehensive and critical discussion on current strategies for combined one-pot/tandem dehydrogenation of glycerol to LA with catalytic transfer hydrogenation of H₂ acceptors (such as CO₂) to other chemicals. The aim of this overview was to provide a general guidance on the atomic economic reaction pathway for upgrading low-cost glycerol and CO₂ to LA as well as other chemicals.