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Chemistry, a vital tool for sustainable development, faces a challenge due to the lack of clear guidance on actionable steps, hindering the optimal adoption of sustainability practices across its diverse facets from discovery to implementation. This Scientific Perspective explores established frameworks and principles, proposing a conciliated set of triple E priorities anchored on Environmental, Economic, and Equity pillars for research and decision making. We outline associated metrics, crucial for quantifying impacts, classifying them according to their focus areas and scales tackled. Emphasizing catalysis as a key driver of sustainable synthesis of chemicals and materials, we exemplify how triple E priorities can practically guide the development and implementation of processes from renewables conversions to complex customized products. We summarize by proposing a roadmap for the community aimed at raising awareness, fostering academia–industry collaboration, and stimulating further advances in sustainable chemical technologies across their broad scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient utilization of biomass, the only globally available, renewable and abundant carbon-neutral source, is of high significance in green and sustainable chemistry. Polyoxometalates (POMs) and POM-based composites have been widely applied in green catalytic reactions, due to their tunable Brønsted/Lewis-acidity and redox properties enabling high reactivity in a wide range of chemical transformations. This review covers recent advances in the chemocatalytic conversion of biomass into chemicals and fuels over POMs and POM–metal composites. For biomass valorisation over POMs, the advances of acid catalysis including hydrolysis, dehydration, etherification, alcoholysis, transesterification and esterification are summarised. Furthermore, applications in chemical oxidation for the synthesis of organic acids and furan chemicals are discussed. For biomass valorisation over metal–POM composites, an overview of tandem reactions (e.g. hydrolysis–hydrogenation, hydrolysis–oxidation, and hydrogenolysis–hydrodeoxygenation) is highlighted. The future prospects of biomass valorisation over POM-based catalysts are finally presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonizing the chemical industry will eventually entail using CO2 as a feedstock for chemical synthesis. However, many chemical syntheses involve CO2 reduction using inputs such as renewable hydrogen. In this review, chemical processes are discussed that use CO2 as an oxidant for upgrading hydrocarbon feedstocks. The captured CO2 is inherently reduced by the hydrocarbon co‐reactants without consuming molecular hydrogen or renewable electricity. This CO2 utilization approach can be potentially applied to synthesize eight emission‐intensive molecules, including olefins and epoxides. Catalytic systems and reactor concepts are discussed that can overcome practical challenges, such as thermodynamic limitations, over‐oxidation, coking, and heat management. Under the best‐case scenario, these hydrogen‐free CO2 reduction processes have a combined CO2 abatement potential of approximately 1 gigatons per year and avoid the consumption of 1.24 PWh renewable electricity, based on current market demand and supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electroreduction of carbon dioxide using renewable electricity is an appealing strategy for the sustainable synthesis of chemicals and fuels. Extensive research has focused on the production of ethylene, ethanol and n‐propanol, but more complex C4 molecules have been scarcely reported. Herein, we report the first direct electroreduction of CO2 to 1‐butanol in alkaline electrolyte on Cu gas diffusion electrodes (Faradaic efficiency=0.056 %, j1‐Butanol=−0.080 mA cm−2 at −0.48 V vs. RHE) and elucidate its formation mechanism. Electrolysis of possible molecular intermediates, coupled with density functional theory, led us to propose that CO2 first electroreduces to acetaldehyde‐a key C2 intermediate to 1‐butanol. Acetaldehyde then undergoes a base‐catalyzed aldol condensation to give crotonaldehyde via electrochemical promotion by the catalyst surface. Crotonaldehyde is subsequently electroreduced to butanal, and then to 1‐butanol. In a broad context, our results point to the relevance of coupling chemical and electrochemical processes for the synthesis of higher molecular weight products from CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal amounts of CO2 are added to syngas to boost the methanol synthesis rate on Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 in the industrial process. The reason for CO2 promotion is not sufficiently understood at the particle level due to the catalyst complexity and the high demands of characterization under true reaction conditions. Herein, we applied operando synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and modulated-excitation infrared spectroscopy on a commercial catalyst to gain insights into its morphology and surface chemistry. These studies unveiled that Cu and ZnO agglomerate and ZnO particles flatten under CO/H2 and/or CO2/H2. Under the optimal CO/CO2/H2 mixture, sintering is prevented and ZnO crystals adopt an elongated shape due to the minimal presence of the H2O byproduct, enhancing the water-gas shift activity and thus the methanol production. Our results provide a rationale to the CO2 promotion emphasizing the importance of advanced analytical methods to establish structure-performance relations in heterogeneous catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol synthesis by CO2 hydrogenation is attractive in view of avoiding the environmental implications associated with the production of the traditional syngas feedstock and mitigating global warming. However, there still is a lack of efficient catalysts for such alternative processes. Herein, we unveil the high activity, 100 % selectivity, and remarkable stability for 1000 h on stream of In2O3 supported on ZrO2 under industrially relevant conditions. This strongly contrasts to the benchmark Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalyst, which is unselective and experiences rapid deactivation. In-depth characterization of the In2O3-based materials points towards a mechanism rooted in the creation and annihilation of oxygen vacancies as active sites, whose amount can be modulated in situ by co-feeding CO and boosted through electronic interactions with the zirconia carrier. These results constitute a promising basis for the design of a prospective technology for sustainable methanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron phosphates comprise an important class of materials with a wide range of applications. We have designed novel routes for the controlled synthesis of iron phosphate dihydrates of varying crystallographic phases (monoclinic and orthorhombic) and morphologies. Our approach comprises the phosphation of β-FeOOH nanorods with aqueous phosphoric acid solutions. Through a systematic parametric study coupled to an array of characterisation techniques, including XRD, TEM, HAADF-STEM, AAS, N2 sorption, TGA-MS, FTIR, UV-Vis, XPS, EXAFS, EPR, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, we unravel the complex synthesis chemistry on both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. It is found that the formation of iron phosphates occurs exclusively under acidic conditions and in general involves the dissolution of β-FeOOH which, upon reaction with H3PO4, precipitates as FePO4·2H2O. The pH of the treatment solution determines the crystallographic phase of the resulting product by regulating the rate of β-FeOOH dissolution and of the precipitation of the iron phosphates, while the treatment time is decisive for the preservation of the morphology. The formation of the monoclinic phase entails a fast iron dissolution and subsequent precipitation in the solution. The generation of the orthorhombic analogue involves an interfacial reaction between H3PO4 and β-FeOOH, forming an amorphous layer of iron phosphate, which crystallises into a pure phase with increasing treatment time. The thermal transformation of hydrated to anhydrous iron phosphates is dependent on the phase and morphology of the precursors. The rod shape of iron-rich orthorhombic FePO4·2H2O can be preserved even after annealing at 923 K, with the formation of mesopores. These novel nanostructures may widen the applications of iron phosphates and the routes developed herein can be anticipated to guide the fabrication of other metal phosphates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literature survey reveals a prominent reduction in the concentration of Brønsted acid sites in hierarchically organized zeolites with increasing mesoporous or external surface area independent of the framework type or synthesis route; this suggests a common fundamental explanation. To determine the cause, nature, and impact of the underlying changes in aluminum speciation, this study combines a multitechnique analysis that integrates basic characterization, a detailed synchrotron XRD and multiple-quantum NMR spectroscopy assessment, and catalytic tests to correlate evolution of the properties with performance during successive steps in the preparation of hierarchical MFI-type zeolites by desilication. The findings, subsequently generalized to FAU- and BEA-type materials, identify the crucial impact of calcination on the protonic form, which is an integral step in the synthesis and regeneration of zeolite catalysts; on aluminum coordination; and the associated acidity trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galliation of USY zeolites in alkaline media creates tetracoordinated Lewis-acid centres linked to the framework which display outstanding selectivity in the isomerisation of dihydroxyacetone to ethyl lactate and full reusability. This simple and affordable post-synthetic route enables to tune the amount of Lewis acidity in the zeolite and has great potential for application in related biomass conversions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the unique stability of delafossite copper chromium oxide (CuCrO2) during oxidation and chlorination. It presents a novel CuCrO2-cerium oxide (CeO2 composite for hydrogen chloride (HCl) oxidation to build on the result with fourfold activity. It states that in an equimolar mixture of copper oxide (Cu2O), single-phase cuprous delafossites were synthesized at 1273-1423 Kelvin (K) for 30 hours.

Cover Feature: Synthesizing High-Volume Chemicals from CO2 without Direct H2 Input (ChemSusChem 23/2020) Keywords: carbon capture and utilization; C-C coupling; dry reforming; heterogeneous catalysis; oxidative dehydrogenation EN carbon capture and utilization C-C coupling dry reforming heterogeneous catalysis oxidative dehydrogenation 6049 6049 1 12/09/20 20201207 NES 201207 B The Cover Feature b shows a decoupling of CO SB 2 sb utilization from the H SB 2 sb economy. Carbon capture and utilization, C-C coupling, dry reforming, heterogeneous catalysis, oxidative dehydrogenation. [Extracted from the article]

It takes two to tango The production of the energy carrier and platform chemical methanol by CO2 hydrogenation is expected to become a key step in a sustainable economy but the realization of this process requires high‐performance catalysts. In their Communication on page 6261 ff., J. Pérez‐Ramírez and co‐workers demonstrate that the synergistic interaction of In2O3 and a ZrO2 carrier leads to a highly stable material that provides methanol in high space time yields and with almost 100 % selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary tale of palladium‐based catalysts for selective alkyne hydrogenation, from bare to lead‐alloyed, and, most recently, ligand‐modified nanoparticles, is unlocked using flow chemistry. Distinctions in the performance of each catalyst system as well as accessibility constraints arising from the use of ligands are identified and rationalized. For more details, see the Full Paper by J. Pérez‐Ramírez, N. López et al. on page 5926 ff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development of amorphous silica-alumina catalysts for the heterogeneously-catalyzed production of methylenedianiline (MDA) has resulted in an economically and environmentally attractive alternative to the industrially employed HCl catalyst. However, the quantitative kinetic description of the complex reaction network, a key prerequisite for reactor choice and process assessment, is unfeasible when using classical power-law based models due to the wealth of components and interactions involved. Based on high throughput batch experiments coupled with a detailed product analysis, we herein reveal that all possible reactions in an MDA mixture can be represented in terms of interactions between a small number of reoccurring functional groups. A corresponding categorization of all mixture components enables the description of the reaction network using population balance equations, an approach previously applied to polymerization, aggregation, and cell-growth processes. Thereby, every possible binary interaction between two molecules in the system can be accounted for, resulting in an unprecedented resolution regarding oligomeric species and improved predictive capabilities based on a small number of parameters. The translation of the deepened mechanistic understanding into advanced kinetic models enables to circumvent previous limitations, and is expected to accelerate the industrial realization of the sustainable process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Mechanochemical treatment, a versatile tool for zeolite synthesis and modification. [•] Scalable, efficient, and mechanistically-distinct to solvent-intensive routes. [•] Structural transformations classified according to the energy required. [•] Catalytic properties enhanced by mechanochemical activation. [•] Rationalization will facilitate the scale up of future zeolite technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuprous delafossites exhibit exceptionalelectrical, magnetic,optical, and catalytic properties. Through the application of a batteryof in situand ex situcharacterizationmethods complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations,we gathered an in-depth understanding of the synthesis of CuMO2(M = Al, Cr, Fe, Ga, Mn) by the solid-state reaction of Cu2O and M2O3and of their stability againstoxidative disproportionation to CuM2O4and CuO.TGA-DTA and XRD studies of the synthesis revealed that the natureof the M3+cation strongly impacts (i)the formation temperature of the delafossite phase, which occurredat a much lower temperature for CuCrO2than for the othermetals (1073 versus 1273–1423 K), (ii) themechanism of formation of the CuMO2in different atmospheres,which was found to comprise up to four steps in air and a single stepin N2, and (iii) the kinetics of the process,which could be significantly accelerated upon mechanochemical activationof the precursors by ball milling. The identification of unstableintermediate phases and, thus, a proper description of the synthesismechanism was only possible by the application of in situXRD. Electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption, and mercury porosimetryanalyses of the precursor oxide mixtures at different stages of thesynthesis in air revealed that particle agglomeration took place priorto the solid-state reactions forming the intermediate spinel phaseand the delafossite, respectively, and that these led to a substantialdrop in porosity and specific surface area. On the basis of XRD andHe pycnometry, the resulting CuMO2samples exhibit puredelafossite phase with rhombohedral structure (R3̅m), except for CuMnO2which features a monoclinicstructure (C2/m). Upon heating inair, CuCrO2retained its structure up to 1373 K, whileall other delafossites decomposed, CuAlO2at 1073 K, CuGaO2at 873 K, CuFeO2at 773 K, and CuMnO2at 673 K. The DFT-calculated surface phase diagram of CuCrO2and CuAlO2indicated that, at elevated oxygenpressures, the terminations with 1/2 and 0 ML of Cu are the most stablefor the (0001) facet. The formation enthalpy for interstitial oxygenspecies in the bulk is endothermic for both delafossites, while thatfor oxygen insertion in subsurface layers of these terminations isstill endothermic for CuCrO2but slightly exothermic forCuAlO2. These results provide an improved understandingof the chemistry of these mixed oxides, enabling their optimizationfor specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical clinoptilolite and Lzeolites are prepared using optimizedtandem dealumination–desilication treatments. The main challengein the postsynthetic modification of these zeolites is the high Alcontent, requiring a tailored dealumination prior to the desilicationstep. For natural clinoptilolite, sequential acid treatments usingaqueous HCl solutions were applied, while for L a controlled dealuminationusing ammonium hexafluorosilicate is required. Subsequent desilicationby NaOH treatment yields mesopore surfaces of up to 4-fold (clinoptilolite,64 m2g–1; L, 135 m2g–1) relative to the parent zeolite (clinoptilolite,15 m2g–1; L, 45 m2g–1). A thorough characterization sheds light on thecomposition, crystallinity, porosity, morphology, coordination, andacidity of the modified clinoptilolite and L zeolites. It is elaboratedthat, besides the degree of dealumination, the resulting Al distributionis a critical precondition for the following mesopore formation bydesilication. Adsorption experiments of Cu2+and methyleneblue from aqueous solutions and the catalytic evaluation in alkylationsand Knoevenagel condensation evidence the superiority of the hierarchicalzeolites, as compared to their purely microporous counterparts. Finally,the postsynthetic routes for clinoptilolite and L are generalizedwith other recently reported modification strategies, and presentedin a comprehensive overview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]