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[Display omitted] • Ir – TiO 2 interaction was dependent on Ir sizes and crystal plane of TiO 2. • Both activity and selectivity of the catalysts increased as the Ir size grew from single atom to nanoparticle. • End-on C O adsorption of crotonaldehyde was favored at the Ir-TiO x interface for Ir nanoparticles. • Crotonaldehyde adsorption geometry depends on H coverage on the catalyst surface. For the supported catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of α, β - unsaturated aldehyde with H 2 , tailoring of metal - support interfacial effect to improve reaction performance is a significant but challenging subject. In this work, we regulated both the size regimes of the Ir deposits (single atom, nanocluster and nanoparticle) and the crystal plane of anatase TiO 2 (TiO 2 (1 0 1), TiO 2 (1 0 0) and TiO 2 (0 0 1)) so as to alter the Ir-TiO x interfacial properties, in order to unravel reaction mechanism of selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde over the Ir/TiO 2 catalysts. Both the activity and selectivity to crotyl alcohol increased as the Ir size grew from single atom to nanoparticle, ascribed to high Ir0 content, high concentration of surface defects and prominent H-spillover effect on the Ir nanoparticles. Moreover, the in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that an end-on C O adsorption mode for crotonaldehyde molecule was favored at the Ir-TiO x interface particularly at high H coverage, which thus facilitated the hydrogenation of C O bond to form crotyl alcohol. Moreover, the highest reactivity of the Ir nanoparticles was evidenced by the lowest reaction barrier. These results explicitly demonstrate that larger metal nanoparticles and adsorption geometry of the reactant at the metal - support interface are vital for improved catalytic performance, which would shed light on the ingenious catalyst design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Low H 2 dissociation barrier is obtained using N, S-doped Co single atom catalyst (Co-N 3 SN-def1); • Frustrated Lewis pair comprised of Co and pyridinic N sites facilitate the H 2 dissociation; • H transfer via the solvent water is the main diffusion pathway; • Moderate H adsorption strength at pyridinic N site contributes to the low breaking barrier of N-O bond in nitrobenzene. The limitation of isolated metal active sites in single atom catalysts (SAC) hinder their application in hydrogenation reactions, necessitating the creation of additional active site beyond the metal site. This study introduces pyridinic N and S atoms into the N/C sheet, optimally adjusting the local environment of the Co site. This adjustment synergistically enhances H 2 activation, H diffusion, and promotes the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene into aniline. The sterically hindered Co acidic site and N basic site, known as frustrated Lewis pairs, in defect-containing Co-N 3 SN-def1 model cooperatively facilitate the highly efficient cleavage of the H 2 molecule with a barrier of only 0.37 eV. The findings suggest that the pyridinic N site in the Co-N 3 SN-def1 model acts as a reservoir for *H, significantly contributing to the enhanced activity for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. The mechanism unveiled in this study offers valuable insights for designing efficient heterogeneous catalysts for target hydrogenation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Non-precious intermetallic compound catalysts for propane dehydrogenation. • Scaling relations are established using formation energies over terraces and steps. • Descriptor-based microkinetic analysis is carried out to obtain volcano curves. • Fe 3 Ga 1 is a good catalyst candidate with improved catalytic performance. By using a descriptor-based microkinetic analysis combined with results from density functional theory calculations over eight transition-metal (including Ni, Cu, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, and Au) terrace and stepped surfaces, intermetallic compounds have been screened to search for inexpensive and environmentally friendly propane dehydrogenation (PDH) catalysts with enhanced catalytic performance. Based on the scaling relations, the formation energies of ethyl on terrace and methylidyne on stepped surfaces are identified as two descriptors to represent the energetics of other reaction intermediates and transition sates. The derived PDH activity and propylene selectivity volcano curves not only provide a rational interpretation of the previously experimentally reported catalyst candidates, but also predict several unexpected binary combinations by screening 1482 A 3 B 1 and 741 A 1 B 1 intermetallic compounds. The non-precious Fe 3 Ga 1 is then synthesized and evaluated. Its improved propylene selectivity and catalytic stability with respect to those of the Pt catalyst validates the theoretical predictions experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factor dominating olefin to paraffin ratio in cobalt-catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been identified via experimental kinetic studies and theoretical calculations including the van der Waals interaction between the adsorbates and Co surfaces. The olefin to paraffin ratio for each carbon number is expressed as a function of adsorption energies of olefin and activation energies of hydrogenation steps. Density functional theory calculations on Co (0 0 0 1) surface were performed to provide a comprehensive fundamental insight for the chemistry governing the olefin to paraffin ratio. The calculated olefin to paraffin ratio decreases with chain length except for ethylene, which agrees well with the experimental results. The differences introduced to the adsorption energies of olefin by van der Waals functional are correlated with d-band center changes of the Co surface. The carbon number dependent adsorption energies of olefin, rather than the activation energies of their hydrogenation reactions, are the driven force for the carbon number dependent olefin to paraffin ratio. The insights may delineate a new blueprint for the rational design of catalysts with enhanced olefin to paraffin ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] CO hydrogenation studied at methanation conditions, 483K, 1.85bar, H2/CO=3–10. [•] Integrated transient and steady-state modeling as a powerful tool for useful kinetic parameters. [•] Combining experiments and DFT investigations of kinetic isotopic effect. [•] Dominating CO activation pathway through hydrogen-assisted CO dissociation. [•] Two carbon pools and two corresponding reaction pathways for CH4 formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]