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Operando characterization methods will help to understand processes occurring in high performance CO2 electrolyzers.

We develop a high-level spin–orbit-corrected analytical ab initio potential energy surface and perform quasi-classical trajectory simulations to study the dynamics of the 9-atomic HI + C2H5 → I + C2H6 reaction in full (21) dimensions.

A full-dimensional spin–orbit-corrected analytical ab initio potential energy surface is developed and quasi-classical trajectory simulations are performed for the HBr + C2H5 reaction.

Asymmetric Michael addition of carbonyl compounds to N-substituted maleimides is an important method for obtaining optically pure succinimides, which are important chiral fine chemical intermediates. Environmentally friendly and sustainable procedures require the use of a heterogeneous, recyclable catalyst obtained from natural chirality sources and cheap auxiliaries. Here we report the application of in situ formed chiral inorganic-organic hybrid catalysts using amino acids such as l-phenylalanine and clay minerals or alumina, which were highly active and provided excellent enantioselectivities, up to 99%, in the addition of aldehydes to a large variety of N-substituted maleimides. Examinations indicated the occurrence of the asymmetric reaction on the surface of the recyclable solid hybrid materials. The catalytic materials were examined by thermogravimetry, XRD, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, SEM and adsorption experiments. Results of these methods showed that the amino acid is deposited as surface crystallites or intercalated in the layered cation exchangers, which both function as a supply of the chirality source, whereas the reactions are catalysed by the chiral compounds adsorbed on the surface. This catalytic system was used to conveniently prepare chiral succinimides at the gram scale, easily purified by crystallization. Accordingly, these chiral hybrid materials are convenient heterogeneous catalysts for obtaining valuable compounds in high optical purities using natural chirality sources, inorganic solids and ethyl acetate, a green organic solvent.

The interaction of CeO2-supported Rh, Co and bimetallic Rh-Co nanoparticles, which are active catalysts in hydrogen production via steam reforming of ethanol, a process related to renewable energy generation, was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and low energy ion scattering (LEIS). Furthermore, diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) of adsorbed CO as a probe molecule was used to characterize the morphology of metal particles. At small loadings (0.1%), Rh is in a much dispersed state on ceria, while at higher contents (1-5%), Rh forms 2-8 nm particles. Between 473-673 K pronounced oxygen transfer from ceria to Rh is observed and at 773 K significant agglomeration of Rh occurs. On reduced ceria, XPS indicates a possible electron transfer from Rh to ceria. The formation of smaller ceria crystallites upon loading with Co was concluded from XRD and HRTEM; for 10% Co, the CeO2 particle size decreased from 27.6 to 10.7 nm. A strong dissolution of Co into ceria and a certain extent of encapsulation by ceria were deduced by XRD, XPS and LEIS. In the bimetallic system, the presence of Rh enhances the reduction of cobalt and ceria. During thermal treatments, reoxidation of Co occurs, and Rh agglomeration as well as oxygen migration from ceria to Rh are hindered in the presence of cobalt.