From coal to chemicals: Breakthrough syngas catalysis powers green industrial future
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 30-Jul-2025 07:10 ET (30-Jul-2025 11:10 GMT/UTC)
Researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have advanced syngas conversion by integrating Fischer–Tropsch synthesis with heterogeneous hydroformylation. By designing Co–Co₂C and Rh single-atom catalysts, the team achieved efficient, selective, and scalable production of alcohols and α-olefins. Their technologies have already entered industrial use and continue to evolve toward high-value product chains, laying the foundation for greener chemical manufacturing to realize China’s carbon neutrality goals.
A hydroquinone-embedded covalent organic framework (Tz-QH-COF) was designed to address photocatalyst instability in solar-driven H₂O₂ production. The hydroquinone units serve as reversible hole reservoirs, buffering the kinetic imbalances between oxygen reduction and water oxidation. This redox-mediated charge balancing prevents oxidative degradation, enabling continuous H₂O₂ production for 528 hours with an 18.6 mM yield—the longest stability ever reported for organic photocatalysts. In situ ATR-SEIRAS and DFT calculations confirm an efficient hydroquinone/quinone cycle and favorable reaction pathways.
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