Yujing Weng

ZnZrOx oxide catalysts show promising performance in the highly selective hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. Nevertheless, strategies for substantially enhancing their intrinsic catalytic activity remain underexplored. In this work, Cu agglomerates were introduced into ZnZrOx catalysts by mechanical mixing to construct a physically contacted Cu-ZnZrOx interface. The Cu-promoted ZnZrOx catalyst exhibits a 2-fold increase in methanol production rate compared with the pristine ZnZrOx without compromising its selectivity. The modulation of Cu agglomerates on the surface structure of ZnZrOx catalysts, as well as the reaction mechanism of CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, was systematically investigated using a combination of kinetic analysis, isotope exchange experiments, in situ AP-XPS, and in situ DRIFTS. The introduction of Cu facilitates the reduction of Zr4+ and Zn2+ to lower oxidation states on the ZnZrOx surface and accelerates the hydrogenation of HCOO* and CH3O* intermediates. The promotional effect is attributed to the remote spillover of dissociated hydrogen from Cu agglomerates to the adjacent ZnZrOx. This work offers a promising strategy for the rational design of high-performance catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.

Intensifying global climate change and continuously increasing CO ₂ emissions make the development of efficient, low‐cost CO ₂ capture technologies a critical global challenge. Porous carbon materials have emerged as a research hotspot in CO ₂ adsorption due to their high specific surface areas, tunable pore structures, and modifiable surface chemistry. In this study, coal tar pitch, anthracite, lignite, and blue‐coke were employed as precursors to prepare and characterize porous carbons via KOH chemical activation and urea‐assisted nitrogen doping, and their CO ₂ adsorption performance was investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the coal‐derived porous carbons exhibit superior structural characteristics, including an ultrahigh specific surface area (up to 3304 m ² /g), hierarchical pore architecture, and abundant surface functional groups. Nitrogen doping significantly enhanced surface alkalinity and chemical adsorption capacity, achieving a CO ₂ adsorption capacity of 162.1 mg/g at 0.3 MPa—a 25% improvement compared to undoped counterparts. Dynamic adsorption tests revealed good cyclic stability, with adsorption capacity recovery rates of 88.5%–96.6% after 30 min N ₂ purging and complete regeneration within 60‐min purging. This study demonstrates coal‐based porous carbons’ excellent PSA performance, highlighting their potential as efficient, low‐cost adsorbents for industrial CO ₂ capture and CCUS applications.

The size of Au NPs and the Au ^δ− sites were regulated through the thermal decomposition of NHC-modified triatomic gold clusters, thereby enhancing the catalytic activity in the low-temperature CO oxidation reaction.

With the escalating utilization of plastic products, global attention has been increasingly drawn to environmental pollution and recycling challenges stemming from plastic waste. Against this backdrop, biodegradable plastics have emerged as viable alternatives owing to their sustainability and capacity for biodegradation. Polylactic acid (PLA) presently commands the largest market share among biodegradable plastics, finding extensive application in products such as thin films, medical materials, and biodegradable straws. However, the widespread adoption of PLA is hindered by challenges such as high cost, low recycling rates, and complete degradation to H₂O and CO₂ in natural conditions. Therefore, it is imperative and time-sensitive to explore solutions for the depolymerization and re/upcycling of PLA waste plastics. This review comprehensively outlines the current landscape of PLA recycling methods, emphasizing the advantages and significance of chemical re/upcycling. The subsequent exploration encompasses recent breakthroughs and technical obstacles inherent in diverse chemical depolymerization methods. Ultimately, this review accentuates the impediments and forthcoming possibilities in the realm of PLA plastics, emphasizing the pursuit of closed-loop recycling and upcycling.

Catalytic depolymerization of polyester plastics toward closed-loop recycling and upcycling