Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123531
Jingang Wang , Jianbo Zhang , Yuzhe Mu , Xuejiao Tang
Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts have emerged as the most promising on-board catalysts in denitrification with NH3-SCR due to the exceptional hydrothermal stability and catalytic activity. In the work, as-prepared Ce0.075-Nb1.5%/Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst exhibited a significantly most excellent catalytic activity with good stability in the wider temperature range of 300 ℃ to 650 ℃, due to the synergistic effect of Ce and Nb. The results of XPS and H2-TPR indicated that the interaction between Ce and Nb alters the chemical environment of the active site Cu, resulting in a more stable CuO bond, which enhances the stability of the active Cu sites, which was verified by the analysis results of Materials Studio. The addition of Nb could lead to the increase of Ce3+/Ce4+ to improve the redox capacity of the catalyst. Moreover, the synergistic effect of Nb and Ce made few CuOx clusters formed and preserved a greater number of [Cu(OH)]+, which was impeded to migrate at high temperatures due to the steric hindrance formed by Nb and Ce, enhancing the catalytic activity at wider temperature range.
{"title":"Unique synergies of Ce and Nb doping on Cu-SSZ-13 resulting in excellent stability over a significantly wider temperature range","authors":"Jingang Wang , Jianbo Zhang , Yuzhe Mu , Xuejiao Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123531","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123531","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts have emerged as the most promising on-board catalysts in denitrification with NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR due to the exceptional hydrothermal stability and catalytic activity. In the work, as-prepared Ce<sub>0.075</sub>-Nb<sub>1.5%</sub>/Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst exhibited a significantly most excellent catalytic activity with good stability in the wider temperature range of 300 ℃ to 650 ℃, due to the synergistic effect of Ce and Nb. The results of XPS and H<sub>2</sub>-TPR indicated that the interaction between Ce and Nb alters the chemical environment of the active site Cu, resulting in a more stable Cu<img>O bond, which enhances the stability of the active Cu sites, which was verified by the analysis results of Materials Studio. The addition of Nb could lead to the increase of Ce<sup>3+</sup>/Ce<sup>4+</sup> to improve the redox capacity of the catalyst. Moreover, the synergistic effect of Nb and Ce made few CuO<sub>x</sub> clusters formed and preserved a greater number of [Cu(OH)]<sup>+</sup>, which was impeded to migrate at high temperatures due to the steric hindrance formed by Nb and Ce, enhancing the catalytic activity at wider temperature range.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123531"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123545
Mengying Lin , Hanyue Lou , Zhaoyang Qi , Jie Chen , Changshen Ye , Ting Qiu
The development of highly active catalysts is crucial for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) to meet the growing demand for sulfur-free fuels. In this study, a defect-rich composite catalyst UiO-DAlaPW was successfully synthesized via mechanochemical grinding, wherein phosphotungstic acid (HPW) was encapsulated within a defect-engineered UiO-66 framework, utilizing D-alanine (DAla) as a bridging molecule. The synthesized catalyst, UiO-DAlaPW, significantly enhances the utilization efficiency of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In the model oil ODS system, the material exhibited exceptional catalytic performance: achieving deep desulfurization at room temperature within merely 5 min under conditions of extremely low acetonitrile cosolvent usage and a low oxidant/sulfur (O/S) ratio, accompanied by remarkably high H2O2 utilization efficiency. Moreover, the catalyst maintained high desulfurization efficiency even in the absence of acetonitrile. Characterization by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, and XPS confirmed the successful encapsulation of HPW within the UiO-66 framework. Mechanistic studies revealed a significant synergistic effect between UiO-66 and HPW. The effective cooperation of the two active sites, namely Zr in UiO-66 and PW, significantly enhances the catalytic performance, contributing to superior oxidative desulfurization activity.
{"title":"D-alanine-bridged phosphotungstic acid/UiO-66 hybrids as efficient catalysts for oxidative desulfurization of fuels","authors":"Mengying Lin , Hanyue Lou , Zhaoyang Qi , Jie Chen , Changshen Ye , Ting Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of highly active catalysts is crucial for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) to meet the growing demand for sulfur-free fuels. In this study, a defect-rich composite catalyst UiO-DAlaPW was successfully synthesized via mechanochemical grinding, wherein phosphotungstic acid (HPW) was encapsulated within a defect-engineered UiO-66 framework, utilizing D-alanine (DAla) as a bridging molecule. The synthesized catalyst, UiO-DAlaPW, significantly enhances the utilization efficiency of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>). In the model oil ODS system, the material exhibited exceptional catalytic performance: achieving deep desulfurization at room temperature within merely 5 min under conditions of extremely low acetonitrile cosolvent usage and a low oxidant/sulfur (O/S) ratio, accompanied by remarkably high H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> utilization efficiency. Moreover, the catalyst maintained high desulfurization efficiency even in the absence of acetonitrile. Characterization by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, and XPS confirmed the successful encapsulation of HPW within the UiO-66 framework. Mechanistic studies revealed a significant synergistic effect between UiO-66 and HPW. The effective cooperation of the two active sites, namely Zr in UiO-66 and PW, significantly enhances the catalytic performance, contributing to superior oxidative desulfurization activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123545"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123455
Jing Wang , Xiangbo Feng , Yuzhen Zhao , Du Lv , Hao Ma , Manni Li , Yao Liu , Guoqing Guan , Jian Miao
Solid electrolyte is an effective way to address the safety concerns associated with liquid electrolytes based-rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs), making the improvement of their electrochemical performance particularly significant. In this work, a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) membrane was successfully modified with lithium hexacyanoferrate(II) (Li4[Fe(CN)6]), the resulting bonding interactions enabled the formation of a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with high ionic conductivity, making it highly suitable for applications in SSLBs applications. Impressively, the obtained GPE with a three-dimensional (3D) porous network exhibited a wide electrochemical window of ∼5.0 V, a high lithium transference number of 0.42, and an enhanced ionic conductivity of 2.63 × 10-4 S·cm−1. These improvements can be attributed to the dual functional Li4[Fe(CN)6], which not only serves as a lithium ion source but also effectively reduces the crystallization of PVDF-HFP. Additionally, the assembled SSLB with this GPE exhibited excellent cycling stability, achieving a high initial capacity of 119.1 mAh·g−1 and a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 97.24% at 1C. This PVDF-HFP-Li4[Fe(CN)6] GPE is therefore expected to be an effective electrolyte for next-generation SSLBs with high cycling stability.
{"title":"Dual functional Li4[Fe(CN)6] modified PVDF-HFP membrane: An effective gel polymer solid electrolyte for solid-state lithium batteries","authors":"Jing Wang , Xiangbo Feng , Yuzhen Zhao , Du Lv , Hao Ma , Manni Li , Yao Liu , Guoqing Guan , Jian Miao","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solid electrolyte is an effective way to address the safety concerns associated with liquid electrolytes based-rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs), making the improvement of their electrochemical performance particularly significant. In this work, a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) membrane was successfully modified with lithium hexacyanoferrate(II) (Li<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>]), the resulting bonding interactions enabled the formation of a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with high ionic conductivity, making it highly suitable for applications in SSLBs applications. Impressively, the obtained GPE with a three-dimensional (3D) porous network exhibited a wide electrochemical window of ∼5.0 V, a high lithium transference number of 0.42, and an enhanced ionic conductivity of 2.63 × 10<sup>-4</sup> S·cm<sup>−1</sup>. These improvements can be attributed to the dual functional Li<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>], which not only serves as a lithium ion source but also effectively reduces the crystallization of PVDF-HFP. Additionally, the assembled SSLB with this GPE exhibited excellent cycling stability, achieving a high initial capacity of 119.1 mAh·g<sup>−1</sup> and a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 97.24% at 1C. This PVDF-HFP-Li<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] GPE is therefore expected to be an effective electrolyte for next-generation SSLBs with high cycling stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123455"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123486
Ruijun Wang , Zhen Dong , Hui Wang , Yongbin Zou , Huaqi Zhang , Xue Hao , Yuan Gao , Zhiwen Ye , Hongxun Hao
1,2-Di(1′H-[1,5′-bitetrazol]-5-yl)diazene (DBD) is considered a promising high-energy, nitrogen-rich material. However, its practical utilization is limited by low solubility and insufficient understanding of its thermodynamic behavior. To address this, the solid–liquid equilibrium of DBD was examined in four pure solvents (water, acetonitrile, acetone, and 1,4-dioxane) and three binary solvent systems (with water as the anti-solvent) from 278.15 to 318.15 K using gravimetric method. The van’t Hoff, modified Apelblat, Yaws, GCM, and Jouyban-Acree models all yielded excellent correlations with the experimentally determined solubility data of DBD, among which the modified Apelblat model stood out with superior performance. A multi-technique approach was employed to unravel the molecular mechanisms. Hirshfeld surface analysis identified the preferential spatial contacts within the crystal structure, while molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) analysis exhibited the surface charge characteristics relevant to solute–solvent interactions. Combined DFT/IGMH/AIM analysis elucidated the dissolution mechanism: water solvent effectively disrupts solute–solute binding but demands high reorganization energy. Mixed solvents, on the other hand, optimize this energy balance, thereby creating a superior solubilizing environment. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the maximum solubility of DBD in binary water-organic solvent systems occurs at specific mixing ratios. This maximum is directly linked to the peak in solute–solvent interaction energy, as evidenced by its primary dependence on optimized hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. This finding establishes a coherent framework linking macroscopic thermodynamics to microscopic molecular interactions, thereby affording fundamental insights for the practical optimization of DBD.
{"title":"Unraveling the molecular mechanism of solid–liquid phase equilibrium of DBD in different solvents","authors":"Ruijun Wang , Zhen Dong , Hui Wang , Yongbin Zou , Huaqi Zhang , Xue Hao , Yuan Gao , Zhiwen Ye , Hongxun Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>1,2-Di(1′H-[1,5′-bitetrazol]-5-yl)diazene (DBD) is considered a promising high-energy, nitrogen-rich material. However, its practical utilization is limited by low solubility and insufficient understanding of its thermodynamic behavior. To address this, the solid–liquid equilibrium of DBD was examined in four pure solvents (water, acetonitrile, acetone, and 1,4-dioxane) and three binary solvent systems (with water as the anti-solvent) from 278.15 to 318.15 K using gravimetric method. The van’t Hoff, modified Apelblat, Yaws, GCM, and Jouyban-Acree models all yielded excellent correlations with the experimentally determined solubility data of DBD, among which the modified Apelblat model stood out with superior performance. A multi-technique approach was employed to unravel the molecular mechanisms. Hirshfeld surface analysis identified the preferential spatial contacts within the crystal structure, while molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) analysis exhibited the surface charge characteristics relevant to solute–solvent interactions. Combined DFT/IGMH/AIM analysis elucidated the dissolution mechanism: water solvent effectively disrupts solute–solute binding but demands high reorganization energy. Mixed solvents, on the other hand, optimize this energy balance, thereby creating a superior solubilizing environment. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the maximum solubility of DBD in binary water-organic solvent systems occurs at specific mixing ratios. This maximum is directly linked to the peak in solute–solvent interaction energy, as evidenced by its primary dependence on optimized hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. This finding establishes a coherent framework linking macroscopic thermodynamics to microscopic molecular interactions, thereby affording fundamental insights for the practical optimization of DBD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123486"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The effect of pitch angle on the design of an alternative oval tube heat exchanger is evaluated using Fe2O3/graphene hybrid nanofluid. The hybrid nanofluids were successfully synthesized, achieving optimal thermal conductivity at a 3:2 wt ratio. Experiments were conducted with different pitch angles (30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) and nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 0.03%. The Nusselt number increased with the Reynolds number, by 12 to 20% at a 30° pitch compared to a 90° pitch, suggesting better heat transfer at lower pitch angles. Conversely, the friction factor and pressure drop exhibited a decrease with the Reynolds number, yet remained 8 to 15% elevated. It is observed that the highest concentration (0.03%) results in a 12% improvement in the heat transfer coefficient over 0.01%. Performance index ratios (PIR) decrease by approximately 25% as Reynolds numbers rise from 250 to 2000, with a 30° angle yielding a 12% higher PIR than 90°. The study suggests that a 30° pitch with a nanoparticle concentration of 0.02–0.03% at moderate Reynolds numbers (1000–1500) optimises heat transfer. Furthermore, a balanced design, favoring a 45° pitch angle and moderate nanofluid concentration, optimizes thermal performance while minimizing frictional losses, providing essential guidelines for effective industrial heat exchanger design.
{"title":"Performance of Fe2O3/graphene hybrid nanofluids within an alternating oval tube: experimental investigation of the effects of pitch angle","authors":"Sasidhar Gurugubelli , Singuru Madhavarao , Yarrapragada K.S.S. Rao , Rapaka Jagadeesh , Ravikiran Balaga , Javed Syed","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effect of pitch angle on the design of an alternative oval tube heat exchanger is evaluated using Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/graphene hybrid nanofluid. The hybrid nanofluids were successfully synthesized, achieving optimal thermal conductivity at a 3:2 wt ratio. Experiments were conducted with different pitch angles (30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) and nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 0.03%. The Nusselt number increased with the Reynolds number, by 12 to 20% at a 30° pitch compared to a 90° pitch, suggesting better heat transfer at lower pitch angles. Conversely, the friction factor and pressure drop exhibited a decrease with the Reynolds number, yet remained 8 to 15% elevated. It is observed that the highest concentration (0.03%) results in a 12% improvement in the heat transfer coefficient over 0.01%. Performance index ratios (PIR) decrease by approximately 25% as Reynolds numbers rise from 250 to 2000, with a 30° angle yielding a 12% higher PIR than 90°. The study suggests that a 30° pitch with a nanoparticle concentration of 0.02–0.03% at moderate Reynolds numbers (1000–1500) optimises heat transfer. Furthermore, a balanced design, favoring a 45° pitch angle and moderate nanofluid concentration, optimizes thermal performance while minimizing frictional losses, providing essential guidelines for effective industrial heat exchanger design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123547
Jinhuang Cai , Chaofan Qi , Dingding Liu , Guohua Jing , Yongdan Li , Huawang Zhao
Hydrocarbons (HCs) emission during the cold-start period of internal combustion engine vehicles accounts for the majority of total HCs emission. In this work, we developed a Pd/SSZ-39 catalyst with exceptional low-temperature C3H6 (representative of light HCs) trapping performance, achieving the C3H6 storage capacity of 0.87 mmol/g (C3H6/Pd2+=12). The C3H6 adsorption tests revealed that aged Pd/SSZ-39 samples retained 47% and 28% of its original C3H6 trapping capacity after treatment at 800 °C and 900 °C for 20 h, respectively, while its C3H6 oxidation efficiency remained largely unaffected. Characterization studies indicate that Pd2+ ions serve as primary adsorption sites, initially capturing C3H6 molecules as Pd2+(C3H6)x, which then undergo cracking and polymerization at neighboring Brønsted acid sites. The reduction in both Pd2+ ions and Brønsted acid sites directly correlates with the diminished C3H6 adsorption capacity. During the desorption phase, Pd2+(C3H6)x species decompose between 200–300 °C, while polymerized hydrocarbons undergo oxidation at 300–400 °C, yielding distinct C3H6 and CO2/CO release peaks. These findings highlight the Pd/SSZ-39 as a robust low-temperature hydrocarbon trap, even under extreme hydrothermal aging conditions.
{"title":"Pd/SSZ-39 low-temperature hydrocarbon traps: probing adsorption mechanisms and hydrothermal aging impacts","authors":"Jinhuang Cai , Chaofan Qi , Dingding Liu , Guohua Jing , Yongdan Li , Huawang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrocarbons (HCs) emission during the cold-start period of internal combustion engine vehicles accounts for the majority of total HCs emission. In this work, we developed a Pd/SSZ-39 catalyst with exceptional low-temperature C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> (representative of light HCs) trapping performance, achieving the C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> storage capacity of 0.87 mmol/g (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>/Pd<sup>2+</sup>=12). The C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> adsorption tests revealed that aged Pd/SSZ-39 samples retained 47% and 28% of its original C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> trapping capacity after treatment at 800 °C and 900 °C for 20 h, respectively, while its C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> oxidation efficiency remained largely unaffected. Characterization studies indicate that Pd<sup>2+</sup> ions serve as primary adsorption sites, initially capturing C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> molecules as Pd<sup>2+</sup>(C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>)<sub>x</sub>, which then undergo cracking and polymerization at neighboring Brønsted acid sites. The reduction in both Pd<sup>2+</sup> ions and Brønsted acid sites directly correlates with the diminished C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> adsorption capacity. During the desorption phase, Pd<sup>2+</sup>(C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>)<sub>x</sub> species decompose between 200–300 °C, while polymerized hydrocarbons undergo oxidation at 300–400 °C, yielding distinct C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>/CO release peaks. These findings highlight the Pd/SSZ-39 as a robust low-temperature hydrocarbon trap, even under extreme hydrothermal aging conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123547"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123520
Jian Liu , Jianyi Song , Na Liu , Qiao Lan
A pump-free, stable and efficient aerogel reactor with abundant pores is designed using Ag-loading cellulose Pickering emulsions as a template for the continuous flow catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The fabrication of the aerogel reactor entails the two-step oxidation synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (ACNC), the in-situ reduction of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on them to form Ag@ACNC, the utilization of this material to stabilize a Pickering emulsion for preparing the hydrogel, and finally the freeze-drying of the hydrogel laying on a fabric strip. The emulsion-templated aerogel features abundant pores with loading Ag NPs on inner walls, enabling reactant to flow through the pores rapidly under driving by its gravity and the capillary action of the supporting fabric strip and react on the walls. The aerogel reactor achieves efficient three-dimensional flow catalysis without an external power source and exhibits excellent conversion and stability. The conversion all remains above 91.8% during the continuous flow catalysis reaction of 6 cycles (totaling 72 h), and the conversion still reaches 94.4% at 12 h after storage in air for 60 days. This emulsion-templated aerogel reactor demonstrates great potential for advancing recyclable catalytic systems, thereby paving the way for its wide applications.
{"title":"A passive and stable aerogel reactor based on Ag-loading cellulose Pickering emulsion","authors":"Jian Liu , Jianyi Song , Na Liu , Qiao Lan","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A pump-free, stable and efficient aerogel reactor with abundant pores is designed using Ag-loading cellulose Pickering emulsions as a template for the continuous flow catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The fabrication of the aerogel reactor entails the two-step oxidation synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (ACNC), the in-situ reduction of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on them to form Ag@ACNC, the utilization of this material to stabilize a Pickering emulsion for preparing the hydrogel, and finally the freeze-drying of the hydrogel laying on a fabric strip. The emulsion-templated aerogel features abundant pores with loading Ag NPs on inner walls, enabling reactant to flow through the pores rapidly under driving by its gravity and the capillary action of the supporting fabric strip and react on the walls. The aerogel reactor achieves efficient three-dimensional flow catalysis without an external power source and exhibits excellent conversion and stability. The conversion all remains above 91.8% during the continuous flow catalysis reaction of 6 cycles (totaling 72 h), and the conversion still reaches 94.4% at 12 h after storage in air for 60 days. This emulsion-templated aerogel reactor demonstrates great potential for advancing recyclable catalytic systems, thereby paving the way for its wide applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123520"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Copper-based catalysts are extensively utilized in heterogeneous catalysis due to their cost-effectiveness and superior activity. However, their industrial production predominantly relies on conventional precipitation or impregnation methods, which inevitably generate substantial liquid and gaseous waste. Furthermore, these routes typically depend on nitrate precursors, where the production involves dissolving metals in strong acids, creating significant upstream environmental burdens. To address these issues, this work presents a facile and environmentally friendly electrochemical synthesis strategy. In this approach, a Cu mesh acts as the in-situ Cu2+ source, while OH– generated from the hydrogen evolution reaction serves as the precipitating agent. Furthermore, by adding sodium citrate to the electrolyte, we can control the morphology of the catalyst, and by replacing the metal cations in the nitrate electrolyte, we can control the composition of the catalyst. Notably, a copper-cerium mixed oxide synthesized with 0.1 M cerium nitrate and 0.01 M sodium citrate delivers exceptional performance in CO oxidation, achieving a T60 of 78 ℃ and a T90 of 92 ℃. This enhanced activity is attributed to a unique dispersed nanosheet morphology that promotes the formation of Cu-Ce solid solutions and oxygen vacancies. Consequently, this green synthesis protocol holds great promise for sustainable industrial catalyst manufacturing.
{"title":"Electro-initiated co-precipitation for synthesis of copper-based powder catalysts","authors":"Haoyuan Gu , Shengbin Dong , Pengfei Tian , Jiancheng Guo , Fu-Zhen Xuan , Minghui Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123549","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123549","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper-based catalysts are extensively utilized in heterogeneous catalysis due to their cost-effectiveness and superior activity. However, their industrial production predominantly relies on conventional precipitation or impregnation methods, which inevitably generate substantial liquid and gaseous waste. Furthermore, these routes typically depend on nitrate precursors, where the production involves dissolving metals in strong acids, creating significant upstream environmental burdens. To address these issues, this work presents a facile and environmentally friendly electrochemical synthesis strategy. In this approach, a Cu mesh acts as the in-situ Cu<sup>2+</sup> source, while OH<sup>–</sup> generated from the hydrogen evolution reaction serves as the precipitating agent. Furthermore, by adding sodium citrate to the electrolyte, we can control the morphology of the catalyst, and by replacing the metal cations in the nitrate electrolyte, we can control the composition of the catalyst. Notably, a copper-cerium mixed oxide synthesized with 0.1 M cerium nitrate and 0.01 M sodium citrate delivers exceptional performance in CO oxidation, achieving a T<sub>60</sub> of 78 ℃ and a T<sub>90</sub> of 92 ℃. This enhanced activity is attributed to a unique dispersed nanosheet morphology that promotes the formation of Cu-Ce solid solutions and oxygen vacancies. Consequently, this green synthesis protocol holds great promise for sustainable industrial catalyst manufacturing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123549"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123557
Dongpeng Sun , Jingyi Chen , Canghai Luo , Yuan Zheng , Xinxiong Wang , Baoling Guo , David A. Weitz , Dong Chen
The full potentials of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) in advanced applications strongly rely on the precise control of their physicochemical properties and some of them remain unexplored. Here, a facile strategy is presented to prepare polymeric NPs with tunable size, uniformity, shape and surface function in a single step by nanoprecipitation. Upon solvent exchange, the formation of NPs experiences three steps, including supersaturation, nucleation and growth. It is demonstrated that rapid mixing by microfluidics is a prerequisite to control the nanoprecipitation process and the precise control of NP size, uniformity, shape and surface function in a single step further broadens their applications. The insight on the underlying mechanism also shines light on the advancements of nanoprecipitation techniques. The review provides a systematic guideline for the rational design and one-step preparation of polymeric NPs with desired functions and optimal performances.
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Pub Date : 2026-05-15Epub Date: 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123539
Jun Zhang , Peng-fei Liang , You-zhi Liu
A novel one-step mixing using free triple-impinging jets (FTIJs) was employed to prepare Al2O3–H2O nanofluids. The effects of key operating parameters, namely, horizontal nozzle distance (w = 10 mm & 20 mm), perpendicular nozzle distance (h = 10 mm & 20 mm), H2O/SDBS jet velocity u (1.6 m/s ∼ 4.8 m/s), Al2O3 mass flow rate Q1 (1.2 g/h ∼ 3 g/h), and SDBS mass fraction ω (0.4% ∼ 1.2%) on the stability, size, and morphology of Al2O3–H2O nanofluids were systematically investigated through experimental studies. For comparative analysis, free opposed impinging jets (FOIJs) was implemented, in which two liquid jets from two horizontally aligned nozzle and collide in a wall-free environment, enabling a two-step mixing of Al2O3–H2O nanofluids preparation. The results indicate that increasing u and Q1 leads to reduced sedimentation height, transmissivity and average diameter, along with an increased absolute value of zeta potential, so that the stability and size uniformity are improved, with the minimum average diameter reaching 48 nm. In contrast, increasing the nozzle distance resulted in adverse trends in both stability and nanofluids size. Optimal performance was observed at ω = 0.6%, where Al2O3–H2O nanofluids exhibited superior stability and smaller sizes. Compared to the one-step mixing in FTIJs, the two-step mixing in FOIJs is inferior stability and thermal conductivity performance. These findings demonstrate that FTIJs effectively intensifies the one-step mixing for Al2O3–H2O nanofluids preparation, providing a theoretical basis for advanced nanofluids fabrication, as well as expanding existing preparation methodologies and broadening the application potential of free impinging jets.
采用自由三冲击射流一步混合制备了Al2O3-H2O纳米流体。关键操作参数的影响,即水平喷嘴距离(w = 10毫米,20 毫米),垂直喷嘴距离(h = 10 mm, 20 毫米),水/深发展喷射速度u(1.6 m / s ∼ 4.8 m / s),氧化铝质量流率Q1 (1.2 g / h ∼ 3 g / h),和深发展质量分数ω(0.4%∼1.2%)稳定性,纳米流体大小和形态的Al2O3-H2O纳米流体系统进行了实验研究。为了进行对比分析，采用了自由对置碰撞射流（FOIJs），即来自两个水平对齐喷嘴的两束液体射流在无壁环境中碰撞，实现了Al2O3-H2O纳米流体制备的两步混合。结果表明：增大u和Q1，沉降高度、透过率和平均粒径降低，zeta电位绝对值增大，稳定性和粒径均匀性提高，最小平均粒径可达48 nm；相反，增加喷嘴距离会导致稳定性和纳米流体尺寸的不利趋势。当ω = 0.6%时，Al2O3-H2O纳米流体表现出更好的稳定性和更小的尺寸。与ftij的一步混合相比，foij的两步混合稳定性和导热性能较差。这些发现表明，FTIJs有效地强化了Al2O3-H2O纳米流体制备的一步混合，为先进的纳米流体制备提供了理论基础，并扩展了现有的制备方法，拓宽了自由撞击射流的应用潜力。
{"title":"Intensification of one-step mixing for the preparation of Al2O3-H2O nanofluids using free triple-impinging jets","authors":"Jun Zhang , Peng-fei Liang , You-zhi Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel one-step mixing using free triple-impinging jets (FTIJs) was employed to prepare Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–H<sub>2</sub>O nanofluids. The effects of key operating parameters, namely, horizontal nozzle distance (<em>w</em> = 10 mm & 20 mm), perpendicular nozzle distance (<em>h</em> = 10 mm & 20 mm), H<sub>2</sub>O/SDBS jet velocity <em>u</em> (1.6 m/s ∼ 4.8 m/s), Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> mass flow rate <em>Q</em><sub>1</sub> (1.2 g/h ∼ 3 g/h), and SDBS mass fraction <em>ω</em> (0.4% ∼ 1.2%) on the stability, size, and morphology of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–H<sub>2</sub>O nanofluids were systematically investigated through experimental studies. For comparative analysis, free opposed impinging jets (FOIJs) was implemented, in which two liquid jets from two horizontally aligned nozzle and collide in a wall-free environment, enabling a two-step mixing of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–H<sub>2</sub>O nanofluids preparation. The results indicate that increasing <em>u</em> and <em>Q</em><sub>1</sub> leads to reduced sedimentation height, transmissivity and average diameter, along with an increased absolute value of zeta potential, so that the stability and size uniformity are improved, with the minimum average diameter reaching 48 nm. In contrast, increasing the nozzle distance resulted in adverse trends in both stability and nanofluids size. Optimal performance was observed at <em>ω</em> = 0.6%, where Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–H<sub>2</sub>O nanofluids exhibited superior stability and smaller sizes. Compared to the one-step mixing in FTIJs, the two-step mixing in FOIJs is inferior stability and thermal conductivity performance. These findings demonstrate that FTIJs effectively intensifies the one-step mixing for Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–H<sub>2</sub>O nanofluids preparation, providing a theoretical basis for advanced nanofluids fabrication, as well as expanding existing preparation methodologies and broadening the application potential of free impinging jets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 123539"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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