This book is a comprehensive, theoretical, practical, and thorough guide to XAFS spectroscopy. The book addresses XAFS fundamentals such as experiments, theory and data analysis, advanced XAFS methods such as operando XAFS, time-resolved XAFS, spatially resolved XAFS, total-reflection XAFS, high energy resolution XAFS, and practical applications to a variety of catalysts, nanomaterials and surfaces. This book is accessible to a broad audience in academia and industry, and will be a useful guide for researchers entering the subject and graduate students in a wide variety of disciplines.

This book describes the importance of catalysis for the sustainable production of biofuels and biochemicals, focusing primarily on the state-of-the-art catalysts and catalytic processes expected to play a decisive role in the "green" production of fuels and chemicals from biomass. The book also includes general sections exploring the entire chain of biomass production, conversion, environment, economy, and life-cycle assessment.

The series Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry presents critical reviews on present and future trends in the research of heterocyclic compounds. Overall the scope is to cover topics dealing with all areas within heterocyclic chemistry, both experimental and theoretical, of interest to the general heterocyclic chemistry community. The series consists of topic related volumes edited by renowned editors with contributions of experts in the field. All chapters from Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry are published Online First with an individual DOI. In references, Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry is abbreviated as Top Heterocycl Chem and cited as a journal

In this book, the author determines that a surface is itself a new material for chemical reaction, and the reaction of the surface provides additional new materials on that surface. The revelation of that peculiarity is what makes this book different from an ordinary textbook, and this new point of view will help to provide a new impetus when graduate students and researchers consider their results. The reaction of surface atoms provides additional new compounds, but these compounds cannot be detached from the surface. Some compounds are passive, but others work as catalysts. One superior feature of the surface is the dynamic cooperation of two or more different functional materials or sites on the same surface. This fact has been well established in the preferential oxidation of CO on platinum supported on a carbon nanotube with Ni-MgO at its terminal end. The Pt and Ni-MgO are perfectly separated, but these two are indispensable for the selective oxidation of CO in H2, where the H2O molecule plays a key role. The reader will understand that the complexity of catalysis is due to the complexity of the dynamic processes on the surface.

This updated edition of a widely admired text provides a user-friendly introduction to the field that requires only routine mathematics. The book starts with the elements of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, and covers a wide range of applications from fibrous insulation and catalytic reactors to geological strata, nuclear waste disposal, geothermal reservoirs, and the storage of heat-generating materials. As the standard reference in the field, this book will be essential to researchers and practicing engineers, while remaining an accessible introduction for graduate students and others entering the field. The new edition features 2700 new references covering a number of rapidly expanding fields, including the heat transfer properties of nanofluids and applications involving local thermal non-equilibrium and microfluidic effects.

This volume provides an overview of recent developments and scope in the use of flow chemistry in relevance to heterocyclic synthesis. The heterocyclic ring is the most prominent structural motif in the vast majority of natural products as well as pharmaceutical compounds since this facilitates tuneable interactions with the biological target besides conferring a degree of structural and metabolic stability. In recent times, flow chemistry has heralded a paradigm shift in organic synthesis as it offers several unique advantages over conventional methods like drastic acceleration of sluggish transformations, enhanced yields, cleaner reactions etc and is gradually gaining a lot of attention among organic chemist worldwide. Given the importance of heterocycles in natural products, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceuticals, this is a well warranted volume and complements the previous volume of Topics in Organometallic Chemistry 'Organometallic Flow Chemistry'. This volume offers a versatile overview of the topic, besides discussing the recent progress in the flourishing area of flow chemistry in relevance to heterocyclic chemistry; it will also help researchers to better understand the chemistry behind these reactions. This in turn provides a platform for future innovations towards the designing of novel transformations under continuous flow. Thus, this volume will appeal to both the novices in this field as well as to experts in academia and industry.

This book aims to introduce the basic concepts involved in industrial catalytic processes. It is profusely illustrated with experimental results with the main objective of guiding how to select a suitable catalyst for specific processes. The book is divided in two parts. In the first part the basic concepts are addressed, regarding the existing theories, activity patterns and adsorption-desorption phenomena. In the second part the key experimental methods for the physicochemical characterization of catalysts are presented, as well as the currently used catalyst pre and post treatments. The last chapter describes some important in situ characterization techniques (e.g. XPS and TEM) and surface model patterns related to surface modifications occurring during the reaction. Thoroughly illustrated with microscopy images, spectroscopy data and schematics of reaction mechanisms, the book provides a powerful learning tool for students in undergraduate and graduate level courses on the field of catalysis. Exercises and resolved problems are provided, as well as experimental procedures to support laboratory classes. Furthermore, the content is presented in a carefully chosen sequence, reflecting the 30 year teaching experience of the author. The author, Professor Martin Schmal, sees the present book as a way of conveying basic knowledge needed for the development of more efficient catalysts (i.e. nanostructured materials) and novel industrial chemical processes in the fields of environmental chemistry, fine chemistry, hydrotreating of heavy oils, hydrogen production and biomass processing.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

This book addresses electrocatalysis based on chalcogenides, particularly in the nanoscale domain. Special attention is paid to the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The book provides an introduction to materials synthesis; the basic principles of electrocatalysis; related precious metal versus non-precious metal catalytic center chalcogenides as well as supports; and the role of such supports in stabilizing the catalytic centers. In short: pursuing a bottom-up approach, it covers the properties of this class of electrocatalysts and examines their applications in low-temperature fuel systems such as microfluidic fuel cells for portable devices. Accordingly, it is ideally suited for all professionals and researchers interested in electrochemistry, renewable energy and electrocatalysis, and non-precious metal centers for chemical energy conversion.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

This volume gives a detailed account into how renewables can be transformed into value-added products via homogeneous catalysis, especially via transiton metal homogeneous catalysis. The most important catalytic reactions of oleochemicals, isoprenoids, carbohydrates, lignin, proteins and carbon dioxide are described. Special emphasis is placed on carbon-carbon linkage reactions (hydroformylations, dimerisations, telomerisations, metathesis, polymerisations etc.), hydrogenations, oxidations and other important homogeneous reactions (such as isomerisations, hydrosilylations etc.). Also, tandem reactions including isomerising hydroformylations are presented. Wherever possible, the authors have included mechanistic, kinetic, and technical aspects. The reader is therefore given a total overview of the status quo of homogeneous catalysis directed to the most important renewables.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

This book is devoted to the emerging field of techniques for visualizing atomic-scale properties of active catalysts under actual working conditions, i.e. high gas pressures and high temperatures. It explains how to understand these observations in terms of the surface structures and dynamics and their detailed interplay with the gas phase. This provides an important new link between fundamental surface physics and chemistry, and applied catalysis. The book explains the motivation and the necessity of operando studies, and positions these with respect to the more traditional low-pressure investigations on the one hand and the reality of industrial catalysis on the other. The last decade has witnessed a rapid development of new experimental and theoretical tools for operando studies of heterogeneous catalysis. The book has a strong emphasis on the new techniques and illustrates how the challenges introduced by the harsh, operando conditions are faced for each of these new tools. Therefore, one can also read this book as a collection of recipes for the development of operando instruments. At present, the number of scientific results obtained under operando conditions is still limited and mostly focused on a simple test reaction, the catalytic oxidation of CO. This reaction thus forms a natural binding element between the chapters, linking the demonstrations of new techniques, and also connecting the theoretical and experimental studies. Some first results on other reactions are also presented. If there is one thing that can be concluded already in this early stage, it is that the catalytic conditions themselves can have dramatic effects on the structure and composition of the surfaces of catalysts, which, in turn can greatly affect the mechanisms, the activity, and the selectivity of the chemical reactions that they catalyze.

Hannah Minges focuses on the investigation of two different FAD-dependent halogenases in order to analyze and improve their applicability for chemoenzymatic approaches in chemistry. Owing to beneficial features, like high selectivity and benign reaction conditions, nature's toolkit for halogenation provides several advantages, whereas conventional chemical strategies require hazardous reagents and suffer from low selectivity. Therefore, enzymatic halogenation arises as promising alternative in the synthesis of valuable chemicals. One project focuses on the generation of a thermostable variant of the tryptophan halogenase Thal by means of directed evolution. The second project deals with the investigation of the marine halogenase Bmp5. This enzyme is of synthetic interest because it preferably introduces bromine into phenol compounds, whereas chlorination cannot take place.

This brief presents the state of the art on enzymatic synthesis of structured triglycerides and diglycerides, focusing on glycerol as the substrate and covering interesterification of vegetable oils in one and two steps. It critically reviews the available literature on enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic synthesis of di- and triglycerides in one or more steps. The effects of the structure, length and unsaturation of the fatty acids are carefully considered, as well as the inhibitory potential of highly unsaturated complex fatty acid structures. The brief also addresses acyl migration and the use of adsorbents, taking into account the most recent literature and presenting the problem in an industrial context. It discusses experimental and analytical problems concerning, e.g. the lab scale and the scaling up to bench and pilot plants. Several examples are presented, and their successes and failures are assessed. Biocatalysts based on lipases are analyzed with regard to problems of immobilization, stability on storage time and activity after multiple uses. The need for specific Sn-2 lipases is presented and strategies for optimizing Sn-2 esterification are discussed. Lastly, practical aspects are examined, e.g. lipase "leaching" with loss of activity, taking into account the latest findings on continuous and batch reactor configurations and presenting the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Although catalysts are responsible for the manufacture and processing of a number of products in daily use, the subject of catalysis is still very much in its infancy, and the complexity of the processes still present major challenges. Catalysis in Application presents a snapshot of the most up-to-date developments in the field of applied catalysis. Coverage is principally in the areas of hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, chiral catalysis, environmental catalysis and catalyst deactivation, combining a unique mix of chemistry and chemical engineering. With its wide-ranging coverage, this book will be a welcome addition to the shelves of every practitioner in catalysis, both in industry and academia.

The series Topics in Organometallic Chemistry presents critical overviews of research results in organometallic chemistry. As our understanding of organometallic structure, properties and mechanisms increases, new ways are opened for the design of organometallic compounds and reactions tailored to the needs of such diverse areas as organic synthesis, medical research, biology and materials science. Thus the scope of coverage includes a broad range of topics in pure and applied organometallic chemistry, where new breakthroughs are being achieved that are of significance to a larger scientific audience. The individual volumes of Topics in Organometallic Chemistry are thematic. Review articles are generally invited by the volume editors.

Chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors

This book presents an in-depth study into the utility of σ-bond metathesis in Group 2 mediated reactivity. A comprehensive introduction defines the state of the art in both Group 2 mediated catalysis and dehydrocoupling. Structural investigations giving rise to a range of mixed s-block metal hydrides including a remarkable dodecabimetallic decahydride are then described. Subsequent extensive mechanistic work focussing on both silicon-nitrogen and boron-nitrogen dehydrocoupling gives insights into both congeneric effects down Group 2 and ligand effects centring upon magnesium. These studies show the striking effects of these factors, as well as the electronic nature of the hydridic coupling partner.  Finally, the unprecedented introduction of single-electron transfer steps into Group 2 catalytic manifolds is described. The use of the stable radical TEMPO to induce single-electron transfer to substituents bound to Group 2 centres coupled with σ-bond metathesis allows a novel hydrogen release from silanes.

The series Topics in Organometallic Chemistry presents critical overviews of research results in organometallic chemistry. As our understanding of organometallic structure, properties and mechanisms increases, new ways are opened for the design of organometallic compounds and reactions tailored to the needs of such diverse areas as organic synthesis, medical research, biology and materials science. Thus the scope of coverage includes a broad range of topics of pure and applied organometallic chemistry, where new breakthroughs are being achieved that are of significance to a larger scientific audience. The individual volumes of Topics in Organometallic Chemistry are thematic. Review articles are generally invited by the volume editors. All chapters from Topics in Organometallic Chemistry are published OnlineFirst with an individual DOI. In references, Topics in Organometallic Chemistry is abbreviated as Top Organomet Chem and cited as a journal

The series Topics in Current Chemistry presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in modern chemical research. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research chemists at universities or in industry, graduate students.

This thesis describes novel strategies for the rational design of several cutting-edge high-efficiency photocatalysts, for applications such as water photooxidation, reduction, and overall splitting using a Z-Scheme system. As such, it focuses on efficient strategies for reducing energy loss by controlling charge transfer and separation, including novel faceted forms of silver phosphate for water photooxidation at record high rates, surface-basic highly polymerised graphitic carbon nitride for extremely efficient hydrogen production, and the first example of overall water splitting using a graphitic carbon nitride-based Z-Scheme system. Photocatalytic water splitting using solar irradiation can potentially offer a zero-carbon renewable energy source, yielding hydrogen and oxygen as clean products. These two ‘solar’ products can be used directly in fuel cells or combustion to provide clean electricity or other energy. Alternatively they can be utilised as separate entities for feedstock-based reactions, and are considered to be the two cornerstones of hydrogenation and oxidation reactions, including the production of methanol as a safe/portable fuel, or conventional catalytic reactions such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and ethylene oxide production. The main driving force behind the investigation is the fact that no photocatalyst system has yet reported combined high efficiency, high stability, and cost effectiveness; though cheap and stable, most suffer from low efficiency.

Using an in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) approach to investigate the growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as well as the fabrication and properties of CNT-clamped metal atomic chains (MACs) is the focus of the research summarized in this thesis. The application of an in situ TEM approach in the above-mentioned research provides not only real-time observation but also monitored machining and structural evolvement at the atomic level. In this thesis, the author introduces a CNT tubular nano furnace that can be operated under TEM for investigation of the CNT nucleation mechanism. By studying the nucleation process of CNTs in the presence of various catalysts, including iron-based metallic catalysts and silicon oxide-based non-metallic catalysts, the physical states of the catalysts as well as the nucleation and growth process of CNTs are revealed. Based on the understanding of the nucleation mechanism, the author proposes a hetero-epitaxial growth strategy of CNTs from boron nitride, which provides a new route for the controllable growth of CNTs. In addition, the author presents an electron beam-assisted nanomachining technique and the fabrication of a CNT-clamped MAC prototype device based on this technique. The formation process of CNT-clamped Fe atomic chains (ACs) can be monitored with atomic resolution. The demonstrated quantized conductance and uninfluenced half-metallic properties of Fe ACs indicate that CNTs can be promising nanoscale electrodes or interconnectors for the linking and assembly of nano and subnano structures.

Troy Townsend's thesis explores the structure, energetics and activity of three inorganic nanocrystal photocatalysts. The goal of this work is to investigate the potential of metal oxide nanocrystals for application in photocatalytic water splitting, which could one day provide us with clean hydrogen fuel derived from water and solar energy. Specifically, Townsend's work addresses the effects of co-catalyst addition to niobium oxide nanotubes for photocatalytic water reduction to hydrogen, and the first use of iron oxide 'rust' in nanocrystal suspensions for oxygen production. In addition, Townsend studies a nickel/oxide-strontium titanate nanocomposite which can be described as one of only four nanoscale water splitting photocatalysts. He also examines the charge transport for this system. Overall, this collection of studies brings relevance to the design of inorganic nanomaterials for photocatalytic water splitting while introducing new directions for solar energy conversion.