Converting biomass to useful materials

Furfuryl alcohol can be derived from biomass and converted to levulinic acid – an important precursor compound for many useful chemicals including liquid fuels – via an acid-catalysed hydration reaction. US-based scientists have explored the mechanism of this conversion and noted several reaction pathways and intermediates.

This is a potentially very important step towards understanding this “green” route to high value compounds.

Read the full details of this exciting research today:

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of the Acid-Catalyzed Conversion of Furfuryl Alcohol to Levulinic Acid in Aqueous Solution
Gretchen Gonzalez Maldonado , Rajeev Surendran Assary , James Dumesic and Larry Curtis
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE03465D

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Challenges in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry (ISACS8)

Challenges in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry (ISACS8)

We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for Challenges in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry (ISACS8) which is being held on 19 – 22 July 2012 in Toronto, Canada. Register now to guarantee your place for this major conference whilst benefiting from the fantastic early bird savings currently available.

The oral abstract submission deadline is fast approaching so make sure you submit your abstract by February 24 2012 to present your work alongside sixteen outstanding plenary speakers.

For further details on this significant event, please visit the dedicated webpage.

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Cheaper catalyst for solar energy conversion

A non-precious metal catalyst has been used to carry out photocatalytic hydrogen evolution for solar energy conversion for the first time, say scientists from Japan and Korea.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution has been an attractive method to convert solar energy to chemical energy without emitting carbon dioxide. A hydrogen evolution system composed of an organic photosensitiser and metal catalysts has the potential to use visible light. However, the metal catalysts contain precious metals, typically platinum, because of a low overpotential for hydrogen evolution. Replacing platinum with cheap and abundant metals is a challenge.

The team replaced platinum catalysts with nickel nanoparticles with a 2-phenyl-4-(1-naphthyl)quinolinium ion as a photosensitiser and NADH as a sacrificial electron donor, resulting in a high catalytic activity.

Read this ‘HOT’ EES article today:

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with Ni nanoparticles by using 2-phenyl-4-(1-naphthyl)quinolinium ion as a photocatalyst
Y Yamada, S Fukuzumi
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012
DOI: 10.1039/c2ee03106j

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Reviews in Green Chemistry – a cross journal collection

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

The development of green and sustainable chemistry is one of the most topical issues of today and is relevant across all areas of chemistry in academia and industry.   

Chemical Society Reviews (Chem Soc Rev), Green Chemistry and Energy & Environmental Science (EES) are delighted to present a combined collection of high quality reviews covering a broad range of topics from this field.  The collection includes reviews currently featured in Chem Soc Rev’s Green Chemistry themed issue (online now), as well as a selection of cutting edge reviews published in Green Chemistry and EES last year.   

All these articles are free to access for a limited time only, so make the most of this opportunity and take a look…  

Fundamentals of green chemistry: efficiency in reaction design, Roger Sheldon, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1437.  

Evaluating the “Greenness” of chemical processes and products in the pharmaceutical industry—a green metrics primer, Concepción Jiménez-González et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1485.  

Searching for green solvents, Philip, G. Jessop, Green Chem., 2011, 13, 1391.  

Derivation and synthesis of renewable surfactants, Evan S. Beach et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1499.        

Industrial biotechnology―the future of green chemistry?, Udo Kragl et al., Green Chem., 2011, 13, 3007.  

Expanding the organic toolbox: a guide to integrating biocatalysis in synthesis, Christopher M. Clouthier and Joelle Pelletier, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1585.  

Enzyme immobilization on/in polymeric membranes: status, challenges and perspectives in biocatalytic membrane reactors (BMRs), Yamini Satyawali et al., Green Chem., 2011, 13, 1609.  

Immobilization technology: a sustainable solution for biofuel cell design, Xiao-Yu Yang et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5540-5563  

Green chemistry oriented organic synthesis in water, Marc-Olivier Simon and Chao-Jun Li, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1415.   

Fischer–Tropsch fuels refinery design, Arno de Klerk, Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, 4, 1177.

The importance of green chemistry in process research and development, Peter J. Dunn, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1452.   

Alternative energy input: mechanochemical, microwave and ultrasound-assisted organic synthesis, R. B. Nasir Baig and Rajender S. Varma, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1559. 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Ionic liquid processing of cellulose, Robin D. Rogers et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1519. 

Processing of metals and metal oxides using ionic liquids, Andrew P. Abbott et al., Green Chem., 2011, 13, 471. 

Continuous reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide: problems, solutions and possible ways forward, Xue Han and Martyn Poliakoff, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1428. 

Green materials synthesis with supercritical water, Tadafumi Adschiri et al., Green Chem., 2011, 13, 1380. 

Multiple objectives in biofuels sustainability policy, Jon C. Lovett et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, 4, 261. 

Conversion of biomass to selected chemical products, Pierre Gallezot, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1538.   

Toward a rational control of solid acid catalysis for green synthesis and biomass conversion, Ken-ichi Shimizu and Atsushi Satsuma, Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, 4, 3140-3153   

Waste materials―catalytic opportunities: an overview of the application of large scale waste materials as resources for catalytic applications, J. S. J. Hargreaves et al., Green Chem., 2011, 13, 16.   

Recent advances in the recycling of homogeneous catalysts using membrane separation, Dieter Vogt et al., Green Chem., 2011, 13, 2247.   

Cobalt catalysts for the coupling of CO2 and epoxides to provide polycarbonates and cyclic carbonates, Xiao-Bing Lu and Donald J. Darensbourg, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 1462.

Keep up-to-date with the latest reviews and primary research in this field by registering for our e-alerts today!

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High impact reviews from Energy & Environmental Science

Journal cover imageWe would like to share with you some of the high impact review articles which have been published in Energy & Environmental Science (EES) in 2011.

From authoritative Reviews to personal Perspectives and Minireviews of exciting emerging areas, EES publishes review articles of the very highest quality and impact.

On behalf of Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lewis (Caltech) we invite you to submit your best research today.

Read a selection of our high impact reviews:

Graphene-based nanomaterials for energy storage
Martin Pumera
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00295J

CO2 capture by solid adsorbents and their applications: current status and new trends
Qiang Wang, Jizhong Luo, Ziyi Zhong and Armando Borgna
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00064G

Recent advances in non-precious metal catalysis for oxygen-reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte fuel cells
Frédéric Jaouen, Eric Proietti, Michel Lefèvre, Régis Chenitz, Jean-Pol Dodelet, Gang Wu, Hoon Taek Chung, Christina Marie Johnston and Piotr Zelenay
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00011F

Challenges in the development of advanced Li-ion batteries: a review
Vinodkumar Etacheri, Rotem Marom, Ran Elazari, Gregory Salitra and Doron Aurbach
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01598B

Dye-sensitized solar cell redox shuttles
Thomas W. Hamann and Jesse W. Ondersma
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00251H

Catalytic routes for the conversion of biomass into liquid hydrocarbon transportation fuels
Juan Carlos Serrano-Ruiz and James A. Dumesic
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00436G

Current perspectives on gas hydrate resources
Ray Boswell and Timothy S. Collett
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00203H

Development and challenges of LiFePO4 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries
Li-Xia Yuan, Zhao-Hui Wang, Wu-Xing Zhang, Xian-Luo Hu, Ji-Tao Chen, Yun-Hui Huang and John B. Goodenough
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00029A

Organic non-fullerene acceptors for organic photovoltaics
Prashant Sonar, Jacelyn Pui Fong Lim and Khai Leok Chan
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00668H

Graphene based new energy materials
Yiqing Sun, Qiong Wu and Gaoquan Shi
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00683A

One-dimensional noble metal electrocatalysts: a promising structural paradigm for direct methanol fuel cells
Christopher Koenigsmann and Stanislaus S. Wong
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00197J

Tandem polymer photovoltaic cells—current status, challenges and future outlook
Srinivas Sista, Ziruo Hong, Li-Min Chen and Yang Yang
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00754D

Nanostructured silicon for high capacity lithium battery anodes
Jeannine R. Szczech and Song Jin
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00281J

Carbon nanotubes and their composites in electrochemical applications
Grzegorz Lota, Krzysztof Fic and Elzbieta Frackowiak
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00470G

Electrochemical CO2 sequestration in ionic liquids; a perspective
Neil V. Rees and Richard G. Compton
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00580K

Low-platinum and platinum-free catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction at fuel cell cathodes
Adina Morozan, Bruno Jousselme and Serge Palacin
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00601G

Solution-derived ZnO nanostructures for photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells
Feng Xu and Litao Sun
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00448K

The role of buffer layers in polymer solar cells
Riccardo Po, Chiara Carbonera, Andrea Bernardi and Nadia Camaioni
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00273A

Semiconductor/biomolecular composites for solar energy applications
Chuanhao Li, Feng Wang and Jimmy C. Yu
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00162G

Zeolite-catalyzed biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals
Esben Taarning, Christian M. Osmundsen, Xiaobo Yang, Bodil Voss, Simon I. Andersen and Claus H. Christensen
DOI: 10.1039/C004518G

Advanced carbon aerogels for energy applications
Juergen Biener, Michael Stadermann, Matthew Suss, Marcus A. Worsley, Monika M. Biener, Klint A. Rose and Theodore F. Baumann
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00627K

Underneath the fascinations of carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons
Wei-Tao Zheng and Chang Q Sun
DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00434K

New conjugated polymers for plastic solar cells
David Gendron and Mario Leclerc
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01072G

You can find many more excellent reviews on our website.

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Thermochromic smart windows – Hot paper

Vanadium dioxide based composite foils with solar modulation ability of 13.6% were prepared by an all-solution process for the first time, for application in smart windows.

VO2 is a key material for thermochromic smart windows that can respond to environmental temperature and modulate near infrared irradiation by changing from a transparent state at low temperature to a more reflective state at high temperature, while maintaining visible transmittance.

smart windowsRead this EES paper today:

Enhanced chemical stability of VO2 nanoparticles by the formation of SiO2/VO2 core/shell structures and the application to transparent and flexible VO2-based composite foils with excellent thermochromic properties for solar heat control
Yanfeng Gao, Shaobo Wang, Hongjie Luo, Lei Dai, Chuanxiang Cao, Yiliao Liu, Zhang Chen and Minoru Kanehira
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE02803D

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HOT EES Communication: Affordable solar cells move closer

Current photovoltaic technology relies on the use of silicon wafers which must be ultrapure and are very expensive to produce. Now Goyal and co-workers have come up with an exciting and much cheaper solution: thin films of silicon on a much cheaper Ni-W template.

Read the full details in this HOT EES communication today:

Heteroepitaxial film silicon solar cell grown on Ni-W foils
Sung Hun Wee, Claudia Cantoni, Thomas R. Fanning, Charles W. Teplin, Daniela F. Bogorin, Jon Bornstein, Karen Bowers, Paul Schroeter, Falah Hasoon, Howard M. Branz, M. Parans Paranthaman and Amit Goyal
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE03350J

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Top 10 most-read EES articles in December

This month sees the following articles in EES that are in the top ten most accessed in December:

Self-standing positive electrodes of oxidized few-walled carbon nanotubes for light-weight and high-power lithium batteries 
Seung Woo Lee, Betar M. Gallant, Youngmin Lee, Noboru Yoshida, Dong Young Kim, Yuki Yamada, Suguru Noda, Atsuo Yamada and Yang Shao-Horn 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5437-5444 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02409D 

Globular reduced graphene oxide-metal oxide structures for energy storage applications 
Alfred Chidembo, Seyed Hamed Aboutalebi, Konstantin Konstantinov, Maryam Salari, Brad Winton, Sima Aminorroaya Yamini, Ivan P. Nevirkovets and Hua Kun Liu 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5236-5240 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02784K 

Challenges in the development of advanced Li-ion batteries: a review 
Vinodkumar Etacheri, Rotem Marom, Ran Elazari, Gregory Salitra and Doron Aurbach 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, 4, 3243-3262 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01598B 

Recent advances in micro-/nano-structured hollow spheres for energy applications: From simple to complex systems 
Xiaoyong Lai, Jonathan E. Halpert and Dan Wang 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5604-5618 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02426D 

Additive-free synthesis of unique TiO2 mesocrystals with enhanced lithium-ion intercalation properties 
Zhensheng Hong, Mingdeng Wei, Tongbin Lan, Lilong Jiang and Guozhong Cao 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5408-5413 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02551A 

Reviving rechargeable lithium metal batteries: enabling next-generation high-energy and high-power cells 
Aruna Zhamu, Guorong Chen, Chenguang Liu, David Neff, Qing Fang, Zhenning Yu, Wei Xiong, Yanbo Wang, Xiqing Wang and Bor Z. Jang 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5701-5707 
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE02911A 

Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security 
Mark Z. Jacobson 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2009, 2, 148-173 
DOI: 10.1039/B809990C 

Highly efficient and stable dye-sensitized solar cells based on SnO2 nanocrystals prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis 
Alexander Birkel, Yong-Gun Lee, Dominik Koll, Xavier Van Meerbeek, Stefan Frank, Mi Jin Choi, Yong Soo Kang, Kookheon Char and Wolfgang Tremel 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5392-5400 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02115J 

Solar cells with one-day energy payback for the factories of the future 
Nieves Espinosa, Markus Hösel, Dechan Angmo and Frederik C. Krebs 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 5117-5132 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02728J 

Efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on an iodine-free electrolyte using l-cysteine/l-cystine as a redox couple 
Ming Cheng, Xichuan Yang, Shifeng Li, Xiuna Wang and Licheng Sun 
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, Advance Article 
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02540F 

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below

Fancy submitting an article to EES? Then why not submit to us today! 

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EES paper highlighted in Nature Chemistry

Paul Dauenhauer and coworkers’ paper on an improved methodology for the study of cellulose pyrolysis has been highlighted in Nature Chemistry. This is an important step in the realization of efficient biofuel production.

Read the full EES paper today:

Revealing pyrolysis chemistry for biofuels production: Conversion of cellulose to furans and small oxygenates
Matthew S. Mettler, Samir H. Mushrif, Alex D. Paulsen, Ashay D. Javadekar, Dionisios G. Vlachos and Paul J. Dauenhauer
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE02743C

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EES Issue 2 out now!

The latest issue of Energy & Environmental Science is now online. You can read the full issue here.

EES Issue 2 OFC

 
The outside front cover features an article on Optimizing luminescent solar concentrator design by Hermilo Hernandez-Noyola, David H. Potterveld, Roy J. Holt and Seth B. Darling.

Shaping the beating heart of artificial photosynthesis: oxygenic metal oxide nano-clusters is the Perspective article highlighted on the inside front cover by Andrea Sartorel, Mauro Carraro, Francesca Maria Toma, Maurizio Prato and Marcella Bonchio.

 
Issue 2 contains lots of exciting Opinion, Analysis, Review and Perspectives – here are just a few:

Fancy submitting an article to EES? Then submit to us today!

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