How Research Data Management Plans Can Help in Harmonizing Open Science and Approaches in the Digital Economy.

Within this perspective article, we intend to summarise definitions and terms that are often used in the context of open science and data-driven R&D and we discuss upcoming European regulations concerning data, data sharing and handling. With this background in hand, we take a closer look at the potential connections and permeable interfaces of open science and digital economy, in which data and resulting immaterial goods can become vital pieces as tradeable items. We believe that both science and the digital economy can profit from a seamless transition and foresee that the scientific outcomes of publicly funded research can be better exploited.

Learning Design Rules for Selective Oxidation Catalysts from High-Throughput Experimentation and Artificial Intelligence.

The design of heterogeneous catalysts is challenged by the complexity of materials and processes that govern reactivity and by the fact that the number of good catalysts is very small in comparison to the number of possible materials. Here, we show how the subgroup-discovery (SGD) artificial-intelligence approach can be applied to an experimental plus theoretical data set to identify constraints on key physicochemical parameters, the so-called SG , which exclusively describe materials and reaction conditions with outstanding catalytic performance. By using high-throughput experimentation, 120 SiO-supported catalysts containing ruthenium, tungsten, and phosphorus were synthesized and tested in the catalytic oxidation of propylene.

Ca-Ag compounds in ethylene epoxidation reaction.

The ethylene epoxidation is a challenging catalytic process, and development of active and selective catalyst requires profound understanding of its chemical behaviour under reaction conditions. The systematic study on intermetallic compounds in the Ca-Ag system under ethylene epoxidation conditions clearly shows that the character of the oxidation processes on the surface originates from the atomic interactions in the pristine compound. The Ag-rich compounds CaAg and CaAg undergo oxidation towards Ag and a complex Ca-based support, whereas equiatomic CaAg and the Ca-rich compounds CaAg and CaAg in bulk remain stable under harsh ethylene epoxidation conditions.

Atomic-Scale Observation of the Metal-Promoter Interaction in Rh-Based Syngas-Upgrading Catalysts.

The direct conversion of syngas to ethanol, typically using promoted Rh catalysts, is a cornerstone reaction in CO utilization and hydrogen storage technologies. A rational catalyst development requires a detailed structural understanding of the activated catalyst and the role of promoters in driving chemoselectivity. Herein, we report a comprehensive atomic-scale study of metal-promoter interactions in silica-supported Rh, Rh-Mn, and Rh-Mn-Fe catalysts by aberration-corrected (AC) TEM.

Anisotropic Reactivity of CaAg under Ethylene Epoxidation Conditions.

The chemical behavior of CaAg as catalyst for ethylene epoxidation was studied using a combination of experimental (X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy), and quantum chemical techniques as well as real-space chemical bonding analysis. Under oxidative ethylene epoxidation conditions, the CaAg (010) surface possesses an outstanding stability during long-term experiments. It is caused by the formation of an ordered, stable and dense CaO passivation layer with a small amount of embedded Ag atoms.

Insights into structure and dynamics of (Mn,Fe)O-promoted Rh nanoparticles.

The mutual interaction between Rh nanoparticles and manganese/iron oxide promoters in silica-supported Rh catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO to higher alcohols was analyzed by applying a combination of integral techniques including temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with local analysis by using high angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The promoted catalysts show reduced CO adsorption capacity as evidenced through FTIR spectroscopy, which is attributed to a perforated core-shell structure of the Rh nano-particles in accordance with the microstructural analysis from electron microscopy. Iron and manganese occur in low formal oxidation states between 2+ and zero in the reduced catalysts as shown by using TPR and XAS.

Synthesis of PtY and Other Early-Late Intermetallic Nanoparticles by Way of a Molten Reducing Agent.

Early-late intermetallic phases have garnered increased attention recently for their catalytic properties. To achieve the high surface areas needed for industrially relevant applications, these phases must be synthesized as nanoparticles in a scalable fashion. Herein, PtY-targeted as a prototypical example of an early-late intermetallic-has been synthesized as nanoparticles approximately 5-20 nm in diameter via a solution process and characterized by XRD, TEM, EDS, and XPS.

Acrylate formation from CO2 and ethylene: catalysis with palladium and mechanistic insight.

We report the first catalyst based on palladium for the reaction of CO2, alkene and a base to form sodium acrylate and derivatives. A mechanism similar to a previously reported Ni(0)-catalyst is proposed based on stoichiometric in situ NMR experiments, isolated intermediates and a parent palladalactone. Our palladium catalyst was applied to the coupling of CO2 with conjugated alkenes.

Nickel-catalyzed direct carboxylation of olefins with CO2 : one-pot synthesis of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid salts.

The nickel-catalyzed direct carboxylation of alkenes with the cheap and abundantly available C1 building block carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in the presence of a base has been achieved. The one-pot reaction allows for the direct and selective synthesis of a wide range of α,β-unsaturated carboxylates (TON>100, TOF up to 6 h(-1) , TON=turnover number, TOF=turnover frequency). Thus, it is possible, in one step, to synthesize sodium acrylate from ethylene, CO2 , and a sodium salt.

The first catalytic synthesis of an acrylate from CO2 and an alkene-a rational approach.

For more than three decades the catalytic synthesis of acrylates from the cheap and abundantly available C(1) building block carbon dioxide and alkenes has been an unsolved problem in catalysis research, both in academia and industry. Herein, we describe a homogeneous catalyst based on nickel that permits the catalytic synthesis of the industrially highly relevant acrylate sodium acrylate from CO(2), ethylene, and a base, as demonstrated, at this stage, by a turnover number of greater than 10 with respect to the metal.

Valorisation of glycerol as renewable feedstock: comparison of the exploration of chemical transformation methods aided by high throughput experimentation.

Renewable feedstocks have been in the spotlight of intensive research activities over the past 10 years. Glycerol is one of the feedstock molecules which has been the target of numerous research efforts, for a number of reasons. First of all glycerol is currently readily available due to the fact that it is a couple product of the first generation biodiesel production.

Co and Mn polysiloxanes as unique initiator-catalyst-systems for the selective liquid phase oxidation of o-xylene.

Co and Mn polysiloxanes are unique catalyst/initiator systems for the liquid phase oxidation of o-xylene showing higher activity than Co naphthenates, which is related to the weak interaction of the polar products with the hydrophobic surface as well as the absence of hydroxyl groups and surrounding oxygenates limiting radical quenching.

Retrospective hit-deconvolution of mixed metal oxides: spotting structure-property-relationships in gas phase oxidation catalysis through high throughput experimentation.

Complex multi-element lead structures of mixed metal oxides that may be identified as hits during high throughput experimentation (HTE) campaigns, can be deconvoluted retrospectively on the basis of simple binary and ternary oxides as illustrated in the current example of a hit found in an ammoxidation reaction. On the basis of the performance of the simple binary and ternary mixed metal oxides structure property relationships can be established, that give insight into the roles of the different components of the complex mixed metal oxides and may also help in establishing a reaction mechanism and converting the hit into a development candidate.

In Situ X-Ray Diffraction Study of the Initial Stages of Formation of MCM-41 in a Tubular Reactor.

A continuous process for the synthesis of mesoporous silicates such as MCM-41 at room temperature has been achieved by employing a tubular reactor in which tetraethoxysilane was used as the silicate source (see schematic representation below). The formation of the hexagonal mesophase, which was monitored by using in situ XRD at different points of the tube, was completed in three minutes after mixing of the reactants. The product was stable to calcination, and N -sorption measurements confirmed the high surface area and narrow pore-size distribution.