Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1038/s41929-026-01482-2
Yachao Zeng, Manman Qi, Jiashun Liang, Raphael P. Hermann, Haoran Yu, Michael J. Zachman, Chun-Wai Chang, Marcos Lucero, Zhenxing Feng, David A. Cullen, Deborah J. Myers, Jean-Pol Dodelet, Gang Wu
The activity–stability trade-off challenges the design of high-performance atomically dispersed iron–nitrogen–carbon (Fe–N–C) catalysts for the acidic oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Here we develop an in situ chemical vapour deposition approach during catalyst synthesis to break the trade-off, producing highly stable Fe–N–C catalysts while maintaining adequate oxygen reduction reaction activity. The optimal catalyst exhibits a half-wave potential of 0.867 V, remaining unchanged after an accelerated stress test (AST) of 100,000 potential cycles in rotating disk electrode tests. In membrane electrode assemblies under H2–air conditions, it delivers 93 mA cm−2 at 0.8 V after a standard AST of 30,000 voltage cycles, and shows minimal current density losses (2.9% at 0.6 V; 14.2% at 0.7 V) after an extended AST up to 120,000 cycles. The catalyst’s durability improvement is primarily due to the in situ chemical vapour deposition, which strengthens Fe–N bonds, increases active-site density, mitigates iron aggregates and reduces surface porosity. Single iron atoms on nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts are a promising alternative to platinum for the oxygen reduction reaction on fuel cell cathodes, but commonly suffer from low stability. Here an in situ chemical vapour deposition synthetic approach is presented, enabling high iron active site dispersion and reducing surface porosity, which mitigates demetallation and carbon corrosion, ensuring high activity and stability.
聚合物电解质燃料电池中用于酸性氧还原反应的高性能原子分散铁氮碳（Fe-N-C）催化剂的设计面临着活性-稳定性权衡的挑战。在这里，我们在催化剂合成过程中开发了一种原位化学气相沉积方法来打破权衡，生产出高度稳定的Fe-N-C催化剂，同时保持足够的氧还原反应活性。最佳催化剂的半波电势为0.867 V，在旋转圆盘电极加速应力测试（AST）中进行10万次电势循环后保持不变。在h2 -空气条件下的膜电极组件中，在标准AST的30,000个电压循环后，它在0.8 V下提供93 mA cm - 2，并且在扩展AST高达120,000个循环后显示最小的电流密度损失（0.6 V时2.9%；0.7 V时14.2%）。催化剂耐久性的提高主要是由于原位化学气相沉积，它加强了Fe-N键，增加了活性位点密度，减轻了铁聚集，减少了表面孔隙率。氮掺杂碳催化剂上的单铁原子是替代铂在燃料电池阴极上进行氧还原反应的一个很有前途的选择，但通常存在稳定性不高的问题。本文提出了一种原位化学气相沉积合成方法，使高铁活性位点分散，减少表面孔隙率，从而减轻脱金属和碳腐蚀，确保高活性和稳定性。
{"title":"Regulating in situ gaseous deposition to construct highly durable Fe–N–C oxygen-reduction fuel cell catalysts","authors":"Yachao Zeng, Manman Qi, Jiashun Liang, Raphael P. Hermann, Haoran Yu, Michael J. Zachman, Chun-Wai Chang, Marcos Lucero, Zhenxing Feng, David A. Cullen, Deborah J. Myers, Jean-Pol Dodelet, Gang Wu","doi":"10.1038/s41929-026-01482-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-026-01482-2","url":null,"abstract":"The activity–stability trade-off challenges the design of high-performance atomically dispersed iron–nitrogen–carbon (Fe–N–C) catalysts for the acidic oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Here we develop an in situ chemical vapour deposition approach during catalyst synthesis to break the trade-off, producing highly stable Fe–N–C catalysts while maintaining adequate oxygen reduction reaction activity. The optimal catalyst exhibits a half-wave potential of 0.867 V, remaining unchanged after an accelerated stress test (AST) of 100,000 potential cycles in rotating disk electrode tests. In membrane electrode assemblies under H2–air conditions, it delivers 93 mA cm−2 at 0.8 V after a standard AST of 30,000 voltage cycles, and shows minimal current density losses (2.9% at 0.6 V; 14.2% at 0.7 V) after an extended AST up to 120,000 cycles. The catalyst’s durability improvement is primarily due to the in situ chemical vapour deposition, which strengthens Fe–N bonds, increases active-site density, mitigates iron aggregates and reduces surface porosity. Single iron atoms on nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts are a promising alternative to platinum for the oxygen reduction reaction on fuel cell cathodes, but commonly suffer from low stability. Here an in situ chemical vapour deposition synthetic approach is presented, enabling high iron active site dispersion and reducing surface porosity, which mitigates demetallation and carbon corrosion, ensuring high activity and stability.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 2","pages":"196-210"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is one of the most valuable methods for constructing the β-carbon chirality centre because of its atom economy and efficiency. However, the catalytic asymmetric reverse α-addition of a nucleophile to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is much less common. Here we realize a palladium-catalysed asymmetric α-carboranylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids via an inverse electron-demand nucleophilic addition. The reaction features good B(9)-site selectivity of o/m-carboranes, precise α-regioselectivity towards α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, wide functional group tolerance and excellent enantioselectivities. A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed based on experimental and computational results that elucidates the origin of the enantioselectivity and α-selectivity. This finding has a guiding significance for the catalytic asymmetric anti-Michael-type addition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and provides a different avenue for synthesizing α-chiral carboxylic acids. The catalytic asymmetric Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is one of the most valuable methods for the construction of β-carbon chiral centres. Now the authors report a Pd-catalysed asymmetric anti-Michael-type addition of carboranes to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.
{"title":"Palladium-catalysed asymmetric anti-Michael-type addition of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with carboranes","authors":"Chao Lei, Wen Lu, Tingting Shen, Meng Huang, Yan-Xuan Wu, Donghui Wei, Yan-Na Ma, Xuenian Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41929-026-01480-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-026-01480-4","url":null,"abstract":"The catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is one of the most valuable methods for constructing the β-carbon chirality centre because of its atom economy and efficiency. However, the catalytic asymmetric reverse α-addition of a nucleophile to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is much less common. Here we realize a palladium-catalysed asymmetric α-carboranylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids via an inverse electron-demand nucleophilic addition. The reaction features good B(9)-site selectivity of o/m-carboranes, precise α-regioselectivity towards α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, wide functional group tolerance and excellent enantioselectivities. A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed based on experimental and computational results that elucidates the origin of the enantioselectivity and α-selectivity. This finding has a guiding significance for the catalytic asymmetric anti-Michael-type addition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and provides a different avenue for synthesizing α-chiral carboxylic acids. The catalytic asymmetric Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is one of the most valuable methods for the construction of β-carbon chiral centres. Now the authors report a Pd-catalysed asymmetric anti-Michael-type addition of carboranes to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 2","pages":"161-172"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1038/s41929-026-01497-9
Qingyun Dan, Yan Chiu, Namil Lee, Jose Henrique Pereira, Behzad Rad, Xixi Zhao, Kai Deng, Yiou Rong, Chunjun Zhan, Yan Chen, Seokjung Cheong, Chenyi Li, Jennifer W. Gin, Andria Rodrigues, Trent R. Northen, Tyler W. H. Backman, Edward E. K. Baidoo, Christopher J. Petzold, Paul D. Adams, Jay D. Keasling
{"title":"Author Correction: A polyketide-based biosynthetic platform for diols, amino alcohols and hydroxy acids","authors":"Qingyun Dan, Yan Chiu, Namil Lee, Jose Henrique Pereira, Behzad Rad, Xixi Zhao, Kai Deng, Yiou Rong, Chunjun Zhan, Yan Chen, Seokjung Cheong, Chenyi Li, Jennifer W. Gin, Andria Rodrigues, Trent R. Northen, Tyler W. H. Backman, Edward E. K. Baidoo, Christopher J. Petzold, Paul D. Adams, Jay D. Keasling","doi":"10.1038/s41929-026-01497-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-026-01497-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 2","pages":"223-223"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-026-01497-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1038/s41929-026-01483-1
Jan-Stefan Voeller
{"title":"Cascade control pays dividends","authors":"Jan-Stefan Voeller","doi":"10.1038/s41929-026-01483-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-026-01483-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 1","pages":"2-2"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1038/s41929-025-01475-7
Tengfei Pang, Yangjinxiu Zhou, Yuzhou Wu
New-to-nature photometabolisms are highly intriguing for manufacturing but difficult to achieve. Now, Escherichia coli engineering integrates flavin-based photobiocatalysis with natural enzymatic reactions, achieving efficient semi- and complete photobiosynthesis of diverse unnatural products, demonstrating scalable manufacturing in bioreactors.
{"title":"Light-driven metabolic makeover","authors":"Tengfei Pang, Yangjinxiu Zhou, Yuzhou Wu","doi":"10.1038/s41929-025-01475-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-025-01475-7","url":null,"abstract":"New-to-nature photometabolisms are highly intriguing for manufacturing but difficult to achieve. Now, Escherichia coli engineering integrates flavin-based photobiocatalysis with natural enzymatic reactions, achieving efficient semi- and complete photobiosynthesis of diverse unnatural products, demonstrating scalable manufacturing in bioreactors.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 1","pages":"5-6"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1038/s41929-026-01485-z
This Editorial highlights some potential pitfalls occasionally encountered within point-to-point response letters to the reviewers.
这篇社论强调了在给审稿人的点对点回复信中偶尔遇到的一些潜在陷阱。
{"title":"Straight to the point-to-point response","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41929-026-01485-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-026-01485-z","url":null,"abstract":"This Editorial highlights some potential pitfalls occasionally encountered within point-to-point response letters to the reviewers.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 1","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-026-01485-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1038/s41929-025-01466-8
Mark Mba Wright
A cobalt-doped RuO2 catalyst enables proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolysers to operate on inexpensive reverse-osmosis water for thousands of hours by blocking chloride and cation impurities. Dual interfacial shielding preserves membrane conductivity, suppresses chlorine evolution and minimizes metal dissolution. This strategy lowers capital and operating costs while maintaining high current densities, advancing practical low-purity-water hydrogen production.
{"title":"Shielding PEM electrolysers from real-world water","authors":"Mark Mba Wright","doi":"10.1038/s41929-025-01466-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-025-01466-8","url":null,"abstract":"A cobalt-doped RuO2 catalyst enables proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolysers to operate on inexpensive reverse-osmosis water for thousands of hours by blocking chloride and cation impurities. Dual interfacial shielding preserves membrane conductivity, suppresses chlorine evolution and minimizes metal dissolution. This strategy lowers capital and operating costs while maintaining high current densities, advancing practical low-purity-water hydrogen production.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"9 1","pages":"7-8"},"PeriodicalIF":44.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：