The interdisciplinary team, including Martin Muhler, Catalina Leiva-Leroy, Moritz Lukas Krebs, Wolfgang Schuhmann, and Adarsh Koul, focused their study on electrocatalytic oxidation using a specially synthesized cobalt oxide (Co3O4) catalyst. Electrocatalysis offers remarkable precision and control, especially when integrated with renewable electricity sources. However, it traditionally suffers from lower production rates compared to conventional thermal methods.

Recognizing this limitation, the researchers ingeniously combined heat and electrical energy inputs to overcome kinetic barriers and improve reaction efficiency. By varying key parameters such as temperature and oxygen pressure, they found that the yield of valuable oxidation products—glycolate and formate—could be substantially increased. This process demonstrated high selectivity, ensuring that the desired chemicals were produced predominantly with minimal by-products.

Their findings reveal that this hybrid electrothermal mechanism not only enhances productivity but also opens pathways to more sustainable industrial practices. In environments where low-grade heat and oxygen are already available—often as by-products—this method could be integrated seamlessly, promoting more effective utilization of energy resources.

Wolfgang Schuhmann, a senior author of the study, emphasized the broader implications of their work: “Coupling electrical with thermal energy while simultaneously increasing efficiency is a general principle that can be transferred to a wide range of processes.” This insight suggests that the approach may have far-reaching applications across the chemical manufacturing sector and beyond.

The study, published in Angewandte Chemie, highlights how combining thermal and electrical stimuli can unlock new efficiencies that neither method could achieve alone. This dual activation strategy underlines a promising avenue for the future of green chemistry, especially in processes where selective oxidation is crucial.

By advancing the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol through such electrothermal catalysis, the research presents a compelling case for more sustainable industrial chemistry, particularly when paired with renewable energy technologies. As the global community strives for greener manufacturing methods, such innovations could play a pivotal role in lowering the environmental footprint of essential chemical production.

In conclusion, this research paves the way for next-generation, energy-efficient catalytic systems capable of utilizing both electrical and thermal energy streams. The strategic fusion of these energy forms marks an exciting step toward enhanced industrial processes that are environmentally benign and economically viable.

Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Electrothermal Oxidation of Ethylene Glycol Over Co3O4
News Publication Date: 18-Jun-2026
Web References: 10.1002/anie.1818551
Image Credits: © RUB, Kramer

Keywords

Electrocatalysis, Ethylene Glycol, Cobalt Oxide, Electrothermal Oxidation, Renewable Energy, Catalytic Efficiency, Green Chemistry, Chemical Manufacturing

Cyanohydrins, a valuable class of compounds characterized by the presence of a nitrile and hydroxyl group on the same carbon, serve as pivotal intermediates for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, including antidepressants and antiviral agents, as well as synthetic polymers. Their industrial synthesis conventionally depends on a multi-step protocol entailing the production of ammonia and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), both of which contribute substantially to the environmental footprint and involve significant safety hazards due to their toxicity and high reactivity. Consequently, the quest for a safer, more sustainable, and streamlined synthetic route has inspired intense research efforts for decades.

The team led by Professors Deng Dehui, Yu Liang, and Huang Rui has surpassed these long-standing hurdles by cleverly harnessing non-thermal plasma chemistry to initiate radical cascades, sparking a transformative reaction sequence. Non-thermal plasma, an ionized gas comprising energetic electrons without significantly heating the bulk gas medium, creates a reactive environment rich in radical species such as methyl (·CH₃), hydrogen (·H), and electronically excited nitrogen molecules. Through this high-energy yet low-temperature plasma excitation, otherwise inert molecules such as N₂ and CH₄ become chemically activated, enabling them to directly participate in complex bond formation steps that are traditionally inaccessible under mild conditions.

The core innovation involves the direct synthesis of cyclohexanone cyanohydrin (Cy(OH)CN) by reacting nitrogen and methane in the presence of cyclohexanone, mediated by plasma-generated radicals. According to the study, hydrogen radicals generated within the plasma first activate the carbonyl (C=O) group of cyclohexanone, driving the formation of hydroxy-cyclohexyl radical intermediates. These intermediates subsequently engage in carbon-carbon coupling with methyl radicals derived from methane, yielding α-CHₓ cyclohexanol derivatives. The crucial formation of a carbon-nitrogen (C–N) bond then arises via interaction with electronically excited nitrogen species, which, with the assistance of hydrogen radicals, undergo cleavage of the formidable nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond (N≡N). This cascade ultimately culminates in the highly selective production of cyclohexanone cyanohydrin while generating ammonia as a valuable co-product.

Remarkably, this plasma-cascade process achieves an exceptional selectivity of 95.8% toward Cy(OH)CN, with a yield of 23.9% and a formation rate of 0.60 mmol per hour. These metrics represent a substantial leap in efficiency, especially considering the relative inertness and abundance of the initial reactants—nitrogen and methane—under mild operational parameters. The process deftly eschews the need for costly and hazardous intermediates like ammonia and hydrogen cyanide, minimizing both environmental impact and safety concerns, and thus embodying principles of green chemistry.

The implications of this breakthrough extend beyond mere synthetic novelty. It exemplifies a paradigm shift towards the direct, atom-efficient utilization of small-molecule feedstocks, especially abundant gases conventionally viewed as chemically inert or challenging to activate. By exploiting plasma-driven radical chemistry, the DICP team has opened a new vista for the rational design of synthetic methods that reconcile sustainability with industrial practicability.

In addition, the method offers a compelling template for the production of other high-value carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (C–N–O) compounds. The modularity of plasma activation and radical-mediated pathways could inspire future applications where direct functionalization of hydrocarbons and atmospheric nitrogen is desired. This presents exciting prospects for mitigating reliance on fossil fuel–derived intermediates and reducing the carbon footprint of chemical manufacturing on a global scale.

The intricacy of the reaction mechanism was elucidated through extensive experimental analysis coupled with advanced spectroscopic and kinetic studies, revealing the dynamic interplay between plasma-generated radicals and molecular substrates. The control over radical generation and subsequent cascade reactions underscores the sophistication of the system, enabling high-fidelity bond construction amid reactive species’ complexity. This balance between radical reactivity and selectivity is a hallmark achievement in plasma chemistry and reactive intermediate manipulation.

Furthermore, the production of ammonia as a co-product aligns with broader sustainability goals, as ammonia itself is an essential chemical feedstock and fertilizer component. The co-generation of ammonia alongside target cyanohydrins from the same feedstocks hints at the economic attractiveness and resource efficiency of the plasma-cascade method, potentially integrating multiple chemical manufacturing streams into single, streamlined processes.

Professor Deng stated, “Our study establishes a new green reaction pathway for the direct one-step synthesis of cyanohydrins from nitrogen and methane with high selectivity, offering a new strategy for the direct and efficient utilization of inert small molecules under mild conditions.” This statement encapsulates the transformative potential of the research, envisioning a future where sustainable chemistry harnesses the full potential of earth-abundant molecules through innovative plasma technologies.

On a practical front, the process operates under ambient or near-ambient temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing energy input relative to conventional high-temperature catalytic systems. The non-thermal plasma conditions also circumvent catalyst deactivation issues, often encountered in traditional heterogeneous catalysis involving nitrogen fixation or methane activation. This robustness and operational simplicity may facilitate scalability and industrial adoption.

Overall, this research epitomizes the synthesis of fundamental discovery and applied innovation, placing non-thermal plasma-enabled radical cascade reactions at the forefront of sustainable chemical manufacturing. It holds promise for accelerating the transition towards green production methodologies in the pharmaceutical and materials sectors, aligning industrial practice with environmental stewardship.

As industries worldwide grapple with the imperative of carbon neutrality and resource efficiency, such inventive approaches to activating inert molecules and constructing complex organic frameworks may become cornerstones of next-generation chemical processes. The DICP team’s work vividly illustrates how the strategic convergence of plasma physics, radical chemistry, and molecular engineering can unlock new chemical frontiers with profound implications.

Subject of Research: Not applicable

Article Title: Direct plasma synthesis of a high-value C–N–O compound with inert N₂ and CH₄

News Publication Date: 21-Apr-2026

Web References:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-026-01055-y

References:
Not applicable

Image Credits: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP)

Keywords
Chemical engineering, plasma chemistry, radical cascade, nitrogen fixation, methane activation, cyanohydrins, green synthesis, cyclohexanone cyanohydrin, sustainable chemistry, non-thermal plasma, radical intermediates, ammonia co-production

At the heart of this breakthrough lies a carefully engineered catalytic system that exploits the unique interplay between two distinct redox-active sites. These sites facilitate targeted radical reactions, steering the coupling process toward the desired formamide product while suppressing undesired side reactions. The research team, led by Shen, Li, and their colleagues, meticulously dissected the mechanistic underpinnings governing radical intermediates, demonstrating how precise control over kinetic parameters can unlock unprecedented selectivity in complex reaction networks.

Radical chemistry, known for its highly reactive intermediates, has traditionally posed considerable challenges in synthetic control due to the transient nature and propensity for side reactions. However, by harnessing dual redox centers with complementary electron affinity and spatial arrangement, the study reveals a pathway to tame radical species effectively. This kinetic control is achieved by balancing reaction rates at each active site, enabling a stepwise, synchronized coupling event that emphasizes formamide formation.

The dual redox-active sites function through a finely tuned electron transfer mechanism that modulates the radical generation and consumption rates. By selectively accelerating the coupling between carbon-centered and nitrogen-centered radicals, the catalyst structure ensures that formamide is produced predominantly over other potential byproducts. This specificity not only improves yield but also significantly reduces the need for downstream purification, representing a major cost and environmental advantage.

In addition to catalytic innovation, the research extensively utilizes advanced spectroscopic and computational techniques to elucidate the radical coupling pathway. In situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy captures the formation and evolution of radical intermediates in real time, while density functional theory (DFT) calculations decode the energy landscape guiding the reaction kinetics. These combined insights confirm that the dual-site catalyst provides a unique microenvironment conducive to selective radical recombination.

The implications of this study are profound for green chemistry. By enabling selective synthesis under milder conditions with minimal waste, the kinetics-controlled radical coupling strategy aligns perfectly with sustainability goals. Chemical manufacturers can potentially adapt this system to generate a wide range of amide derivatives, reducing reliance on traditional ammonolysis processes that often involve harsh reagents and excessive energy consumption.

Crucially, the success of the dual redox-active catalyst stems from its rational design, which was informed by a deep understanding of electronic structure principles. The team systematically varied the redox potential of the active sites to harmonize the radical lifetimes and reactivity profiles. This delicate tuning ensures that radical species generated at one site are promptly coupled at the adjacent site, minimizing unproductive decay or dispersion into side pathways.

The research opens avenues beyond formamide synthesis, suggesting that similar dual-active-site architectures could mediate other challenging bond formations involving radical intermediates. This strategy could revolutionize cross-coupling reactions, polymerizations, and even transformations in organic electronics where radicals play a pivotal role. The innovative concept of merging kinetic control with spatially resolved redox sites promises broad applicability across synthetic chemistry.

Moreover, the catalytic system demonstrates remarkable robustness over extended reaction cycles, maintaining high selectivity and activity without significant degradation. This durability speaks to the practical viability of the approach for industrial-scale applications, where catalyst lifetime critically impacts process economics. The team’s future efforts will likely focus on scaling and integrating this system into continuous flow reactors to maximize throughput and operational efficiency.

Interdisciplinary collaboration was key to this success, blending expertise from materials science, mechanistic physical chemistry, and computational modeling. The study showcases how combining spectroscopic observations with theoretical predictions can unravel complex reaction dynamics that are otherwise inaccessible. Such integration sets a new standard for catalyst development paradigms and highlights the importance of kinetic control as a design principle.

In summary, the kinetics-controlled radical coupling on dual redox-active sites represents a landmark achievement in catalytic science. It addresses longstanding challenges in selective formamide production, presenting a pathway to tailor radical reactivity through site-specific electron management. This work not only offers a sustainable alternative to conventional synthesis routes but also inspires future innovations in radical-mediated transformations.

As industries increasingly prioritize environmentally benign processes, strategies such as this will be pivotal in meeting global demands for sustainable chemical production. The refinement of catalytic methods grounded in fundamental kinetics and redox chemistry promises to transform the landscape of synthetic organic chemistry, paving the way for greener, more efficient manufacturing technologies.

Looking ahead, further exploration of dual redox-active site catalysts will likely unravel new mechanisms and applications, extending beyond amides to a broad spectrum of nitrogen-containing molecules vital to pharmaceuticals, polymers, and materials science. This pioneering research thus sets a foundational milestone that will influence catalyst design for decades to come.

The research team’s findings underscore the critical interplay between kinetics and redox dynamics in achieving selective chemical synthesis. By harnessing dual, strategically positioned redox-active sites, they have demonstrated a powerful approach that converts radical intermediates from transient nuisances into precise agents of molecular construction. This conceptual advance redefines the possibilities for radical chemistry in complex molecular syntheses.

With its innovative catalyst design and comprehensive mechanistic insight, this study not only advances fundamental science but also offers practical tools for enhancing chemical manufacture sustainability. It lays the groundwork for future explorations that could dramatically reduce the environmental impact of producing key chemical intermediates worldwide, embodying a paradigm shift in radical reaction control.

Subject of Research:
Selective synthesis of formamide via radical coupling using dual redox-active catalytic sites

Article Title:
Kinetics-controlled radical coupling on dual redox-active sites for selective formamide production

Article References:
Shen, S., Li, J., Li, X. et al. Kinetics-controlled radical coupling on dual redox-active sites for selective formamide production. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72215-z

Image Credits:
AI Generated

Ammonia (NH₃) is vital not only because it serves as the primary ingredient in fertilisers feeding nearly half of the world’s population but also because its molecular structure—comprising three hydrogen atoms bonded to nitrogen—offers versatile applications in energy storage and transport. Unlike conventional efforts that produced ammonia dissolved in liquid form (ammonium, NH₄⁺), the University of Sydney team’s method achieves direct generation of ammonia gas, thus eliminating cumbersome steps and energy-intensive conversion processes traditionally required to extract usable gaseous ammonia.

The Haber-Bosch process, since its invention in the early 20th century, has been the backbone of global ammonia production. It operates by combining nitrogen and hydrogen gases at extremely high temperatures and pressures in the presence of catalysts. While transformative and pivotal for the modern agricultural revolution, this method involves significant carbon footprints and is economically feasible only at large scales near cheap natural gas sources. The environmental urgency to devise alternative methods capable of decentralised, scalable ammonia production has spurred extensive scientific pursuit worldwide.

Professor PJ Cullen and colleagues from the University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Net Zero Institute have been engaged in this ambitious endeavour for over six years. Their research, recently published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, introduces a plasma-based technique where electricity excites ambient air molecules, effectively mimicking the energetic conditions of lightning but in a controlled system. This plasma activates nitrogen and oxygen molecules, which—in a subsequent step—are converted into ammonia gas within a membrane-based electrolyser, a modestly sized silver device integral to the process.

The electrolyser operates by facilitating electrochemical reactions, selectively reducing nitrogen species while facilitating hydrogen incorporation, all within a carefully engineered membrane environment. The exciting discovery here lies in the synergy between plasma activation and electrolysis, creating a two-step process that streamlines ammonia synthesis directly from air, bypassing the conventional requirement of molecular hydrogen as a feedstock. This approach holds promise for dramatically reducing energy inputs and CO₂ emissions associated with ammonia manufacture.

One of the compelling implications of this process is its potential to decentralize ammonia production. Traditional plants consume vast resources and produce ammonia at large scales, necessitating extensive transport and storage logistics that further increase environmental and economic costs. The University of Sydney’s plasma-to-electrolyser configuration, being more compact and operable at ambient conditions, could empower localized ammonia generation, particularly benefiting agricultural communities and industries in remote or energy-constrained regions.

Beyond agriculture, ammonia’s relevance extends into the future of clean energy. Due to its high hydrogen content, ammonia can act as a hydrogen carrier, offering a stable and energy-dense medium for storage and transport. Industry stakeholders can “crack” ammonia molecules to release hydrogen for fuel cells or combustion, potentially leapfrogging many current challenges in hydrogen infrastructure. Furthermore, ammonia itself stands as a promising carbon-free fuel candidate, capturing the interest of sectors like maritime shipping responsible for substantial global greenhouse gas emissions.

The research team emphasizes that while the plasma component of their system has reached a level of energy efficiency and scalability considered commercially viable, the electrolyser efficiency must be improved for holistic competitiveness with the Haber-Bosch regime. Refining the electrochemical interfaces and materials that facilitate nitrogen reduction remains a focal point of their ongoing development efforts. Such advancements would lower the overall energy consumption and operational costs, accelerating green ammonia’s industrial adoption.

Fundamentally, this plasma-driven ammonia synthesis challenges preconceived limitations of chemical catalysis and process design. The controlled excitation of atmospheric constituents introduces reactive species otherwise unattainable under mild conditions, potentially unlocking novel catalytic pathways while simultaneously incorporating renewable electricity. This paradigm shift exemplifies how interdisciplinary innovation—bridging plasma physics, electrochemistry, and materials engineering—can forge new routes toward sustainable industrial chemistry.

Professor Cullen notes the broader impact of this technology extends into both environmental and socioeconomic realms. The democratization of ammonia production aligns with global net-zero ambitions and food security imperatives, especially in a world increasingly strained by climate instability. If successfully scaled beyond laboratory prototypes, plasma-driven, green ammonia synthesis could redefine fertilizer supply chains, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and foster resilient agriculture aligned with climate justice.

The research findings, detailed under the title “Regulating Multifunctional Oxygen Vacancies for Plasma-Driven Air-to-Ammonia Conversion,” are published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The study encompasses a rigorous experimental framework, including precise regulation of oxygen vacancies in catalytic materials, which are critical for enhancing plasma-electrolyser coupling and boosting ammonia yield. These materials innovations offer insights not only into ammonia synthesis but also inform next-generation catalysts pertinent to various energy conversion processes.

While commercial interests are acknowledged, with certain researchers affiliated with PlasmaLeap Technologies, the plasma technology used in this study is distinct and developed independently within the university’s research environment. This underscores the commitment to objective, foundational scientific exploration while simultaneously paving avenues for future industry collaboration.

As the global community accelerates toward sustainable energy and chemical production pathways, the University of Sydney’s plasma-powered green ammonia breakthrough constitutes a beacon of possibility—illuminating an alternative future where electricity, air, and innovative engineering converge to meet humanity’s pressing agricultural and energy demands with significantly reduced ecological footprints.

Subject of Research: Not applicable

Article Title: Regulating Multifunctional Oxygen Vacancies for Plasma-Driven Air-to-Ammonia Conversion

Web References:
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202508240

References:
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202508240

Image Credits: PJ Cullen / Plasmaleap

Keywords:
Alternative energy, Renewable energy, Fuel, Energy resources, Agriculture, Engineering, Agricultural engineering, Chemical engineering, Physical sciences, Biochemical engineering, Hydrogen storage, Ammonia, Aerospace engineering