Gold-Based Nanocatalysts for Acetylene Hydrochlorination and Water-Gas Shift Reactions
This research community develops heterogeneous catalysts, primarily using gold nanoparticles and nanoporous gold structures, to drive two specific industrial chemical reactions: the conversion of acetylene to vinyl chloride and the water-gas shift reaction for hydrogen production.
The work focuses on engineering the surface chemistry of gold, often supported on oxides or carbon, to enhance selectivity and activity. Key recurring themes include the synthesis of nanoporous gold and gold clusters, the study of active sites in bimetallic systems (such as gold-copper or gold-palladium), and the optimization of reaction conditions for selective oxidation and hydrochlorination. The research also addresses the stability of these catalysts under harsh conditions, including high-temperature water-gas shift operations and the prevention of metal dealloying or aggregation. Specific applications named in the literature include the production of vinyl chloride monomer, the generation of hydrogen from carbon monoxide and steam, and the selective oxidation of alcohols and glycerol to value-added chemicals.
The largest share of the community's output is found in gold research, accounting for 1.6% of all tracked gold research, with 2,884 papers in this group. Carbon research also features prominently, contributing 1,037 papers, which represents 0.1% of total carbon research tracked.
The community comprises 6,836 papers, publishing most frequently in the Journal of Catalysis, Catalysis Today, and Catalysis Letters.
Recent work continues to explore interface engineering in gold catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination, the development of low-temperature water-gas shift catalysts using copper and silver single atoms, and the design of nanoporous gold architectures for emerging applications.