Catalytic Conversion of Complex Reactant Systems Makes the World Greener, More Sustainable and Hopeful: Where and How to Go?

Abstract

Catalysis plays vital roles in chemical industries, which brings out significant convenience to human life in many aspects. With the development of both science and technology, various advanced and multivariate technologies have been cultivated in catalysis. Herein, a brief introduction in the frontiers of catalysis chemistry including single-atom catalysts, single crystal-based model catalysts, molecular switches catalysis and metal-organic frameworks / covalent-organic frameworks based catalysts has been given. Complex reactant systems (Biomass, vehicle exhausted gases, plastic wastes, and waste water) that featured with complex compositions, chemical-bonding and interactions endow researchers huge challenges to convert them to value-added chemicals or treat them to less-toxic or even non-toxic chemicals. Successes on catalytic conversion and degradation of these complex reactant systems sheds light on constructing a greener and more sustainable Earth via using both traditional and advanced catalysts combined with rational strategies. Progresses that achieved on the catalytic degradation of these complex reactant systems have been summarized here. However, the remaining issues concerned with these complex reactant systems drive us to think about how to further deal with them to achieve higher sustainability. Herein, four prospectives are proposed. We truly believe that with the continuous efforts on developing new catalysts with high efficiency and exploring reaction mechanisms under actual conditions towards these complex reactant systems, clearer understanding and better results could be achieved ultimately.