Types Of Catalysts Research Articles

In situ-generated mononuclear half-sandwich [(η6‐p‐cymene)RuCl(amide)] complexes as efficient catalysts in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde

The application of in situ-generated mononuclear Ru(II)-organometallic complexes (1–7) i.e., [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(L)], produced by the interaction of Ru dimer [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 with some polyfunctional amide ligands(L) as highly efficient catalystsin the oxidation of various benzyl alcohols (B-OLs) by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) oxidant to produce selectively the benzaldehydes (B-ALs) in high yields in CH3CN is described. The in situ-generated catalysts were found to be highly active than the [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 precursor (dimer) in the oxidation of B-OL to B-AL. The influence of various reaction parameters such as type of catalyst, reaction temperature, oxidant and solvent during the B-OL oxidation was systematically monitored to optimize the catalytic conditions. In order to confirm the formation of predicted in situ-generated mononuclear Ru(II) complex catalysts during the oxidation of B-OL, one of the Ru(II) complex (1) was synthesized and characterized by Elemental analysis (EA), Infrared (IR), Proton-NMR and Mass spectral techniques and its mono nuclear structure is proposed. Further, it was observed that the activity of in-situ generated and pre-synthesized Ru(II) catalyst was almost same in the oxidation of B-OL to B-AL.

Catalytic co-gasification optimization of biomass and polyethylene wastes in oxygen-rich environments

The catalytic co-gasification of pine wood, palm kernel shell (PKS), and bamboo with varying polyethylene (PE) ratios is investigated to optimize syngas production and identify the effects of different experimental parameters. Oxygen-rich carrier gases are used with an equivalence ratio (ER) of 0.3 at 750 ℃ for gasification. Gasification experiments are devised using the Taguchi method alongside the Box-Behnken Design (BBD), emphasizing four key experimental variables: biomass feedstock, PE ratio, oxygen concentration, and catalyst. In both the Taguchi method and the BBD, the highest cold gas efficiency (CGE) is 65.70%, while the highest carbon conversion (CC) value reaches 86.17%. The parameters yielding these results utilize the P1 catalyst, 29% oxygen concentration, pinewood feedstock, and 50% PE ratio. The key determinant impacting CGE is the polyethylene (PE) ratio within the feed, whereas for CC, it is the catalyst type. The ANOVA-developed prediction model from the BBD currently achieves an R2 of 0.9191 for CGE and 0.9129 for CC. In contrast, the ANN prediction model, employing the Taguchi method, yields an R2 of 0.9708 for CGE and 0.9644 for CC. Furthermore, utilizing an ANN model with the BBD generates an R2 of 0.9734 for CGE and 0.9471 for CC. The developed models can accurately predict CGE and CC. However, the BBD models exhibit superior prediction accuracy compared to the Taguchi model, which is attributed to their larger database for testing. This highlights the effectiveness of both techniques in predicting gasification outcomes, with the neural network model demonstrating superior accuracy in evaluating experimental results.

Plasma‐electrified synthesis of atom‐efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable water catalysis and beyond

The downsizing of metal structures to the nano and atomic level, thereby creating nanoparticle catalysts (NPCs), sub‐nanometer cluster catalysts (SNCCs) or single atom catalysts (SACs), has gained significant interest. In particular, synthesizing these types of catalysts using low temperature plasma electrified methods is an emerging field which is highly applicable to electrochemical water splitting for the sustainable production of green hydrogen. Surface modification via plasma treatment provides a route for nanoparticle immobilization or single atom trapping which ensures high atom utilization during electrolysis reactions. Plasma can also be used to create NPCs, SNCCs and SACs from various precursors as well as modify their surface properties once formed which impacts significantly on the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction. Therefore, in this review we emphasize the role that low temperature plasma electrified synthetic strategies play in electrocatalyst development for water splitting reactions and explore the crucial relationship between the electronic and coordination environment of atom efficient catalysts and their resulting catalytic activity. We also discuss methods to characterize these types of catalysts and the possibility for scaling up this technology which will be required for commercial applications.

Faster and greater moisture curing ethylene‐silane copolymers with good shelf stabilities

AbstractVinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) functionalized ethylenic polymers, in the form of reactor‐made ethylene‐silane copolymers as well as post‐reactor made silane‐grafted ethylene polymers, were evaluated for the purpose of moisture‐induced crosslinking through hydrolysis and condensation reactions. The copolymers were of 1.6 wt% or 4.2 wt% VTMS contents, and the silane‐grafted resins ranged in VTMS contents from 1.1 to 3.7 wt%. The silane‐grafted materials were very reactive under humid conditions at room temperature, resulting in very poor shelf stabilities manifested in sharp drops in their melt indices over time (changes that in the early stages were dominated mostly by resin molecular weight distribution and/or branching, and in the later stages much more by silane content). In sharp contrast, the ethylene‐silane copolymers exhibited outstanding shelf stabilities over time even at relatively high silane content, indicating desirably low reactivities in the absence of moisture‐cure catalyst. When formulated with catalyst, and exposed to humid conditions, the cure characteristics of the silane functionalized ethylene polymers varied significantly, with the fastest and greatest crosslinking observed using the ethylene‐silane copolymer of 4.2 wt% VTMS content and remarkably excellent shelf stability. Analyses of reaction rates revealed very interesting trends, depending on type of catalyst (tin or sulfonic acid) and resin.Highlights Ethylene‐silane copolymers and silane‐grafted ethylene polymers were studied. Copolymers exhibited vastly superior shelf stabilities than grafted materials. Catalyst type and loading affected moisture‐induced crosslinkability. Increased silane content in copolymer led to faster and greater crosslinking. Best balance of crosslinkability and shelf stability obtained with copolymers.

Organocatalytic Stereoselective Synthesis of Dihydrocoumarins

Abstract: Dihydrocoumarins play pivotal roles as essential components in biologically active molecules, drugs, and flavor and fragrance compounds. In particular, chiral 3,4- dihydrocoumarins exist in natural products, exhibit less toxicity, and possess structural diversity and stability. Consequently, the asymmetric synthesis of these scaffolds has garnered considerable attention within the chemistry community. Recent advancements have witnessed their synthesis achieved through both metal and organocatalyzed approaches. In this review, we analyze and discuss the advancements made in chiral-organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of dihydrocoumarins since 2015. This review is structured according to the type of catalyst employed in the transformation, providing a comprehensive examination of the recent developments in this field.

Artificial intelligence-implemented prediction and cost-effective optimization of micropollutant photodegradation using g-C3N4/Bi2O3 heterojunction

Micropollutants pose a formidable hazard to human health, however, conventional water treatment fails to efficiently and economically eliminate them. The imperative need for real-time concentration monitoring of these micropollutants, vital for effective elimination and cost optimization, has proven elusive without the intervention of artificial intelligence. To bridge these critical gaps, g-C3N4/Bi2O3 heterojunction was proposed as an efficient catalyst to eliminate recalcitrate micropollutants under visible light in this study, demonstrating a 1.8-fold increase in catalytic efficiency compared to g-C3N4, and furthermore, artificial intelligence models, i.e., the proposed Long short-term memory combined with Gated residual network (ALG) and Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG), were employed for real-time concentration prediction of micropollutants (R2 = 0.9541) and their treatment processing optimization, respectively. The predominant active species for degrading micropollutants were identified as O2•− and 1O2. We proved that HOO• serves as an intermediate to transform HO• and H2O2 generated in-situ to O2•− and 1O2, further enhancing micropollutant elimination. Compared to other models, the ALG demonstrated significantly lower root mean square error (RMSE = 0.0432) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE = 4.8273). Weight analysis revealed that Catalyst Type (31.80 %) is the most critical factor. Finally, the proposed DDPG model dynamically adjusted its treatment strategy, aiming to discover an optimal balance among cost, reaction time, and removal efficiency. This study provides mechanistic insights into the pivotal roles of artificial intelligence in prediction and cost-effective optimization of micropollutant elimination.

Effects of Acid Sites on Thin MCM‐22 Zeolite Catalysts and Their Catalytic Applications for Acetylene Aromatization

AbstractTwo types of thin zeolite MCM‐22 catalysts were prepared by using a carbon sphere template. By applying different calcination methods, a hollow sphere‐type MCM‐22 catalyst (HS‐MCM‐22) and a nanosheet‐type MCM‐22 catalyst (NS‐MCM‐22) were synthesized. Those catalysts were tested and evaluated for acetylene aromatization to see the effects of thin structures. The two types of thin catalysts were found to have higher amounts of acid sites than those of the conventional MCM‐22 catalyst. It was found that the extremely short diffusion length not only enhanced the aromatic yield, but also suppressed the formation of graphitic coke. Notably, the diffusion length of NS‐MCM‐22 was found to be at least 15 times shorter than that of conventional MCM‐22, leading to an 11% and 18% increase in benzene yield, respectively. The thin structure seemed to help the produced aromatics efficiently desorb before they were further converted into carbon precursors and coke. According to the thermogravimetric analysis, the carbon species in the spent thin catalysts were found less graphitic than that of the conventional MCM‐22 catalyst. Because of this, the thin MCM‐22 catalysts were believed to show higher coke removal capability. Especially, the coke removal rate of NS‐MCM‐22 was estimated over 90% despite the severe carbon deposition during the reaction.

A Click Chemistry Strategy Toward Spin-Polarized Transition-Metal Single Site Catalysts for Dynamic Probing of Sulfur Redox Electrocatalysis.

Catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) is a crucial approach to enhance the redox kinetics and suppress the shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. However, the roles of a typical heterogenous catalyst cannot be easily identified due to its structural complexity. Compared with the distinct sites of single atom catalysts (SACs), each active site of single site catalysts (SSCs) is identical and uniform in their spatial energy, binding mode, and coordination sphere, etc. Benefiting from the well-defined structure, iron phthalocyanine (FePc) is covalently clicked onto CuO nanosheet to prepare low spin-state Fe SSCs as the model catalyst for Li-S electrochemistry. The periodic polarizability evolution of Fe-N bonding is probed during sulfur redox reaction by in situ Raman spectra. Theoretical analysis shows the decreased d-band center gap of Fe (Δd) and delocalization of dxz/dyz after the axial click confinement. Consequently, Li-S batteries with Fe SSCs exhibit a capacity decay rate of 0.029% per cycle at 2 C. The universality of this methodological approach is demonstrated by a series of M SSCs (M = Mn, Co, and Ni) with similar variation of electronic configuration. This work provides guidance for the design of efficient electrocatalysis in Li-S batteries.

Switchable transformation of biomass-derived furfural to furfuryl alcohol and isopropyl furfuryl ether over a zirconium-based bifunctional catalyst

Selectively converting biomass-derived furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA) and isopropyl furfuryl ether (IPFE) via the same catalytic system is an important strategy for the production of high-value chemicals and fuels. However, this strategy still faces a great challenge because the formation of FFA and IPFE requires different catalyst types and reaction conditions. Hence, developing a compatible catalytic system is extremely necessary. In this work, we designed a high-efficiency zirconium-based bifunctional catalyst (Zr-HC-SO3H), simultaneously containing Lewis acid-base sites (Zr4+–O2−) and Brønsted acid sites (–SO3H), which were mainly responsible for the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction reaction of FF and further etherification reaction of FFA, respectively. By controlling reaction conditions, the action orders and catalytic activities of Zr4+–O2− and –SO3H could be accurately regulated. Thus, Zr-HC-SO3H showed excellent catalytic performance for the switchable transformation of FF, leading to 98.9 % FFA yield at 120 °C for 4 h and 95.1 % IPFE yield at 170 °C for 12 h in isopropanol (iPrOH). Additionally, the analysis results of reaction pathways indicated that the etherification of FFA was much more difficult than the reduction of FF over Zr-HC-SO3H in iPrOH, so IPFE was only formed under the harsher reaction conditions. More significantly, Zr-HC-SO3H also catalyzed the switchable transformation of many other carbonyl compounds and demonstrated satisfactory catalytic universality in iPrOH. In conclusion, this work offered some momentous clues for the development of multipurpose catalytic systems and the controllable synthesis of valuable products in the biorefinery process.

A New Type of Composite Catalyst α-nBACoPc/SnO2 Synergistic Photo-Catalytic Degradation of Dyes

A New Type of Composite Catalyst α-nBACoPc/SnO2 Synergistic Photo-Catalytic Degradation of Dyes

Zeolite-modified alumina-bead catalyst for hierarchical cracking of bulky molecules

A novel zeolite-modified alumina-bead catalyst (ZSM-5/Al2O3-b) was prepared via calcining zeolite-coated alumina-bead material (Al2O3-b@ZSM-5) to graft zeolitic acid sites on the alumina-bead surface. The acid catalyst proved high activity and more 8 times catalytic efficiency than the corresponding ZSM-5(5 %) + Al2O3 mechanically mixed catalyst for cracking of 1, 3, 5-triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) in the FCC simulation reactor with short contact time. The characterization results showed that the surface property of the alumina-beads has been modified and the interface connection of Si-O-Al bonds between zeolitic nanoparticles and alumina resulted in stable zeolite particles on the alumina surface and the structural stability in hot water. The excellent catalytic performances are ascribed to the decrease of diffusion limitation of reactants and intermediates and the increase of Brønsted acid sites on the ZSM-5/Al2O3-b catalyst. The grafted/modified alumina-bead catalyst can be directly used in practical catalytic cracking of large molecules without forming. This strategy can be extended to the preparation of other types of zeolite-containing catalysts and industrial applications.

Performance of oriented strand board bonded with a hybrid phenol-formaldehyde/polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate adhesives system

A hybrid adhesive system composed of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI), modified with two types of alkaline catalysts, namely NaOH and CaCO3 at 20% (w/v), was used for manufacturing the oriented strand board (OSB) from sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria L. Nielsen) wood. The catalyst was added at a concentration of 1% of the solids content of PF adhesive, and pMDI was added at 2.5% and 5.0% of the PF adhesive solids content. Adding catalysts and cross-linking agents increased the solids content and viscosity of the adhesive and accelerated the gelation time. The water absorption of OSB increased with the addition of catalysts and crosslinking agents compared to the control PF. Still, the CaCO3 catalyst worked optimally in reducing the thickness swelling of OSB. The mechanical properties of the laboratory-fabricated OSB panels increased with the addition of catalyst and cross-linker, except for the modulus of elasticity parallel to the grain. The optimal performance of OSB was obtained by adding 1% CaCO3 and 2.5% pMDI based on the PF’s solids content.

Dry reforming of toluene over Ni/pyrochlore catalysts with A-site Sr doping

Dry reforming with CO2 is one potential method for tar removal and further production of syngas in biomass gasification, but the crucial catalysts with good reaction characteristics are still being developed. In the work, Ni/pyrochlore was proposed to be utilized as catalysts in the dry reforming of tar, and thermodynamic calculation, reaction progress test, and materials characterization were conducted to reveal dry reforming characteristics over Ni/pyrochlore catalysts and the reaction mechanism behind. Results show that YS0.2C catalyst exhibits the best activity (toluene and CO2 conversion of 70.1% and 79.5%) and stability among all catalysts under the optimized conditions of 700 °C with a CO2/toluene molar ratio of 7. Analysis on physicochemical properties of the catalysts indicate Sr doping can effectively promote catalytic reforming by enhanced interaction between Ni and support, CO2 adsorption and oxygen mobility. The work offers a promising catalyst type in improving tar removal by dry reforming.

Photodegradation of Amoxicillin in Aqueous Systems: A Review.

Amoxicillin (AMX) is utilized in the treatment of several infectious diseases, and its concentration in wastewater has increased quite significantly over the years, posing high health hazards for humans and other living organisms. Investigations are in progress globally to eliminate AMX and other related pollutants using several methods that include adsorption, photolysis, photocatalytic degradation, photoelectrocatalytic degradation, and electrochemical conversion. AMX can be eliminated efficiently from the environment using photodegradation, either by photolysis or a photocatalytic process. Several types of semiconductor NMs have been used to eliminate AMX and other related drugs present in wastewater. This review spans the photodegradation studies conducted during the years 2018-2024 to degrade and eliminate AMX in aquatic systems. Several studies have been reported to eliminate AMX from different water streams. These studies are categorized into TiO2-containing and non-TiO2-based catalysts for better comparison. A section on photolysis is also included, showing the use of UV alone or with H2O2 or PS without using any nanomaterial. A tabulated summary of both types of catalysts showing the catalysts, reaction conditions, and degradation efficiency is presented. Researchers have used a variety of reaction conditions that include radiation types (UV, solar, and visible), pH of the solution, concentration of AMX, number of nanomaterials, presence of other additives and activators such as H2O2 as oxidant, and the influence of different salts like NaCl and CaCl2 on the photodegradation efficiency. TiO2 was the best nanomaterial found that achieved the highest degradation of AMX in ultraviolet irradiation. TiO2 doped with other nanomaterials showed very good performance under visible light. WO3 was also used by several investigators and found quite effective for AMX degradation. Other metal oxides used for AMX elimination were derived from molybdenum, zinc, manganese, copper, cerium, silver, etc. Some researchers have used UV and/or visible irradiation or sunlight, without using solid catalysts, in the presence of oxidants such as H2O2. A summarized description of earlier published reviews is also presented.

Valorizing waste activated sludge incineration ash to S-doped Fe2+@Zeolite 4A catalyst for the treatment of emerging contaminants exemplified by sulfamethoxazole

The global attention towards waste management and valorization has led to significant interest in recovering valuable components from sludge incineration ash (SIA) for the synthesis of functional environmental materials. In this study, the SIA was converted to an S-doped Fe2+-zeolite type catalyst (FZA) for the treatment of emerging contaminants (ECs), exemplified by sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Results demonstrate that FZA effectively catalyzed the activation of peracetic acid (PAA), achieving a remarkable degradation of 99.8% under optimized conditions. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the FZA/PAA system can generate ·OH, 1O2, O2·－, and Fe(Ⅳ), with ·OH playing a dominant role in ECs degradation. Additionally, the doped S facilitated electrochemical performance, Fe2+ regeneration and fixation in FZA. Practical application elucidated that the FZA/PAA system can work in complex environments to degrade various ECs without generating high-toxicity ingredients. Overall, valorizing SIA to FZA provides dual achievement in waste management and ECs removal.

Investigation of membrane-electrode assembly parameters for double-layer anion-exchange membrane-unitized regenerative fuel cell

In this study, we investigate various membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) parameters in the oxygen and hydrogen electrodes for high-efficiency anion-exchange membrane-unitized regenerative fuel cell (AEM_URFC). The effects of catalyst loadings, types of porous transport layer (PTL), and oxygen and hydrogen catalysts were optimized to improve the efficiency of the AEM_URFC. The PTL results indicated that the PTL suitable for fuel cell (FC) exhibited high round-trip efficiency (RTE). Additionally, the types of hydrogen electrode (Pt/C and PtRu/C) were examined. Additionally, AEM_URFCs with different oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst types (Pt/C and Pt black), and ORR and oxygen evolution reaction catalyst loadings were evaluated. Through our investigations, we developed a high-efficiency AEM_URFC with an RTE of 65.9 % at 20 mA cm−2 (0.871 and 1.572 V (FC and WE modes, respectively)). Moreover, the performance of this AEM_URFC is superior to that of other AEM_URFCs reported in the literature, which is attributed to the reduced ohmic resistance loss caused by the electrical conductivity and hydrophobicity of carbon PTL. Moreover, the AEM_URFC was durable for 5 cycles, indicating that it is cyclable under URFC operation.

Chemical vapor deposition assisted the construction of Fe clusters modified single-atom Fe sites for efficient ORR catalysis

Iron-based atomic single-site catalysts are a type of promising catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions. However, these catalysts are still faced with challenges such as insufficient catalytic activity and poor stability. Fe clusters and Fe single atoms were simultaneously loaded on porous carbon using chemical vapor deposition in this study. The aim is to induce the redistribution of electronic clouds on Fe single-atom sites through Fe clusters, improving their adsorption capacity for oxygen reduction reaction intermediates, and thus obtaining highly active catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction. Under alkaline conditions, the ORR activity of FeSA/FeAC@NC (half-wave potential E1/2 of 0.90 VRHE) was significantly higher than that of commercial Pt/C (0.87 VRHE) and FeSA@NC (0.87 VRHE). Furthermore, FeSA/FeAC@NC exhibited exceptional durability, with 97.5% current retention in the i-t stability test for 10,000s. Additionally, the zinc-air battery assembled with FeSA/FeAC@NC showed a power density of 225 mW cm−2 and an energy density of 1082.2 Wh kgZn−1, demonstrating considerable potential for practical applications.

Response optimisation of TiO2-supported bimetallic NiCo catalyst for the cracking and deoxygenation of waste cooking oil into jet-fuel range hydrocarbon fuels under non-hydrogen environment

Waste cooking oil is a sustainable feedstock that can be utilised to produce biojet fuel via the hydrodeoxygenation process. However, the need for hydrogen for the hydrodeoxygenation process incurs high cost. In the present work, a type of bimetallic catalyst that can deoxygenate and selectively crack free fatty acids under hydrogen-free conditions was developed. The NiCo/TiO2 catalyst was prepared via the impregnation of varying amounts of Ni and Co salts onto TiO2. Optimisation of the production conditions was performed via response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken experimental design to maximise the deoxygenation and biojet fuel yield. A maximum deoxygenation yield of 83.13 % with 44.5 % biojet fuel selectivity was obtained from the experiment and optimisation based on Box-Behnken design (R2 > 0.9). Incorporation of Ni and Co onto TiO2 reduced the surface area of the catalyst, but active metal dispersion significantly improved the deoxygenation performance and biojet fuel selectivity. The viscosity, flash point, freezing point and net heat of combustion value of the liquid product were within the jet fuel standard specifications. Overall, the study shows the potential of bimetallic NiCo/TiO2 catalyst in waste cooking oil deoxygenation for biojet fuel production.

Design a WO3/Zn heterojunction for boosting the photodegradation of Favipiravir in aqueous solutions

ABSTRACT This study was aimed at designing a new type of heterojunction catalyst for the degradation of Favipiravir using visible light. Several WO3–ZnO nanocomposites with different Zn contents varying from 1 to 20 wt% were successfully developed via a simple one-step microwave irradiation procedure. Various analytical methods, including XRD, TEM, FESEM, EDAX, FTIR, and BET, BJH characterised the WO3-Zn catalysts. XRD pattern revealed that the small size of Zn ions is caused by the easy penetration of Zn ions into the WO3 crystalline with a monoclinic phase, which will lead to an increase in the surface area and a decrease in the size of the particles. According to FESEM and TEM images, nanocomposite particles had a non-uniform, irregular shape and a smaller particle size (20 to 40 nm). EDAX analysis related to WO3-Zn synthesised showed the O, W and Zn elements are 10%, 67%, and 23%, respectively. Response surface methodology using R software was used as a tool to optimise the amount of catalyst and Favipiravir concentration, time and pH. Effective parameters in the process, including the amount of catalyst in the range (0.5 to 2.5 g L−1), Favipiravir concentration in the range (1–10 mg L−1), time in the range (10–90 min) and pH in the range (4 to 9) were entered into the software and analysed. Under the optimised conditions of the parameters (pH, 4.96; amount of catalyst, 2 g L−1; amount of Favipiravir concentration, 10 mg L−1; and time, 60 min), the maximum removal efficiency (99.99%) was obtained. Also, 85.8% of the mineralisation of Favipiravir was found under the determined optimum conditions. Quenching experiments were conducted to investigate the reaction mechanism, the results showed that superoxide and hydroxyl oxidising radicals play an essential role in Favipiravir degradation..

Coupling aquathermolysis of water-heavy oil-methanol catalyzed by o-phenanthroline-Cu(II) complex at low temperature

In this study, a Cu(II) coordinated complex was synthesized using o-phenanthroline and copper chloride. The synthesized complex, serving as a aquathermolysis catalyst, significantly reduces heavy oil viscosity at lower temperatures. Studies indicate that at a reaction temperature of 200 °C, with a catalyst concentration of 0.1% and a reaction duration of 6 h, heavy oil viscosity significantly reduces. Heavy oil viscosity dropped from 392,000 mPa∙s to 63,000 mPa∙s, achieving an 83.93% reduction rate. This catalyst maintains superior catalytic performance at lower temperatures compared to other catalyst types. Using methanol as a hydrogen donor further enhances the catalyst’s effect, increasing the heavy oil viscosity reduction rate from 83.93% to 88.63%. Thermogravimetric, four-component, and elemental analyses reveal that aquathermolysis of heavy oil primarily occurs in its heavier components. Following the aquathermolysis reaction, there is an increase in light components and a decrease in impurity atoms in heavy oil, resulting in improved crude oil quality.