Conversion Pathways Research Articles

Advances in Phosphorus-Based Catalysts for Urea Electrooxidation: A Pathway to Sustainable Waste to Energy Conversion Through Electrocatalysis

The electrocatalytic oxidation of urea has gained significant attention as a promising pathway for sustainable energy conversion and wastewater treatment that could address the dual goals of waste remediation and renewable energy generation. Phosphorous function groups-based catalysts have been introduced as potential electrode materials for enhancing the urea electrocatalytic oxidation reaction (UEOR) due to their unique structural properties, high stability, and tunable electronic characteristics. This review presents recent advancements in phosphorous-based catalysts (phosphates/phosphides) for UEOR. It highlights the development of novel phosphorous materials, synthesis approaches, and electrocatalytic insights into urea electrooxidation on phosphorous-based materials surfaces. Key topics include the role of different metal phosphates, surface modifications, and compositional optimizations to improve electrocatalytic efficiency and durability. Through a critical evaluation of current research trends and technological progress, this review underscores the potential of phosphate-based catalysts as environmentally friendly and efficient alternatives for sustainable waste-to-energy conversion via UEOR. The review concludes with a perspective on future directions for optimizing phosphate catalysts, scaling up practical applications, and integrating UEOR systems into renewable energy infrastructures.

Exploration of microwave absorptivity and catalysis of CMF@Co-MoS2 for microwave-initiated depolymerization of lignin

Obtaining key platform chemicals from lignin is a sustainable refining concept of the non-petroleum route. Rapid pyrolysis is a potential refining technology, and microwave-assisted catalytic depolymerization with low energy consumption is preferred. Herein, we reported the strategy of microwave-initiated depolymerization using a self-designed dynamic vapor flow reaction system with a facilely prepared CMF@Co-MoS2-0.18 catalyst, achieving efficient conversion of lignin (Dealkalize) to monophenol. Under constant microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz), the CMF@Co-MoS2-0.18 catalyst had excellent dielectric properties (Dielectric loss factor: 0.56) and microwave heating properties (∼140 s rise to ∼ 600℃). Therefore, microwave-initiated depolymerization of lignin showed that the CMF@Co-MoS2-0.18 catalyst can improve the monophenol content (54.72 %) and phenol selectivity (35.84 %) under the synergistic effect of microwave absorptivity and catalysis. The reaction of the lignin model and kinetics analysis show that the CMF@Co-MoS2-0.18 catalyst increases the yield of monophenol by reducing depolymerization activation energy and selectively breaking the β-O-4 bond. The finite element analysis pointed out that under microwave irradiation, CMF@Co-MoS2-0.18 continuously conducted heat to lignin and the lignin vapor would have sufficient energy to collide with the catalyst active site at a high frequency, which led to an increase in the pre-exponential factor and initiated catalytic depolymerization lignin. In summary, we provide a potential pathway for the rapid conversion of lignin into key platform chemicals.

Insight into the reaction route and the effect of Brønsted and Lewis acid for alkylation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can be upgraded to ether as fuel or fuel additives through conversion of the hydroxyl and aldehyde groups. The two groups are always involved in different catalytic reactions, such as etherification, acetalization, hydrogen transfer reduction, and even ring-opening reactions. This makes the etherification upgrading of HMF with high selectivity to desired product a great challenge. In the present wok, transformation of HMF in isopropanol was systematically investigated over different catalysts with Brønsted acid and Lewis acid sites. The effect of catalytic sites on product distribution and selectivity was studied. Moreover, several products, such as 5-isopropoxymethylfurfural, 5-isopropoxymethylfurfuryl alcohol, 5-isopropoxymethylfurfuryl alcohol, and 2,5-furandimethanol, were obtained with high selectivity, and the conversion pathway of HMF with alcohols on different catalytic sites was revealed under different catalytic conditions. The transformation of HMF to furan triether products over multi-site catalyst was realized for the first time based on the proposed reaction pathway with excellent activity and selectivity.

Investigation of NO emission characteristics from co-combustion of methane and ammonia at high-altitude areas

The high-altitude areas of China are abundant in renewable energy and have a natural advantage in ammonia production. Based on this advantage, this paper proposes a co-combustion strategy for methane and ammonia to reduce carbon emissions in these areas. However, the NO emission characteristics associated with this strategy remain uncertain. A custom-designed combustion system capable of simulating high-altitude environments was used to investigate the effect of ammonia mixing ratio, equivalence ratio, and pressure on NO emission in methane/ammonia/air flames. Additionally, chemical kinetic calculations were conducted to explore the mechanisms of how sub-atmospheric pressure influences NO emission. The results indicate that for stoichiometric flames, NO increases with the ammonia mixing ratio. In fuel-rich flames, NO remains nearly constant once the ammonia mixing ratio exceeds 10%. Sub-atmospheric pressure leads to higher NO, particularly in fuel-rich flames, where the increase can reach up to 24.4%. Analysis of nitrogen reaction pathways and key radical concentrations reveals that sub-atmospheric pressure has a minimal effect on nitrogen conversion pathways. The variation in NO is achieved by altering the pathway contributions and the concentrations of H, NH, and N. This work provides direction and guidance for improving the application of methane and ammonia co-combustion in high-altitude areas.

Study on the degradation of methyl orange by UV-acetylacetone advanced oxidation system

In recent years, Acetylacetone (abbreviated as AA) has garnered considerable scientific interest, particularly in the field of dye wastewater treatment due to its distinctive enol-keto structures. In this work,degradation of methyl orange(MO) by UV/AA process was explored. Effects of AA dosage, MO concentration, initial pH value and water matrices were investigated.Experimental results showed that under conditions of 298 K, a pH of approximately 5.73, a stirring speed of 1150 rpm, an initial MO concentration of 15 mg/L and an AA dosage of 0.5 mM, the decolorization rate reached nearly 98.4 % after 12 min of photolysis. The decolorization process fitted well with the pseudo-zero-order reaction model in the UV/AA system with an R2 value greater than 0.990. The reaction rate increases as the pH decreases; at approximately pH 2.0, the decolorization rate is 99.3 % after 6 min, while at approximately pH 9.0, it is only 41.2 %. 10 mM HCO3⁻significantly inhibit the system, 0.1 mM Cl⁻has a slight promoting effect at low concentrations but inhibits at high concentrations and NO3⁻inhibits the reaction while SO42- has minimal impact at a concentration of 0.1–10 mM .0.1 mM iron ions accelerated the reaction.The sodium citrate, a printing and dyeing auxiliary, has negative impacts on the MO degradation. Free radical capture experiments and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) tests reveal that singlet oxygen (¹O2) is the primary active species in the UV/AA system. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy indicates that azo bonds are largely destroyed after 12 min, with a decrease in AA concentration as the reaction proceeds. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) results suggest a possible conversion pathway for MO during the UV/AA advanced oxidation process.

Value of horse manure for renewable energy production: anaerobic digestion, biogas generation, and contributions to sustainable development

There are various methods like composting, combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion to convert animal wastes that harm the environment into various bio-products. Horse manure containing lower ash and higher rate of lignin compositions can be potentially reuse as a valuable feedstock in anaerobic digestion method to produce nutrient-rich digestate (bio-fertilizer) clean and cheap biofuels, and bio-energy to replace the cost effective fossil fuels which not only make climate change but harms our health by generating toxic emissions and contamination of soil and water. Therefore, converting bio wastes into useful green resources especially using anaerobic co-digestion is necessary to reduce their adverse environmental impact and can contributes towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13 and 15. As can be seen today, various animal manure types have begun to be used in different situations for their green benefits. This review aimed to provide an overview of the transformation of horse manure into compost, biogas in terms of its preferability as a renewable energy source or a value-added product that mitigate the environmental problems and contribute to the SDGs specially 7, 9, 12, and 13. The potential of animal manure to produce biomaterials, organic acids, biofuels and bioenergy is clear. Therefore, bioprocesses or biorefineries using this biomass as raw material may be promising in the near future in the context of bioeconomy, may help increase renewable energy production and may become capable of promoting innovation that boosts the value of livestock-derived organic fertilizers. There are still needs to extend the development of technologies for converting on-site bio waste resources to useful forms, exploring new and safe biological conversion pathways and bio waste processing methods.

Impact of energy integration on post-combustion CO2 capture: A comparative analysis of chemical absorption and calcium looping technologies in coal-fired and natural gas combined cycle power plants

Chemical absorption (Che) and calcium looping (CaL) have been recognized as the promising technologies for post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) applied in fossil fuel power plants. However, there is a lack of understanding of how the energy integration affects the performance difference of the two separation technologies employed for the retrofitted coal-fired (CFPP) and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants. Thus, this study aims to provide a new perspective by investigating power generation fuel and heating fuel from energy conversion and transfer pathways. Results indicate that in the case of CFPP-PCCs, adopting the CaL technology can enhance the initial parameters of the steam cycle and reduce the heat transfer temperature difference for the utilization of heating fuel, where the heat transfer exergy destruction of heating fuel drops from 27.9 % to 15.1 % compared to the Che capture system. Conversely, for NGCC-PCCs, due to the superior performance of the combined cycle, the adoption of the CaL technology undermines the advantages of the heat transfer and power generation units, resulting in inferior performance compared to the Che capture system in most conditions. Results implicate that the degree of difference in energy conversion and transfer pathways between the power generation fuel and the heat supply fuel directly determines the performance of the capture system. Thus, concentration CO2 along with the efficient fuel conversion will be a promising direction for the innovation of capture technologies.

‘Evangelical Gitanos are a good catch’: masculinity, churches, and roneos★

This article explores Christian principles, imagery, and ideas shaping the (re)making of masculine ideals, behaviour, and identities among Pentecostal Gitanos in Spain. Scholarship on Pentecostal masculinities emphasizes that in cultural settings dominated by ‘macho’ and other chauvinistic principles, men find it challenging to comply with Pentecostal standards of manhood, and those who do convert often lose standing before non‐converted men as they are accorded an aura of effeminacy. Whereas many converted Gitanos struggle to meet Pentecostal moral standards too, Gitano believers attempt to reform their masculinity following dominant and highly valued ethnic ideals. The connection between masculine pathways of conversion, moral/spiritual commitment, and cultural prestige has significant implications for the ways in which Gitano male believers are perceived and appreciated as potential partners in Gitano cultural and communitarian milieus. The article argues that Pentecostal Christianity's gendered ideas about how men should behave defines ideals of masculinity, ethical expectations, and couple‐making practices among Gitano communities. The article also provides an ethnographic account of the mechanisms involved in generating, reproducing, and sustaining discursive, social, and communitarian frameworks and courting practices (known as roneos) in which Pentecostal Gitano ideals and aspirations about manhood become meaningful and appealing.

Triboplasma assisted chemical conversion in granular systems: a semi-analytic model

Abstract We present a semi-analytic model for a novel plasma-assisted chemical conversion pathway using triboplasmas generated in granular flows. Triboelectric charge relaxation is a well known phenomena where the potential generated from contact charging of particles exceeds the breakdown voltage of the background gas. In this work, we extend the triboelectric charge relaxation theory to include non equilibrium plasma energy and particle balance equations to predict the formation of dissociated and excited species that act as precursors to chemical conversion, for example in plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis. 
Our example case study with nitrogen background gas and Teflon/aluminum tribomaterial system yielded high excited nitrogen species densities per collision that are comparable to current plasma-assisted conversion pathways. We also present a regime diagram for various gases where Paschen breakdown parameters are used to determine whether triboplasmas can be formed for a given effective work-function difference between two materials. Our sensitivity studies indicate particle velocity, particle radius, solids fraction and space charge effects play a critical role in overall plasma densities and excited species production.

Crystal defects Boost cellulose conversion to C2 alcohols over Pd/WO3 catalysts

Converting cellulose into C2 alcohols presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, contributing to the development of eco-friendly and economically viable biofuels and chemicals. Tungsten oxide (WO3) is a key solid acid catalyst for this process, yet limited research explores its diverse morphologies and unique catalytic effects. This study investigates diverse WO3 morphologies (nanosheets, nanoflowers, nanoblocks, and tetrahedral octahedra) in combination with Pd for converting cellulose to C2 alcohols. Optimized conditions with Pd/o-WO3 catalyst resulted in the highest C2 alcohols (ethylene glycol and ethanol, 80.9 %), notably yielding 64.8 % ethylene glycol. Extensive characterizations and DFT calculations reveal the smaller element occupancy rates and a longer W-O bond length led to a large number of crystal defects over Pd/o-WO3. It facilitated the formation of W5+–OH sites and Pd-O(H)-W interactions, further synergistically enhancing hydrogenation ability and acidity. Designed experiments to elucidate cellulose conversion pathways, including hydrolysis, retro-aldol condensation, and hydrogenation. This study emphasizes the unique impact of WO3 morphologies and underscores the importance of supporting crystal defects for catalytic performance in eco-friendly biofuel and chemical production.

Climate Change-Driven Hydrological Shifts in the Kon-Ha Thanh River Basin

Climate change is projected to bring substantial changes to hydroclimatic extremes, which will affect natural river regimes and have wide-ranging impacts on human health and ecosystems, particularly in Central Highland Vietnam. This study focuses on understanding and quantifying the projected impacts of climate change on streamflow in the Kon-Ha Thanh River basin, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) between 2016 and 2099. The study examined projected changes in streamflow across three time periods (2016–2035, 2046–2065, and 2080–2029) under two scenarios, Representative Conversion Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. The model was developed and validated on a daily scale with the model performance, yielding good performance scores, including Coefficient of Determination (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values of 0.79, 0.77, and 50.96 m3/s, respectively. Our findings are (1) streamflow during the wet season is projected to increase by up to 150%, particularly in December, under RCP 8.5; (2) dry season flows are expected to decrease by over 10%, beginning in May, heightening the risk of water shortages during critical agricultural periods; and (3) shifts in the timing of flood and dry seasons are found toward 2099 that will require adaptive measures for water resource management. These findings provide a scientific foundation for incorporating climate change impacts into regional water management strategies and enhancing the resilience of local communities to future hydroclimatic challenges.

Heterologous Expression and Polyphasic Analysis of CLA-Converting Linoleic Acid Isomerase from Bifidobacterium breve JKL2022.

The probiotic Bifidobacterium breve is known for its efficient conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) conversion, yet their CLA conversion pathway remains underexplored. This study investigated B. breve JKL2022 for its CLA conversion in actively growing cells, washed cell states, and in crude protein extracts. Moreover, the study aimed to confirm the CLA-converting enzyme in strain JKL2022 and optimize its purification through heterologous expression of fusion proteins (LAI_sGFP and MBP_LAI). JKL2022 exhibited superior CLA conversion compared to genetically similar B. breve strains (JCM7017, JCM7019, JCM1192, and JCM1273), particularly the observed CLA conversion in washed cells (60.14 ± 7.60%) and crude protein fractions (96.11 ± 6.63%). The multipass transmembrane linoleic acid isomerase (LAI) was cloned into the E. coli BL21(DE3) as free LAI or modified with superfolder-GFP or MBP tags and expressed with 0.01 mM IPTG at 37 °C, resulting in highly active protein fractions. LAI was characterized by predictive modeling, molecular docking, and phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis revealed upregulation (20-140× higher expression) of lai in JKL2022 compared with that in the JCM strains. Nevertheless, upscaling the production and purification of LAI for downstream applications remains a challenge, primarily because of their membrane-spanning configuration.

Design towards recyclable micron-sized Na2S cathode with self-refinement mechanism

Sodium sulfide (Na2S) as an initial cathode material in room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries is conducive to get rid of the dependence on Na-metal anode. However, the micron-sized Na2S that accords with the practical requirements is obstructed due to poor kinetics and severe shuttle effect. Herein, a subtle strategy is proposed via regulating Na2S redeposition behaviours. By the synergistic effect from both conductive structure and cuprous sulfide (Cu2S) catalysis, the micron-sized Na2S particles are broken down and redeposited to nano-size during the initial cycle which can be fully utilized in subsequent cycles. Consequently, the Na2S/CPVP@Cu2S||Na cell delivers excellent cyclability (670 mAh gS−1 after 500 cycles) with a remarkable average Coulombic efficiency over 99.7% and rate capability (480 mAh gS−1 at 4 A gS−1). Besides, the Na-free anodes are used to prove the application prospects. This work provides an innovative idea for utilizing micron-sized Na2S and offers insights into its conversion pathway.

Influence of oxygen carrier on NOx and N2O emissions in biomass combustion within fluidized beds

The Oxygen Carrier Aided Combustion (OCAC) technology has the potential to enhance the combustion efficiency and stability of biomass, while simultaneously facilitating the conversion of NO to N2. However, current research lacks sufficient investigation into the impact of oxygen carriers on the conventional fuel nitrogen (fuel-N) conversion pathway, particularly in relation to N2O. This study comprehensively examines the key operating parameters, including ilmenite ore (OC) ratio, O2 concentration, fluidization velocity, and bed temperature, on NO and N2O emissions during the OCAC of rice husk in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. The findings suggest that when OC is used as bed material, the conversion of fuel-N to NO decreases by 8.84 % under a 3 % O2 concentration at 750 °C, compared to the sand case. This beneficial effect is further enhanced as the temperature increases. Conversely, the conversion of fuel-N to NO increases by 12.15 % and 7.70 % under 6 % and 9 % O2 concentrations, respectively, compared to the sand case. This suggests a distinct influence mechanism between OCAC and traditional combustion conditions, potentially due to the chemical phases of OC during the redox process. The OCAC operations can lead to an increase in the emission of HCN and N2O under all tested conditions. The potential conversion pathway of fuel-N under OCAC conditions is summarized.

High-Value Resource Utilization of Steel Waste to Prepare Uniform Micronano LiFePO4/C Cathode Material.

Steel slag is a promising secondary resource necessitating recycling and high-value utilization. This study innovatively converted steel slag into micronano FePO4 and well-performing LiFePO4/C through a selective two-step leaching process followed by fast coprecipitation in HMCRR under superior mass transfer, and a subsequent in situ carbothermal reduction afterward, thereby realizing a waste-to-resource conversion pathway. Besides, a metal leaching mechanism was proposed based on comprehensive slag composition analysis, affirming the process selectivity. Thermomechanical analysis for precipitation underscored the importance of controlling reaction pH to prevent the formation of impure sediments. Leveraging efficient leaching and superior mass transfer during precursor preparation, the further-made carbon-coated LiFePO4/C derived from steel slag exhibited favorable morphology and enhanced discharge capacity, especially at high rates, owing to fast ion diffusion kinetics, minimized Li+ migration distance, and improved structure stability. Notably, the discharge capacity could reach 167.44, 153.56, and 119.62 mAh/g at 0.1, 1, and 10 C, respectively.

Influence of Channel, Construction and Brønsted Acid Sites on the Catalytic Conversion Pathways of Isobutane Over MFI, TON and RFE Zeolites

Influence of Channel, Construction and Brønsted Acid Sites on the Catalytic Conversion Pathways of Isobutane Over MFI, TON and RFE Zeolites

Collective molecular-scale carbonation path in aqueous solutions with sufficient structural sampling: From CO2 to CaCO3.

The carbonation reaction is essential in the global carbon cycle and in the carbon dioxide (CO2) capture. In oceans (pH 8.1) or in synthetic materials such as cement or geopolymers (pH over 12), the basic pH conditions affect the reaction rate of carbonation. However, the precipitation of calcium or magnesium carbonates acidifies the environment and, therefore, limits further CO2 capture. Here, we investigate how pH influences carbonation pathways in neutral and basic solutions at the atomic scale using reactive molecular simulations coupled with enhanced sampling methods from CO2 to calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Two distinct CO2 conversion pathways are identified: (1) CO2 hydration: CO2+H2O⇌H2CO3⇌HCO3-+H+⇌CO32-+2H+ and (2) CO2 hydroxylation: CO2+OH-⇌HCO3-⇌CO32-+H+. The CO2 hydration pathway occurs in both neutral and basic aqueous solutions, but reactions differ significantly between the two pH conditions. The formation of the CO32- is characterized by a markedly high free energy barrier in the neutral solution. The CO2 hydroxylation pathway is only found in basic solutions. Notably, the CO2 molecule exhibits a pronounced energetic preference for reacting with hydroxide ions (OH-) rather than with water molecules, resulting in significantly reduced free energy barriers along the CO2 hydroxylation pathway. The reaction rate estimation suggests that the CO2 hydroxylation path is the most favorable carbonation pathway in the basic solution. Once the CO32- anion is formed in the presence of alkali-earth (e.g., Ca2+ and Mg2+) cations, carbonate formation can proceed.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Nickel(II)‐Doped Bi2O2CO3 Nanosheets for Efficient Nitric Oxide Removal

AbstractBi2O2CO3 is a typical bismuth‐based semiconductor photocatalyst that has attracted much attention because of layered structure and polarization characteristics. However, the wide bandgap of Bi2O2CO3 limits its practical applications in photocatalysis. In this study, the nickel (II)‐doped Bi2O2CO3 (Ni2+‐Bi2O2CO3) with oxygen vacancies was prepared by adding a controllable amount of nickel ions. The photocatalytic efficiency of the optimized sample for ppb‐grade NO under visible light irradiation is 59.4 %, which is 2.8 times than that of its counterpart, Bi2O2CO3 (21.2 %). Based on experiments and characterizations, Introduction of nickel ions and oxygen vacancies improves the photocatalytic performance of Ni2+‐Bi2O2CO3, which not only lowered the bandgap from 3.25 eV to 2.92 eV, but also reduced the recombination of photogenerated carriers by formation of the impurity level. Furthermore, the adsorption and photocatalytic conversion pathway of NO was explored by in situ DRIFTS, the principal byproducts of photocatalytic oxidation of NO are NO3− and NO2−. This work offers a new perspective to improve the photocatalytic activity by doping mothed for air purification.

In situ Überwachung photokatalytischer Prozesse mit polymeren Kohlenstoffnitrid‐Dünnschichtfilmen

AbstractPolymere Kohlenstoffnitridmaterialien sind aufgrund ihrer Anregung mit sichtbarem Licht zunehmend in den Mittelpunkt der heterogenen Photokatalyse gerückt. In dieser Arbeit berichten wir über die Verwendung von Kohlenstoffnitrid beschichteten NMR‐Röhrchen in Kombination mit in situ Beleuchtung, die zur detaillierten Aufklärung photokatalytischer Reaktionsprozesse beitragen. Zunächst verwenden wir die mit Kohlenstoffnitrid beschichteten Crimp‐Vials als Photoreaktoren für die photokatalytische Fluorierung unaktivierter C(sp3)−H Bindungen mit sichtbarem Licht, die jeweils mäßige bis ausgezeichnete Ausbeuten liefern und über mehrere Zyklen wiederverwendet werden können. Zudem wurden Kohlenstoffnitrid‐beschichtete NMR‐Röhrchen als Photoreaktor verwendet, indem sie mit einer optischen Glasfaser gekoppelt und direkt im Inneren des Spektrometers bestrahlt werden. Diese Methode ermöglicht es, Reaktionen mittels in situ NMR‐Spektroskopie zu detektieren und reaktive Intermediate nachzuweisen, die in konventionellen Analysemethoden schwer nachzuweisen sind. Dieses Konzept bietet erhebliche Vorteile für die Untersuchung komplexer photokatalytischer Mechanismen und erspart den Einsatz zusätzlicher Analysemethoden für den Nachweis reaktiver Intermediate.

In situ Monitoring of Photocatalysis on Polymeric Carbon Nitride Thin Films.

Polymeric carbon nitride has attracted significant interest in heterogeneous photocatalysis due to its activity under visible-light irradiation. Herein, we report on using carbon nitride-coated NMR tubes for in situ studies of photocatalytic reaction mechanisms. In a first step, we exploited carbon nitride-coated crimp vials as batch photoreactors for visible photocatalytic fluorinations of unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds, with moderate to excellent yields and reusability over multiple cycles. Eventually, carbon nitride-coated NMR tubes were used as a photoreactor by coupling them with optical fiber irradiation directly inside the spectrometer. This enabled us to follow the reaction with in situ NMR spectroscopy identifying reactive intermediates otherwise elusive in conventional analyses. The method provides advantages for the study of photocatalytic mechanisms of complex reactions and substantially reduces the need of comparative tests for depicting reaction intermediates and conversion pathways.