Reverse Spillover Research Articles

A general strategy and a consolidated mechanism for low-methane hydrogenolysis of polyethylene over ruthenium

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most environment-threatening plastic waste. Its Ru-catalyzed hydrogenolysis is rapid but produces too much methane. Here, low-density PE hydrogenolysis is performed at mild conditions and short times over Ru-doped zirconia catalysts (Ru-XZr, X = Ti, Nb, Ce, W, V, Mo, Fe) to determine low-methane catalysts. Methane is produced via direct terminal C-C scission and surface cascade of consecutive C-C scissions, with the latter sensitive to hydrogen availability and dominant in hydrogen-lean conditions. Reactivity studies, characterization and theory reveal that the most effective dopant oxides (W, V, and Mo) are intermediately reducible, as they store and supply extra hydrogen to Ru via reverse hydrogen spillover. This hydrogen readily hydrogenates and desorbs long alkyl surface intermediates that would otherwise produce cascade methane. Our proposed mechanism reconciles the low methane production achieved by increasing the hydrogen pressure or reducing the particle size and exposes the key selectivity descriptors.

Two-way knowledge spillovers in the presence of heterogeneous foreign subsidiaries: evidence from an emerging country

PurposeThis paper explains the mechanisms underlying the generation of two-way knowledge spillovers through the interaction of subsidiaries with differentiated local responsibilities and domestic firms.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on firm-level panel data from a census of Colombian manufacturing firms for the period 2003–2012. The estimation procedure involves two stages. In the first one, total factor productivity (TFP) of foreign and domestic firms is estimated. In a second step, we estimate conventional spillovers (from foreign-owned to local firms) and reverse spillovers (from local to foreign-owned firms) separately, using a random effect approach.FindingsThis study’s findings reveal that only locally creative subsidiaries enjoy positive and significant two-way knowledge spillover effects. The connectivity of subsidiaries to local and international networks is reinforced by reciprocal relationships among actors that enhance bidirectional knowledge flows, these being favored by the dynamics of clustering effects.Originality/valueThe paper contributes with new empirical evidence about the mechanism explaining how the technological heterogeneity of subsidiaries plays a determinant role in the generation of both knowledge flows from foreign to domestic firms and to the reverse, all integrated into the same framework.

Strategic-Asset-Seeking FDI and Firm Innovation: An Instituional Perspective Highlighting IPRs

A burgeoning stream of inquiry has drawn attention to the reverse spillover effect of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on performances of emerging market firms (EMFs) in home countries. However, we know little regarding how institutional conditions across host and home countries alter such an effect and thus have an incomplete picture of this relationship. In this study, we integrate insights from the reverse spillover perspective and the institution-based view to examine the influence of an important but underexplored type of OFDI—strategic-asset-seeking (SAS) OFDI—on firm innovation performance. We highlight intellectual property right (IPR) protections as institutions and distinguish them at different levels across environments—both at the host-country level and the home-subnational level—as boundary conditions of the reverse spillover effect. Using a sample of Chinese publicly listed firms, we find that home-subnational IPR protection strengthens the reverse spillover effect of OFDI and innovation performance, whereas host-country IPR protection weakens the effect. In addition, we show that an EMF’s R&D subsidies amplify such contrasting moderating effects, further enhancing the distinct mechanisms underlying IPR regimes between home and host countries.

Cross-Border M&As and Green Innovation among Emerging Market Multinationals: Evidence from China

The reverse spillover effect of the foreign expansion of multinational enterprises (MNEs) from emerging economies (EMNEs) on their green innovation in home countries have been largely ignored; by contrast, the main focus has been directed toward the spillover effect of MNEs from developed countries in emerging economies. The only related research available limits their analysis to the regional level, rendering the relationship between the foreign expansion of EMNEs and their green innovation unclear. Specifically, as an increasing foreign expansion strategy adopted by EMNEs, how do cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBMAs) affect the post-merger green innovation of EMNEs? To examine this question and explore the boundary conditions, this study integrates institutional theory and the business ethics literature to construct a motivation–ability framework in the context of green innovation. Using the Propensity Score Matching with Difference-in-Difference (PSM–DID) method, we tested our hypotheses on a sample of Chinese listed manufacturing firms between 2009 and 2017. Results suggest that Chinese MNEs decrease their green innovation in response to CBMAs. Moreover, the CBMA–green innovation relationship varies across firms and is determined by heterogeneity in state ownership, government subsidies, and industry openness. These findings not only elucidate the reverse effect of the foreign expansion of EMNEs on their green innovation in home countries; they also provide an approach to reconciling mixed conclusions on the relationship between CBMAs by EMNEs and their innovation performance by clarifying types of innovation in international business research.

Heterogeneous Dynamic Correlation Research among Industrial Structure Distortion, Two-Way FDI and Carbon Emission Intensity in China

The increase in carbon emissions year by year poses a severe challenge to the high-quality development and sustainability of China’s economy. How to reduce the intensity of carbon emissions has become a prominent issue to promote green growth. Based on the provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020, this paper uses Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA), the spatial econometric model and intermediary effect test as analysis methods. The following results are drawn. Firstly, China’s industrial structure distortion index shows a downward trend. The industrial structure distortion index is the highest in the west of China, followed by the middle of China and is the lowest in the east of China. Secondly, the distortion of the industrial structure will not only lead to the increase in local carbon emission intensity but also produce reverse spillover to adjacent areas. Thirdly, the results of intermediary effect analysis show that industrial structure distortion can affect the transmission mechanism of carbon emission intensity by affecting two-way FDI. This paper has a profound practical significance for promoting the process of industrial upgrading by insisting on developing foreign trade to achieve carbon emission reduction. The main innovation of this paper is to put forward the concept of industrial structure distortion and bring it into a unified research framework with two-way FDI and carbon emission intensity.

The Impact of Technological Innovation on Energy Consumption in OECD Economies: the role of Outward Foreign Direct Investment and International Trade Openness

Over the last few years, empirical evidence has revealed that technological innovation plays a significant impact in reducing energy consumption and mitigation of carbon emission. But to achieve technological progress toward energy consumption sustainability, depend on several other factors. To this end, this study examines the role of outward foreign direct investment and international trade openness in innovation-energy nexus for 24 OECD countries for the period 1996-2015. To address econometric issues such as cross-sectional dependence, endogeneity, heterogeneity in the panel estimation process, this study employs the Cross-Sectionally Augmented autoregressive Distributed Lags (CS-ARDL), Augmented Mean Group estimator (AMG), and the System Generalized Methods of Moments (SYS-GMM) techniques. Finding reveals that the moderating effects of outward FDI and trade openness in the indirect relationship between technological innovation and energy demand exhibits an inverted U-shape curve. Specifically, this study finds that the impact of technological innovation on energy consumption via reverse technology spillover effect from outward FDI reinforces OECD countries toward energy-saving environmental sustainability both in the short-run and long-run. Furthermore, the joint impact of technological innovation and trade openness on energy demand is negative and statistically significant in the short and long run. This strengthens the efficiency of technologically innovative capabilities of OECD countries to effectively reduce energy consumption. These results are robust to different specifications and consistent across the various estimators, with sets of policy implication discussed.

Redox dynamics of platinum species on CeO2 during CO oxidation reaction

Ceria supported platinum catalysts play an important role in exhaust emission catalysis. Because of the interactions between catalyst and reactants under complex reaction conditions, Pt species may exhibit dynamic structural changes as a function of the reactant pressure and reaction temperature, making it difficult to determine the structure-performance relationship. In this study, the chemical states and dynamics of several typical Pt species, including PtOx, Pt–O–Ce and reduced Pt nanoparticles (NPs), in CO oxidation reaction and their correlations with activity were explored. It was found that Pt–O–Ce species with strong Pt–O bonds remained in the ionic state during the light off reaction, while PtOx species that interacted weakly with CeO2 could be easily reduced to metallic Pt (Pt0), which also exhibited better activity due to the enhanced reducibility of the Pt NPs-CeO2 interface. Although the initial activity of the Pt/CeO2 catalyst can be improved through reduction with H2, the metallic Pt NPs, especially derived from the reduction of Pt–O–Ce dominated catalysts, can get reoxidized to the less active Ptn+–O–Ce (n = 2–δ) species during the reaction. A detailed in situ characterization revealed that the oxidation of metallic Pt NPs arises from oxygen reverse spillover from the CeO2 support. This study shows that understanding the reaction-driven structural dynamics of Pt species is essential for exploring the reaction mechanism and elucidating how the catalyst is activated and deactivated in the reaction.

RESEARCH ON THE EFFECT OF OUTWARD FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION INVESTMENTS ON ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE

Based on the resource-based theory, reverse technology spillover theory and institution-based theory, this paper centers on the research of core issues of the influence mechanism of Chinese enterprises’ outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in ASEAN on the enterprise performance. Meantime, with innovation input as an intermediary variable and the institutional distance between China and the ten ASEAN countries as an adjustment variable, it analyzes their impact on the relationship between OFDI acts and the enterprise performance. Taking 173 Chinese listed companies of OFDI in ASEAN 2009 to 2020, it studies relevant assumptions with the statistical analysis software Stata16.0. The results show that the enterprises’ OFDI in ASEAN serves as an incentive for the enterprise performance but there is also some hysteresis; innovation input has a positive impact on the enterprise performance; innovation input plays an intermediary role between OFDI and enterprise performance; the formal institutional distance between China and the host country negatively regulates the relationship between OFDI and enterprise performance.

Reverse spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from human to wild animals.

Reverse spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from human to wild animals.

Impact of Industrial Policies on the Regional Reverse Technology Spillover from OFDI

By sorting out the important industries mentioned in China's “11th Five-Year Plan” and “12th Five-Year Plan” and utilizing inter-provincial OFDI panel data from 2006-2015, this paper examines whether industrial policies effectively promote reverse technology spillovers from OFDI channel through a linear regression using the fixed effects model. In addition, this paper also examines the heterogeneity of industrial policy implementation by policy sources and regions, proving the robustness of the results. The empirical results show that industrial preferential policies have significantly promoted local OFDI reverse technology spillover, and the effect differed significantly between regions. The rationalisation of industrial structure, the regional economic growth and regional openness all have a positive impact on OFDI reverse technology spillover. Finally, in order to contribute to China's high-quality economic development, this paper puts forward some suggestions on how to implement industrial policies more effectively.

The repeated setbacks of HIV vaccine development laid the groundwork for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

The decades-long effort to produce a workable HIV vaccine has hardly been a waste of public and private resources. To the contrary, the scientific know-how acquired along the way has served as the critical foundation for the development of vaccines against the novel, pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus. We retell the real-world story of HIV vaccine research – with all its false leads and missteps – in a way that sheds light on the current state of the art of antiviral vaccines. We find that HIV-related R&D had more than a general spillover effect. In fact, the repeated failures of phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of HIV vaccine candidates have served as a critical stimulus to the development of successful vaccine technologies today. We rebut the counterargument that HIV vaccine development has been no more than a blind alley, and that recently developed vaccines against COVID-19 are really descendants of successful vaccines against Ebola, MERS, and SARS. These successful vaccines likewise owe much to the vicissitudes of HIV vaccine development. We then discuss how the failures of HIV vaccine development have taught us how adapt SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to immune escape from emerging variants. Finally, we inquire whether recent advances in the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 might in turn further the development of an HIV vaccine - what we describe as a reverse spillover effect.

Functional reconstitution of the MERS CoV receptor binding motif

In the early 1960’s the first human coronaviruses (designated 229E and OC43) were identified as etiologic agents of the common cold, to be followed by the subsequent isolation of three more human coronaviruses similarly associated with cold-like diseases. In contrast to these “mild” coronaviruses, over the last 20 years there have been three independent events of emergence of pandemic severe and acute life-threatening respiratory diseases caused by three novel beta-coronaviruses, SARS CoV, MERS CoV and most recently SARS CoV2. Whereas the first SARS CoV appeared in November 2002 and spontaneously disappeared by the summer of 2003, MERS CoV has continued persistently to spill over to humans via an intermediary camel vector, causing tens of cases annually. Although human-to-human transmission is rare, the fatality rate of MERS CoV disease is remarkably higher than 30%. COVID-19 however, is fortunately much less fatal, despite that its etiologic agent, SARS CoV2, is tremendously infectious, particularly with the recent evolution of the Omicron variants of concern (BA.1 and BA.2). Of note, MERS CoV prevalence in camel populations in Africa and the Middle East is extremely high. Moreover, MERS CoV and SARS CoV2 co-exist in the Middle East and especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where sporadic incidences of co-infection have already been reported. Co-infection, either due to reverse spill-over of SARS CoV2 to camels or in double infected humans could lead to recombination between the two viruses, rendering either SARS CoV2 more lethal or MERS CoV more transmittable. In an attempt to prepare for what could develop into a catastrophic event, we have focused on developing a novel epitope-based immunogen for MERS CoV. Implementing combinatorial phage-display conformer libraries, the Receptor Binding Motif (RBM) of the MERS CoV Spike protein has been successfully reconstituted and shown to be recognized by a panel of seven neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

Role of Ni species in ZnO supported on Silicalite-1 for efficient propane dehydrogenation

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is one of the most effective technologies to produce propene. Non-noble zinc-based catalysts have paid increasing attention because of low cost and nontoxic, compared with industrial Pt and Cr-based catalysts. However, they often suffer from limited catalytic activity and poor stability. Here, we introduced moderate Ni into ZnO supported Silicalite-1 zeolite to increase catalytic activity and stability simultaneously. Zn 2+ was the definite active site and NiZn alloy facilitated the sluggish H recombination into H 2 via reverse spillover. Furthermore, the introduction of Ni increased Lewis acid strength caused by electron transfer from ZnO to NiZn alloy, contributing to improved stability. For resulted 0.5NiZn/S-1, propene formation rate was 0.18 mol C 3 H 6 ·(g Zn) −1 ·h −1 at 550 °C, which was above 1.5 times higher than that over Zn/S-1 without Ni. Under stability test, the deactivation of 0.5NiZn/S-1 was 0.019 h −1 , which was only 1/10 of that over Zn/S-1.

Assessing the impact of reverse technology spillover of outward foreign direct investment on energy efficiency

Assessing the impact of reverse technology spillover of outward foreign direct investment on energy efficiency

Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution through reverse hydrogen spillover on photoactivated copper-doped mesoporous titania spheres

Transition-metal-doped mesoporous TiO2 (M-mTiO2) spheres are highly desired for photocatalysis because of their large specific surface area and extended light absorption. Herein, a universal method is developed for the preparation of M-mTiO2 spheres and their photocatalytic mechanism is unveiled. Fe-mTiO2, Co-mTiO2, Ni-mTiO2, Cu-mTiO2 spheres are successfully prepared by the developed method. Among all M-mTiO2 samples, the Cu-mTiO2 catalyst exhibits reversible photoactivation phenomenon during photocatalysis. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate on photoactivated Cu-mTiO2 can reach 3.31 mmol g−1 h−1, which is much higher than those of other M-mTiO2 and is 28.3 times of that of the mTiO2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the photoactivation of Cu-mTiO2 is associated with the facile formation of oxygen vacancies on Cu-mTiO2. The photoactivation induces the active site change and the light absorption increase of Cu-mTiO2. The active site change has the dominant role for the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. On the photoactivated Cu-mTiO2, the hydrogen production is through a reverse hydrogen spillover process. Our findings not only provide a universal method for the preparation of M-mTiO2 but also deepen the understanding about the photoactivation and the hydrogen production mechanism.

Comprehending the environmental regulation, biased policies and OFDI reverse technology spillover effects: a contingent and dynamic perspective.

Technology spillovers have the substantial effect on the industrial structure in emerging economies especially from OFDI (Outward Foreign Direct Investment). This research aims to examines the issue on how environmental regulation and biased policies can more effectively promote the OFDI reverse technology spillover effect, specifically the technology spillovers. By classifying the key industries mentioned in the '12th Five-Year Plan' and '13th Five-Year Plan', this research uses panel data from 2010 to 2019 obtained from provincial OFDI in China and utilizes difference in difference (DID) model and threshold regressionapproach to validate the analysis. The results show that the key industrial policy is favorable to the local OFDI reverse technology spillover. From the outlook of economic significance, the industrial policy increases the regional OFDI reverse technology spillover by 0.133%. Findings of our study further reveals that the environmental regulation and biased policy effectively promote the regional OFDI reverse technology spillover with certain stability. This study findings will be beneficial for policy makers to stimulate the reverse technology spillover impact of local OFDI more effectively from three aspects such asregional marketization level, innovation ability and financial structure.

Enhanced hydrogen generation by reverse spillover effects over bicomponent catalysts

The contribution of the reverse spillover effect to hydrogen generation reactions is still controversial. Herein, the promotion functions for reverse spillover in the ammonia borane hydrolysis reaction are proven by constructing a spatially separated NiO/Al2O3/Pt bicomponent catalyst via atomic layer deposition and performing in situ quick X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) characterization. For the NiO/Al2O3/Pt catalyst, NiO and Pt nanoparticles are attached to the outer and inner surfaces of Al2O3 nanotubes, respectively. In situ XANES results reveal that for ammonia borane hydrolysis, the H species generated at NiO sites spill across the support to the Pt sites reversely. The reverse spillover effects account for enhanced H2 generation rates for NiO/Al2O3/Pt. For the CoOx/Al2O3/Pt and NiO/TiO2/Pt catalysts, reverse spillover effects are also confirmed. We believe that an in-depth understanding of the reverse effects will be helpful to clarify the catalytic mechanisms and provide a guide for designing highly efficient catalysts for hydrogen generation reactions.

Hydrogen reverse spillover eliminating methanation over efficient Pt–Ni catalysts for the water–gas shift reaction

Hydrogen reverse spillover from Ni0 sites to Pt sites completely eliminated the side reaction of methanation and improved the catalytic activity of Ni0 sites over a nickel phyllosilicate-supported Pt–Ni catalyst during the water–gas shift reaction.

Impacts of OFDI on Host Country Energy Consumption and Home Country Energy Efficiency Based on a Belt and Road Perspective

Under the Belt and Road concepts of mutual benefit and win–win cooperation, China is strengthening its energy cooperation with other countries. We used several econometric models and social network analysis models to study the impacts of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on the host and home countries. We first examined China’s OFDI location preference and analysed the effects of OFDI on energy consumption in host countries. Meanwhile, we observed the impact of the reverse spillover effect of OFDI on China’s energy efficiency. The results indicate that (1) the impact of China’s OFDI on energy consumption in host countries has been lower than that on neighbouring countries, and increased significantly after 2014. (2) The space network of energy consumption in Belt and Road countries has a strict hierarchical structure. However, it was disbanded by the Belt and Road policy in 2014. The network centres are situated primarily in Middle Eastern and European countries, and the network’s periphery is mainly in South-East and West Asian countries. (3) The reverse spillover effects of OFDI, FDI, domestic R&D absorptive capacity, human capital, and financial development levels are conducive to improving China’s energy efficiency whereas regional professionalism does the opposite.

How do formal and informal institutional distance affect the reverse knowledge spillover of Chinese MNCs?

PurposeThis study examines the impact of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) of Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) and formal and informal institutional distances between the home and host countries on the innovation performance of parent company.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses panel data to conduct an empirical analysis on the data of 59 mature Chinese MNCs and their 872 overseas subsidiaries over the past 11 years and draws interesting results.FindingsResults show that OFDI and formal and informal institutional distances between countries exert a significant positive impact on the innovation performance of the parent company and formal and informal institutional distances negatively moderate the impact between OFDI and the parent company's innovation performance.Originality/valueAlthough international business research pays increasing attention to transnational differences in institutions and cultures, research on the relationship between technology spillover and distance is relatively limited. In addition, few studies consider the impact of FID and IFID on transnational reverse knowledge spillovers. This research fills these research gaps, and the conclusions have certain practical significance for multinational companies.