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Adjusting the Structure and Electronic Properties of Carbons for Metal‐Free Carbocatalysis of Organic Transformations
Author(s) -
Antonietti Markus,
LopezSalas Nieves,
Primo Ana
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201805719
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , materials science , catalysis , carbon fibers , nanomaterials , conjugated system , nanotechnology , electron transfer , heterojunction , composite number , electrochemistry , chemistry , photochemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , electrode , optoelectronics , composite material
Carbon nanomaterials doped with some other lightweight elements were recently described as powerful, heterogeneous, metal‐free organocatalysts, adding to their high performance in electrocatalysis. Here, recent observations in traditional catalysis are reviewed, and the underlying reaction mechanisms of the catalyzed organic transformations are explored. In some cases, these are due to specific active functional sites, but more generally the catalytic activity relates to collective properties of the conjugated nanocarbon frameworks and the electron transfer from and to the catalytic centers and substrates. It is shown that the learnings are tightly related to those of electrocatalysis; i.e., the search for better electrocatalysts also improves chemocatalysis, and vice versa. Carbon–carbon heterojunction effects and some perspectives on future possibilities are discussed at the end.