Xiamen University scientists use fullerene to break through the "stuck point" of ethylene glycol atmospheric synthesis

Fullerenes represented by C ₆₀ are known as "nano princes"

On April 15, the team of Academician Xie Suyuan and Professor Yuan Youzhu of Xiamen University published the research results entitled "Ambient-pressure synthesis of ethylene glycol catalyzed by C ₆₀ -buffered Cu/SiO ₂ " in Science, using C ₆₀ as an electronic buffer for the first time.

The combination of fullerenes as electron acceptors (or electron donors) with transition metal catalysts is not a new topic, but it is the first time to combine fullerenes as electron buffers with transition metal catalysts

Another key point of the results is that under the buffer of C ₆₀ , the hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to prepare ethylene glycol will be greener and safer

The development of non-petroleum route synthesis gas to ethylene glycol technology is of great strategic significance

This achievement has been achieved through the joint efforts of three generations of postgraduates, thanks to the sincere cooperation of six research groups, including the strong assistance of relevant experts from the Fujian Institute of the Structure of Matter of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xiamen Funa New Material Technology Co.