From molecular hydrogen to reactive hydrogen: activation pathways and species variation in thermal catalytic heterogeneous hydrogenation.
Zhengyang Chen, Shanjun Mao, Wenda Hu, Yong Wang, Buxing Han, Yong Wang · Chemical Society reviews · 2026
Research-use notice
Independent study record
Each H2HUBB study page organizes source-linked research details for educational use. Interpretation should remain proportional to the study design, population, controls, and limitations.
H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
This narrative review examined the available molecular-hydrogen literature. A deeper mechanistic understanding of the molecular to atomic hydrogen transformation provides a robust theoretical foundation and practical design principles for constructing highly active and selective hydrogenation catalysts. The microscopic processes underlying this step remain elusive, largely because of the inherent limitations of characterization techniques, so the researchers have historically fragmented the authors' understanding of the full reaction network. The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed this publication as a synthesis of molecular-hydrogen research and summarizes the outcomes emphasized by the authors. A deeper mechanistic understanding of the molecular to atomic hydrogen transformation provides a robust theoretical foundation and practical design principles for constructing highly active and selective hydrogenation catalysts.
What the Researchers Studied
The authors reviewed from molecular hydrogen to reactive hydrogen: activation pathways and species variation in thermal catalytic heterogeneous hydrogenation.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
A deeper mechanistic understanding of the molecular to atomic hydrogen transformation provides a robust theoretical foundation and practical design principles for constructing highly active and selective hydrogenation catalysts. By integrating advances in operando spectroscopies with theoretical modelling, the researchers highlight how hydrogen species are dynamically redistributed under realistic conditions, and the researchers clarify proton and hydride transfer pathways.
Why These Findings Matter
The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is review or synthesis evidence (narrative review).
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as narrative review with review or synthesis evidence. The study used a narrative review.
Limitations and Safety
Reported limitations: The microscopic processes underlying this step remain elusive, largely because of the inherent limitations of characterization techniques, so the researchers have historically fragmented the authors' understanding of the full reaction network.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base.