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G. Centi is the first recipient of the 2025 APACS & EFCATS Michel Che Award! The new Michel Che Award recognizes and encourages outstanding scientists for their fundamental contributions in the fields of catalyst design and characterization. He was awarded for his groundbreaking work in CO₂ conversion, electrocatalysis, and solar fuels, including the development of advanced catalytic systems and artificial-leaf technologies. He will give a lecture at Europacat 2025 in Trondheim (Norwey).

17-21 Feb. 2025, GCS4CE, Padova, Italy

G. Centi give a plenary lecture at the scientific symposium presenting the role of catalysis to enable a distributed, resilient, circular model of production which reduces (eliminates) the dependence on fossil fuels, externalities, transport of chemicals, impact on the resources, etc. The scientific symposium followed the Winter School organized by Univ. Padova on green chemical synthesis for circular economy.

AM Ronsisvalle, D Giusi, M Samperi, C Genovese, S Perathoner, G Centi, C Ampelli

Journal of CO2 Utilization  2025,100, 103188

Our findings demonstrate that the C2+ vs. C1 product pathway in CO2RR is not an intrinsic property of the electrocatalyst but is governed by the availability of surface protons, which is a function of the operating conditions and electrode/electrocatalyst characteristics that regulate proton access to the catalyst surface.

V Longo, S Perathoner, G Centi, C Genovese

Chem Eng J2025, 517, 164334

The results reveal radically different plasma chemistry when reducing the discharge gap to the micrometric scale (0.5 mm), resulting in a plasma confinement near the surface of the electrode, enhancing the selective activation of the C-H bond. The proposed system exhibits outstanding stability over 50 h of continuous testing, achieving a carbon balance of almost 100 % with the micrometric gap and mitigating the formation of undesired coke byproducts.

X Ren, J Huang, J Ma, Y Zhang, W Chu, S Perathoner, G Centi, Y Liu

Nature Comm 2025, 16 (1), 4851

A new strategy for converting S-containing nitroarenes by developing a dual-sites Pt/CeO2 catalyst consisting of highly defective CeO2 with abundant active oxygen vacancy and Pt sub-nano clusters. This study provides valuable insights into the rational design and precise development of catalysts for the hydrogenation of liquid-phase chemicals containing S-groups.

A Bogaerts, G Centi, JC Hicks

EES Catalysis 2025,  3, 592-594

An introduction to a themed collection aiming to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms in plasma catalysis, by modelling and experiments. It illustrates the advanced status of plasma catalysis for VOC removal (showing e.g., nearly 100% selective conversion of toluene into CO2), but also discusses the challenges in sustainable chemistry applications, where plasma–catalyst synergy is often limited.

A Bogaerts, G Centi, V Hessel, E Rebrov

ChemCatChem 2025, 17 (7), e202401938

Electrification of chemical production requires the development of innovative solutions, with plasma catalysis being among them. This perspective summarizes many years of studies and discussions made in the frame of the ERC Synergy project SCOPE dedicated to the above aspects. The perspective aims to offer a vision of the future for plasma catalysis and its role in facing societal challenges.

G Centi, S Perathoner

The Chemical Record 2025, 25(6(), e202400259

We provide case examples and discuss emerging possibilities that have still not been investigated enough but are necessary to exploit this potential and enable future e-chemistry. Aspects discussed regard i) passing from electro to photoelectrocatalytic approaches, ii) the possibilities of making chemicals from the air, iii) the exploitation of both anodic and cathodic reactions, as well as tandem/paired electrocatalytic reactions, and iv) emerging possibilities for anodic selective oxidation and mediated synthesis.