Rambling between "Zhong Yong" and "Catalysis"

Authors

Zi-dong WEI, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044;Follow

Corresponding Author

Zi-dong WEI(zdwei@cqu.edu.cn)

Abstract

“Zhong Yong” represents a traditional Chinese wisdom, which was first proposed by Confucius and continuously richened by his followers. “Zhong Yong” pursues the balances among all kinds of contradictions, and insists that neither “too much” nor “not enough” is good. For a successful catalyst, on which the adsorption of reactants must be not so strong and not so weak either. On this point of view, there are the same pursuits for “Zhong Yong” and catalysis. In this paper, the author starts his story with a conversation between Confucius and his student, followed by 3 interesting stories happening in the ancient China, and then 3 examples in catalysis. In comparison with these stories and examples we can conclude that “Zhong Yong” and catalysis do share some common aesthetic standard. Doing catalysis with a taste of “Zhong Yong” must be very interesting and wonderful.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

catalysis, adsorption, desorption, Zhong Yong, Confucius.

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.151144

Publication Date

2016-04-28

Online Available Date

2015-03-03

Revised Date

2015-02-22

Received Date

2015-12-21

Recommended Citation

Zi-dong WEI. Rambling between "Zhong Yong" and "Catalysis"[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2016 , 22(2): 205-208.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.151144
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol22/iss2/11

References

[1] Greeley J, Stephens I E L, Bondarenko A S et al. Alloys of platinum and early transition metals as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts [J]. Nature Chemistry, 2009, 1 (7), 552-556.

[2] Trasatti, S. Work function, electronegativity, and electrochemical behaviour of metals III. Electrolytic hydrogen evolution in acid solutions[J]. J. Electroanal. Chem. Interfacial Electrochem. 1972, 39, 163184.

[3] Yang H Z, Zhang J, Sun K, et al. Enhancing by Weakening: Electrooxidation of Methanol on Pt₃Co and Pt Nanocubes[J]. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2010, 49 (38), 68486851.

[4] Wu G P, Wang J, Ding W, et al. A Strategy to Promote the Electrocatalytic Activity of Spinels for Oxygen Reduction by Structure Reversal[J]. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2016, 55(4), 1340-1344.