Publications

Toward the Rational Design of More Efficient Mo2C Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation–Mechanism and Descriptor Identification
ACS Catalysis (2023)
Meena, R., Bitter, J. H., Zuilhof, H., & Li, G.

Summary: The research investigates the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) mechanism of butyric acid over molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) and identifies butanol dissociation as the rate-determining step. It finds that Zr- and Nb-doped Mo2C catalysts exhibit enhanced HDO activity, establishing linear-scaling relationships between dopant properties and catalytic performance, which aids in the rational design of more efficient Mo2C catalysts.

Ground-state properties of the narrowest zigzag graphene nanoribbon from quantum Monte Carlo and comparison with density functional theory
Journal of Chemical Physics (2022)
Meena, R., Li, G., & Casula, M.

Summary: The research investigates the ground-state properties of the narrowest zigzag graphene nanoribbon using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) calculations, revealing that it is a correlated system with antiferromagnetically ordered localized π electrons. The study finds significant antiferromagnetic stabilization energy and magnetization, indicating that these correlations may persist above room temperature, and suggests a suitable Hubbard repulsion strength for density functional theory (DFT) applications.

Revealing Active Sites and Reaction Pathways in Methane Non‐Oxidative Coupling over Iron‐Containing Zeolites
Angewandte Chemie - International Edition (2023)
Zhang, H., Bolshakov, A., Meena, R., Hou, Y., Plessers, D., Hensen, E. J. M., Bals, S., Abakumov, A. M., Gascon, J., & Camacho-Bunquin, J.

Summary: The research investigates the non-oxidative coupling of methane over iron-containing zeolites, specifically MFI and CHA topologies, which show high selectivity for ethylene and ethane. The study reveals that isolated Fe3+ centers in the zeolite framework are reduced to active sites during the reaction, with methyl radicals identified as key intermediates leading to ethane and ethylene production.

Comparison of RNC Coupling and CO Coupling Mediated by Cr–Cr Quintuple Bond and B–B Multiple Bonds: Main Group Metallomimetics
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2021)
Ghorai, S., Meena, R., Joseph, A. P., & Jemmis, E. D.

Summary: The research analyzes the reductive coupling of isocyanide and CO using Cr-Cr quintuple bonded and B-B multiple bonded complexes, highlighting how the donor-acceptor capabilities of the ligands influence product distributions. It finds that while CO does not facilitate C-C coupling due to strong π-back bonding, isocyanide allows for a spin transition leading to various products.