Summary
Converting renewable or waste materials to useful products is important for energy security and U.S. manufacturing. Upgrading plant-based materials and plastic wastes often requires converting small molecules into larger molecules. The larger molecules can be used in various products, including aviation fuel. The required reactions use catalysts to speed up product formation and suppress byproduct formation. Unfortunately, many catalysts do not perform well. Their short lifespan also limits their practical use. Recent studies show that dissolving small-molecule reactants in solvents improves c
