A research team in Hefei, China, led by Wang Guozhong, has made strides in catalyst development by precisely controlling the size of nickel particles to enhance hydrogenation reactions. The study, published in Advanced Functional Materials, explores the impact of nickel particle sizes on catalyst performance. By synthesizing mesoporous silica and adjusting the molar ratio of ethylenediamine to nickel, the researchers created Ni/MS catalysts with varying particle sizes. Through experimental and theoretical analyses, they discovered that different particle sizes affect hydrogenation reactions differently. Larger nickel particles with high-coordination sites facilitate hydrogen dissociation, while smaller particles with low-coordination sites enhance reactant adsorption. The Ni/MS-4.8 catalyst with intermediate-sized particles demonstrated peak productivity in converting vanillin to 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol. The study highlights the importance of precise control over particle sizes in optimizing catalyst performance and product selectivity. By balancing reactant adsorption and hydrogen dissociation through particle size adjustment, the researchers have opened up new possibilities for more efficient and selective hydrogenation reactions in industrial applications.