Why are new catalysts important?
New catalysts are crucial for numerous industries, including
energy, pharmaceuticals, and environmental protection. They help in reducing the energy consumption of chemical processes, minimizing byproducts, and enabling the use of less harmful raw materials. This ultimately leads to more sustainable and cost-effective production methods.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs): These porous materials offer high surface areas and tunable properties, making them ideal for gas storage, separation, and catalysis.
Single-atom catalysts: These catalysts consist of isolated metal atoms dispersed on a support, providing exceptional activity and selectivity for various reactions.
Enzyme-mimicking catalysts: These catalysts are designed to replicate the active sites of enzymes, offering high specificity and efficiency.
Scalability: Developing methods to produce new catalysts on a large scale while maintaining their performance is a significant challenge.
Stability: Ensuring that new catalysts remain stable and active over extended periods and under harsh conditions is crucial for their practical application.
Cost: Reducing the cost of new catalysts, particularly those involving rare or expensive materials, is essential for their widespread adoption.
