Catalysts are designed to provide a pathway for chemical reactions with lower activation energy, thus increasing the rate of reaction. More importantly, they can be engineered to favor the formation of desired products over unwanted by-products. This is achieved through the careful selection of catalytic materials and the optimization of reaction conditions. For instance, the use of heterogeneous catalysts with specific active sites can significantly improve selectivity by providing a surface that preferentially stabilizes the transition state of the desired reaction.
