Despite the progress, several challenges remain in the field of catalysis:
- Deactivation: Catalysts can lose their activity over time due to factors like poisoning, sintering, or coking. Research is ongoing to develop more robust catalysts that can withstand harsh conditions.
- Selectivity: Achieving high selectivity for the desired product while minimizing the formation of by-products is a significant challenge. Tailoring the catalyst's active sites and reaction environment can help address this issue.
- Sustainability: The development of sustainable catalysts, particularly those based on abundant and non-toxic materials, is a priority. Efforts are being made to replace rare and expensive metals like platinum and palladium with more sustainable alternatives.
