Roadmap for catalysis science in the 21st century: a personal view of building the future on past and present accomplishments

Abstract

In the past, the focus of research in catalysis science was activity to optimize turnover rates. In the future, selectivity to form the desired product without the formation of byproducts will be the major research challenge. Our understanding of the molecular ingredients of selectivity needs to be improved. New synthetic methods of catalyst preparation are needed for precise control of size, structure, location of additives and location of catalyst particles on supports. Characterization of the catalysts under reaction conditions is essential as the catalyst restructures in the presence of the reactant mixture. Short contact time, high-temperature catalytic processes (catalytic combustion and pyrolysis) are frontier areas of catalysis science. Our concerns with clean air, water and soil provide challenges for catalytic solutions. Global catalytic processes that occur in oceans and in the soil should be explored. The field of enzymatic, heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis are likely to merge that provide opportunities for developing new catalytic processes.