1. Catalysis, energy and the environment

The term catalysis refers to a chemical or biochemical process that accelerates a thermodynamically permissible reaction. The catalyst is a substance that facilitates the reaction, but is not consumed by it. A classic distinction is made between homogeneous catalysis, where the catalyst is dissolved in the (liquid) phase also containing the reactants, and heterogeneous catalysis, where a solid catalyst is used. It is this latter type of catalysis, which accounts for more than 90% of industrial catalysis and is relevant to energy applications, that will be discussed in this article. At the molecular level, the action of the catalyst results in the formation of chemical bonds with the reactants, which, thus disturbed, become ready to...