Our approach
Our strategy is rooted in fundamental catalyst design and tackles the identification of atom- and energy-efficient routes for the conversion of small molecules (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, water, or nitrogen) to energy carriers and platform chemicals and for the subsequent transformation of these building blocks into societally relevant compounds, like fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and functional materials.
To achieve the fundamental understanding of relevant phenomena at length and time scales spanning ten orders of magnitude - from the atom to the full-scale process -
NCCR Catalysis combines multidimensional and cross-disciplinary modes, including catalysis, chemistry, materials science, chemical and process engineering, and computer sciences with translational approaches in research, education, and society. Our approach embraces three enabling pillars:
- Advanced tools including novel synthetic routes, high throughput experimentation, and multidimensional operando techniques to prepare and characterize catalysts and their performance in depth guide chemical discovery.
- Digitalization sets the foundations for accelerating experimental and computational approaches to derive synthesis-property-performance relationships and molecular-level understanding at the catalyst, reactor, and process scales.
- Process design and scale up tackling catalysts, feedstocks, reactors, and product and process assessment secures the translation of discoveries into competitive plant-ready technologies with tangible benefits to society.