Catalysis
Graduate · Chemistry
Syllabus focus
Standard syllabus · STEM / applied
Pricing
Graduate-level rates are set on consultation. See the pricing page for K–12 and undergraduate rates.
Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Catalysis fundamentals
- Catalysis definitions: turnover frequency, turnover number
- Thermodynamics and kinetics of catalyzed reactions
- Sabatier principle and optimal binding energy
- Brønsted and Evans–Polanyi relations in catalysis
- Selectivity: chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivity
- Catalyst deactivation: sintering, coking, poisoning, leaching
- Characterization of catalysts: ex situ and in situ methods
- Structure–activity relationships and volcano plots
- Scaling relations and Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi slopes
- Economic and environmental impact of catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysis
- Adsorption isotherms and surface reaction mechanisms
- Supported metal catalysts: synthesis and dispersion
- Metal oxides, zeolites, and mixed oxide catalysts
- Bifunctional and cascade catalysis on surfaces
- Photocatalysis: TiO₂, g-C₃N₄, and visible-light catalysts
- Electrocatalysis: HER, ORR, OER, CO₂ reduction
- Operando spectroscopy: DRIFTS, XAS, ambient pressure XPS
- Single-atom and cluster catalysis
- Catalyst preparation: impregnation, precipitation, sol-gel
- Industrial processes: Haber–Bosch, FCC, automotive catalysts
Homogeneous catalysis
- Organometallic catalytic cycles in detail
- Ligand effects on activity and selectivity
- Asymmetric homogeneous catalysis
- Phase-transfer and aqueous-phase catalysis
- Pincer complexes and pincer catalysis
- Frustrated Lewis pair catalysis
- Organocatalysis: amine, thiourea, NHC catalysts
- Photoredox and dual catalysis systems
- Catalyst immobilization and recyclable homogeneous catalysts
- High-throughput screening of catalyst libraries
Biocatalysis and enzyme engineering
- Enzyme classification and active site chemistry
- Directed evolution: error-prone PCR, DNA shuffling
- Rational design and computational enzyme engineering
- Immobilized enzymes and whole-cell biocatalysis
- Cofactor regeneration systems
- Non-natural enzyme reactions and artificial metalloenzymes
- Biocatalytic resolution and deracemization
- Flow biocatalysis and process intensification
- Industrial biocatalysis: statins, antibiotics, fine chemicals
- Sustainability advantages of biocatalysis
STEM / applied
Catalyst development workflow
- Catalyst synthesis and reproducibility
- Activity testing: batch and flow reactors
- Selectivity and stability testing protocols
- Characterization: BET, TPR/TPD, chemisorption, XRD
- Kinetic modeling of catalytic reactions
- Scale-up from lab to pilot reactor
- Life-cycle assessment of catalytic processes
- Patent searching in catalysis intellectual property
- Collaboration with engineering on reactor design
- Publication and presentation of catalysis research
Applied catalysis
- Petroleum refining and petrochemical catalysis
- Fine chemical and pharmaceutical catalytic steps
- Environmental catalysis: VOC abatement, SCR for NOₓ
- Battery and fuel cell electrocatalyst development
- CO₂ utilization catalysis and solar fuels
- Ammonia synthesis and fertilizer industry
- Polymerization catalysis in plastics industry
- Startup ventures in catalysis and green chemistry
- National lab catalysis research programs
- Career paths in catalysis across academia and industry
Notes
Graduate-level catalysis. Topics reflect common catalysis syllabi at US research universities. Prior organometallic, inorganic, and physical chemistry background expected.