Microkinetic modeling sheds light on mechanisms for oligomerizing olefins (Broadbelt)

Microporous metal-organic framework-supported Ir-catalyst transforms with high selectivity (Farha)

Engineering ribosomes offer opportunities for understanding & engineering biocatalytic systems for medicines & materials (Jewett)

From supported metals to hybrid materials, catalysts are designed for more sustainable chemistry (Kung)

Single atom control gives insight into catalysis (Notestein)

Nanostructured catalysts are developed for selective catalytic reactions (Notestein)

Electrocatalytic processes harness renewable electricity sources to drive sustainable production of fuels and chemicals (Seitz)

Computational discovery of rules for selective oxidation (Snurr)

Catalyzed release of phosphate from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on a ferrihydrite surface (Aristilde)

Laser-induced CVD growth of SWNTs from metal nanoparticles on Si micropillars patterned using polymer pen lithography (Mirkin)

A quantum chemical model of Mo oxide on carbon sheds light onto its unique reactivity with ethanol. (Schatz)

Research

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Areas of Research

Catalysis and Reaction Engineering

Catalysis and Reaction Engineering

The discipline of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering (CRE) seeks to control and understand the networks of reactions that occur in ‘reactors’ ranging from cellular compartments up to world-scale industrial facilities, and includes reactions may be activated by heat, light, electrical, or chemical energy. Because of this broad remit, CRE is interested in intricate biochemical pathways, pollution remediation, and the production of anything from fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, to fuels, monomers, and polymers. CRE at Northwestern is highly interdisciplinary and often takes place in globally recognized, collaborative centers.

Research Areas

Our researchers study catalysts that may be small molecules, biological macromolecules, or solid materials, which harness light, electricity, or thermal energy as inputs. An important area of research is to understand how catalysts can work cooperatively or be arranged in space and time to carry out reactions with high selectivity or to synthesize molecules and materials with new properties. We also have strengths in the development of reactions for sustainable chemistry and in the modeling and synthesis of new catalysts and reaction environments, including engineered cellular environments, metal organic frameworks, single-site catalysts, and multicomponent oxides.

Faculty

CORE

	Linda Broadbelt Novel computational approaches to address hurdles facing the biomass industry in the transition to more sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials.
	Harold Kung Develop understanding of molecule-surface interactions, reaction mechanisms, and synthesis methodology to enable catalysts by design for sustainability.
	Tobin Marks Fundamentals of catalysis by atom-precise materials and designed organometallics with specific interests in polymerization/depolymerization and selective oxidation.
	Justin Notestein Designing and interrogating all types of catalysts and catalytic processes, especially for large scale chemical processes and novel applications in sustainability.
	Linsey Seitz Electrocatalysis, in situ spectroscopy, dynamic catalyst materials, and reactor design towards renewable production of fuels and chemicals.
	Randall Snurr Computational catalysis modeling, data science in catalysis, natural gas conversion, oxidation catalysis, catalytic destruction of toxic compounds.
	Dayne Swearer The Swearer Lab combines nanophotonics with heterogeneous catalysis, develops operando spectroscopies, and works towards the electrification of reactions crucial to industry and society.
	John Torkelson Developing and tuning reactions for the synthesis and deconstruction of sustainable and recyclable/upcyclable polymers and composites.
	Danielle Tullman-Ercek Coupling modeling and experiments to explore the impact of enzyme sequestration and organization on biochemical reaction performance.

COURTESY

	Ludmilla Arstilde Probing the heterogeneous catalysis of nutrient recycling by natural mineral oxides by coupling spectroscopic analyses with molecular simulations.
	Omar Farha Design and synthesis of catalysts supported on porous materials with atomically precise structures for energy-, environment- and national defense-related applications.
	Kimberly Gray Environmental catalysis, including synthesis of photo-active materials for resource recovery and water/air treatment, as well as the unintended ecotoxicological impacts of nanomaterials.
	Chad Mirkin Mirkin develops nanomaterial megalibraries (>1 million features) for the high-throughput screening and discovery of energy-relevant catalysts.
	Milan Mrksich Studying and applying spatio-temporal organization in catalytic systems, including the use of microfluidic systems, patterned surfaces, and megamolecules for cascade reactions.
	George Schatz The Schatz group uses a density functional theory and molecular dynamics calculations to study catalytic reaction mechanisms.