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UniCat - Unifying Concepts in Catalysis
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UniCat is a DFG Cluster of Excellence. It has been developed within the Excellence Initiative started by the German Federal and State Governments, under the supervision of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).
UniCat has been founded and further developed by the Technische Universität Berlin, the Freie Universität Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Universität Potsdam, the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, the Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, and some partners from industry. The Cluster management offices are situated on the campus of the Technische Universität Berlin, which is the coordinating institution for the whole initiative.
Our vision is to unify concepts in catalysis by bridging the gaps between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, between elementary gas-phase reactions and complex processes in highly organised biological systems, as well as between fundamental and applied catalysis research.
Catalysis implies multiple processes involving catalytic systems of different structural and functional complexity. Large-scale conversion of small molecules occurs at solid interfaces (heterogeneous catalysis), whereas stepwise synthesis of fine chemicals proceeds in solution (homogeneous catalysis). Metabolic processes in organisms are catalysed by complex molecular machines which are capable of operating highly selectively at ambient temperature and pressure, adapted to specific environmental conditions. Catalytic diversity accounts for the division of this research area into various fields of science and engineering.
To profit from the progress made in each field, a collaborative network needs to be established which combines, integrates, verifies and exploits the various views of heterogeneous, homogeneous and biological catalysis, eventually giving rise to a unifying concept in catalysis. This ambitious goal can only be achieved by a concerted effort of scientists and engineers who address the problem of catalysis under different viewpoints and from various disciplinary backgrounds.
Our initiative focuses on analysing catalytic mechanisms, designing novel catalytic materials and strategies, and developing new catalytic processes on laboratory and miniplant scales. We want to integrate the expertise in chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering in the Berlin area into an innovative research program. We aim to create a centre of catalytic research and to generate new synergisms in this central field of science and technology.
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| © 2012, Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, Potsdam |
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