Combinatorial Heterogeneous Catalysis-A New Path in an Old Field

Combinatorial catalysis is the systematic preparation, processing, and testing of large diversities of chemically and physically different materials libraries in a high-throughput fashion. It also embodies microfabrication, robotics, automation, instrumentation, computational chemistry, and large-scale information management (informatics), and as such carries the promise of a renaissance in catalytic reaction engineering. Significant progress has already been made in demonstrating the speed and economic advantage of combinatorial approaches by the discovery of superior catalytic materials in a matter of hours and days, as opposed to the months and years required using traditional methods. Combinatorial methods can also significantly contribute to our understanding of catalytic function by increasing our chances of discovering totally new and unexpected catalytic materials, and by expediting the recognition of trends and patterns of structure-activity relations, from which new catalytic materials can be designed more efficiently. Combinatorial catalysis undoubtedly will be the new paradigm of catalysis research as the industry faces increasing global competition and pressure for the development of environmentally friendly processes at a time when resources for research are diminishing.