CLUSTER no. 3

Outline of the research areas

In essence, the prime focus of the cluster will be on the innovative preparation, characterization and application of novel materials (for instance: homogeneous/​heterogeneous catalysts, metallic alloys, composites, polymers, metallic particles/​nanoparticles either dispersed in bulk solutions or deposited on various inorganic/​organic supports, semiconductor compounds, thin films, single-atom catalysts, hybrid nanostructures, electrode materials), and more specifically on: a. understanding of the reactions mechanisms in catalysis under different activation pathways (for instance: thermo‑, photo‑, electro, mechano-chemically, and the combination of them) with attention on their energetics, dynamics, surface structure and phase transitions using the complementary combination of various instrumental techniques such as PXRD, HRXPS, SEM, FTIR, AES, SECM, PM-IRRAS, LMFI, NMR-light-based techniques, MS-TGA and GPC/SEC analysis, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and flow microcalorimeter, among others, with the appropriate well-established test reactions such as green hydrogen generation, CO2 and oxygen reduction, water/​air pollutants degradation, biomass valorization, hydrogenation, hydrolysis, and condensation b. combines theoretical and experimental efforts to provide a molecular basis for the mechanism of action of all types of catalysts/​materials irrespective of phases involved (homogeneous and heterogeneous), c. studies related to processes intensification based on batch and flow mode, such as biomimetic processes through natural-enzymes-fashion, two-different-phases-based and two-complementary-energies-of-catalyst-activation-based processes, d. development technologies enabling​“catalysis-on-demand” approach.