Catalysis

A catalyst is a chemical used in a chemical reaction or which accelerates the speed of the reaction. Catalysis plays a central role in the modern Chemistry and can be found everywhere in the industrial production of components with enhanced benefits. We therefore find that 25% of manufactured products have undergone at least one catalytic stage (60% in the Chemistry of “plastics”). The challenges of catalysis include: making changes thought to be impracticable because they are kinetically too slow; developing these changes in fewer synthesis phases (saves time and money); activating inert molecules like some gases; increasing the selectivity of the reactions by encouraging the formation of a product.

Because of its industrial and economical importance, the development of new catalysts represent nowadays the most studied topic in chemistry research. Catalysis, be it heterogeneous (bulk or nanoparticles) or homogenous, mineral or organic (organo-metallic, coordination or molecular) or microbiologic (enzymatic), is one of the crucial keys in the development of a sustainable and green chemistry by favoring valorization of renewable resources of various origins (plants or animals) while allowing conversion to clean solvents.

Main Research Topics

Nanocatalysis

New nanometric size metallic catalysts (10-9m) dispersed or supported. Nanocatalysts with higher turnover potential, inducing greater selectivity or renewable.

ENSCR_nanocatalyse

Olefin Metathesis

Simplification of synthesis pathways of industrial key molecules in context of sustainability (Pharmaceuticals, Chemistry from Plants, bio-based materials).

ENSCR_métathèse des oléfines

Asymetric Catalysis

Design of ecologically efficient chiral ligands (N-Heterocyclic Carbenes & Phosphines) for the synthesis of optically active molecules.

ENSCR_catalyse asymétrique

Biocatalysis

New reaction pathways using enzymatic catalysis. Creation of a biocatalyst repository for rare glucides.

Heterogeneous catalysis

Increasing the knowledge of the mechanisms governing transformation with industrial catalysts in order to further optimization : approach combining synthesis, structural characterizations and theoretical and numerical modeling.

 Photocatalysis

Modeling, intensification and industrialization of photocatalytic reactors. Upscaling validation of catalysts and photocatalysts.