Resumen

FIERRO-GONZALEZ, Juan C.. Between understanding and predicting the performance of solid catalysts. Mundo nano [online]. 2021, vol.14, n.26, 00004.  Epub 03-Mar-2021. ISSN 2448-5691.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ceiich.24485691e.2021.26.69645.

Solid catalysts discovery is generally done by using methodologies that involve trial-and-error. In the best cases, this strategy is supported by information obtained from characterization techniques. However, the structural complexity of typical solid catalysts complicates the interpretation of data, and there are no detailed and rigorous descriptions of the way in which solid catalysts function. Furthermore, the trial-and-error strategy does not allow to predict whether the synthesized materials will be the best possible for a specific reaction. In contrast, the rational design of solid catalysts is an alternative to the trial-and-error that could serve, at least in principle, to predict the structure that is required for a material to be catalytically active for a specific chemical reaction. This strategy, however, requires fundamental knowledge of the materials (i.e., specific and rigorous details of the nature of the active sites), which is a challenging task. In this work, the strategies that are typically used to study solid catalysts are contrasted, placing special emphasis on the possibility of designing materials. What it means to understand catalyst performance at a fundamental level is discussed, and a critical analysis is made of potential opportunities that design offers to address some relevant issues in catalyst study today.

Palabras llave : catalysts design; trial-and-error; catalytic cycles.