Here, the world's most active and productive computational scientists from academia and industry present established, effective and powerful tools for understanding catalysts. With its broad scope -- nitrogen fixation, polymerization, C-H bond activation, oxidations, biocatalysis and much more -- this book represents an extensive knowledge base for designing efficient catalysts, allowing readers to improve the performance of their own catalysts.
Recent results on a wide array of catalytic processes are collected in this volume. The book illustrates the importance of computational modelling in homogeneous catalysis by providing up-to-date reviews of its application to a variety of reactions of industrial interest.
This practical reference explores computer modeling of enzyme reations--techniques that help chemists, biochemists and pharmaceutical researchers understand drug and enzyme action.
This book is an excellent compilation of cutting-edge research in heterogeneous catalysis and related disciplines – surface science, organometallic catalysis, and enzymatic catalysis. In 23 chapters by noted experts, the volume demonstrates varied approaches using model systems and their successes in understanding aspects of heterogeneous catalysis, both metal- and metal oxide-based catalysis in extended single crystal and nanostructured catalytic materials. To truly appreciate the astounding advances of modern heterogeneous catalysis, let us first consider the subject from a historical perspective. Heterogeneous catalysis had its beginnings in England and France with the work of scientists such as Humphrey Davy (1778–1829), Michael Faraday (1791–1867), and Paul Sabatier (1854–1941). Sabatier postulated that surface compounds, si- lar to those familiar in bulk to chemists, were the intermediate species leading to catalytic products. Sabatier proposed, for example, that NiH moieties on a Ni sur- 2 face were able to hydrogenate ethylene, whereas NiH was not. In the USA, Irving Langmuir concluded just the opposite, namely, that chemisorbed surface species are chemically bound to surfaces and are unlike known molecules. These chemisorbed species were the active participants in catalysis. The equilibrium between gas-phase molecules and adsorbed chemisorbed species (yielding an adsorption isotherm) produced a monolayer by simple site-filling kinetics.
This practical guide describes the basic computational methodologies for catalysis and materials science at an introductory level, presenting the methods with relevant applications, such as spectroscopic properties, chemical reactivity and transport properties of catalytically interesting materials. Edited and authored by internationally recognized scientists, the text provides examples that may be considered and followed as state-of-the art.
The Proceedings of the 24th International Solvay Conference on Chemistry comprise contributed short personal statements and transcripts of in-depth discussions on 'Catalysis in Chemistry and Biology' from a by-invitation-only select group of 48 eminent scientists, including four Nobel Laureates, from all parts of the world. The theme of the conference was presented in six sessions, along which the Proceedings are organized. The first session on 'Homogeneous Catalysis,' chaired by Professor Robert Grubbs, is devoted to basic research on catalysis in homogeneous solutions and applications thereof. 'Heterogeneous Catalysis and Characterization of Catalyst Surfaces,' chaired by Professor Gerhard Ertl, includes extensive references to industrial applications of catalysis on solid supports, and discussions on the experimental techniques used in this field. 'Catalysis by Microporous Materials,' chaired by Professor Mark E. Davis, is devoted to a detailed characterization of this particular class of solid support catalysts, with special emphasis on model analysis of the processes catalyzed by these materials. 'Catalysis under Extreme Conditions: Studies at High Pressure and High Temperatures — Relations with Processes in Nature,' chaired by Professor Henk N W Lekkerkerker, broadens the scope of the two preceding sessions with exciting illustrations. The sessions on 'Catalysis by Protein Enzymes,' chaired by Prof. JoAnne Stubbe, and 'Catalysis by Ribozymes in Molecular Machines,' chaired by Prof. David Lilley, present at the same time an exciting extension of and a contrast to the initial four sessions. The combination of the six sessions provides an impressive overview, giving innovative insights into relationships between catalysis in chemical processes and in biological systems, and a unique outlook to anticipated developments in the coming years and the more distant future.
Rational design of heterogeneous catalysts is of utmost importance to improve the efficiency of industrial chemical synthesis. In this thesis, we investigate two chemical reactions catalyzed by heterogeneous catalysts through theoretical modeling, the aerobic esterification of primary alcohols and the two electron oxygen reduction reaction. First, we develop a microkinetic modeling code, Micki, that both provides an easy-to-use interface for standard statistical mechanical methods for microkinetic modeling as well as novel ways to incorporate complex physics that influence the liquid-solid interface. Then we use Micki to determine the role of P block promoters for the aerobic esterification of alcohols. Tellurium atoms modify the electronic structure of the catalyst which reduces the barrier of the rate limiting step, C-H bond scission, as well as providing lower energy pathways for O2 reduction. Next, we develop a theoretical framework to evaluate the performance of cobalt dichalcogenides based on density functional theory calculations. Together with experimental collaborators, we discover the best 2e? ORR catalysts in acidic media to date as well as transferable physical principles. We apply these physical principles to nickel dichalcogenides and cobalt nickel dichalcogen alloys. We conclude that while nickel dichalcogenides show great promise for 2e? ORR, the alloy does not as neighboring metal centers have little electronic influence on each other. Finally we use Micki to develop an electrochemical microkinetic model of 2e? ORR on cobalt dichalcogenide catalysts and compare results to bulk electrolysis experiments. While significant work must be done to reach quantitative accuracy for electrochemical kinetic models, our results indicate qualitative trends are properly modeled and electrochemical kinetic models can be used to predict catalyst performance.
The simulation of enzymatic processes is a well-established field within computational chemistry, as demonstrated by the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It has been attracting increasing attention in recent years due to the potential applications in the development of new drugs or new environmental-friendly catalysts. Featuring contributions from renowned authors, including Nobel Laureate Arieh Warshel, this book explores the theories, methodologies and applications in simulations of enzyme reactions. It is the first book offering a comprehensive perspective of the field by examining several different methodological approaches and discussing their applicability and limitations. The book provides the basic knowledge for postgraduate students and researchers in chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics, who want a deeper understanding of complex biological process at the molecular level.
The simulation of enzymatic processes is a well-established field within computational chemistry, as demonstrated by the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It has been attracting increasing attention in recent years due to the potential applications in the development of new drugs or new environmental-friendly catalysts. Featuring contributions from renowned authors, including Nobel Laureate Arieh Warshel, this book explores the theories, methodologies and applications in simulations of enzyme reactions. It is the first book offering a comprehensive perspective of the field by examining several different methodological approaches and discussing their applicability and limitations. The book provides the basic knowledge for postgraduate students and researchers in chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics, who want a deeper understanding of complex biological process at the molecular level.
