Catalysis

Catalysis is an area of research which still continues to be a premier area of chemistry. It plays a key role in modern chemical technology. There are a large number of important organic transformations such as oxidation, hydrogenation, hydroformylation, carbonylation, polymerization and various coupling reactions. The majority of these novel catalysts are based on silica, primarily since silica displays many advantageous properties excellent stability (chemical and thermal), high surface area, good accessibility, and organic groups can be robustly anchored to the surface, to provide catalytic centers. However, it does have drawbacks it has limited stability in aqueous especially basic conditions, and it cannot easily be formed into membranes or into other forms which could be attached to novel reactors for use in intensive processing applications.