CHE 490: Special Topics in CHE
Computational Catalysis
Dr. Hassan Aljama
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Course introduction
• Course Subject: Computational Catalysis
• Instructor: Dr. Hassan Aljama ([Link]@[Link])
• Guest Lecturer: Dr. Zainab Aithan
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Course Introduction
• Lectures: Monday and Wesnesday (2:00 pm – 3:15 pm)
• Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday (3:15 pm – 4:15 pm)
• Homework: 6 total homework
• Quizzes: 6 quizzes
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Class background
• Years in KFUPM
• Research activities/industrial experience
• Background in catalysis
• What does ‘computational’ catalysis mean?
• What do you want to get out of this class?
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Course Topics
• General concepts in catalysis
• Reaction energies and activation barriers
• Free Energy Diagrams in Catalysis
• Reaction kinetics using computational catalysis
• Scaling relations
• Activity map
• Density Functional Thoery (quick introduction)
• d-band theory
• Nature of the active site
• Electro-catalysis
• Practical applications of computational catalysis
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Course Textbook
Title: Fundamental Concepts in Heterogeneous Catalysis
Authors: Nørskov, Bligaard, Abild-Pedersen, Studt
(Not required)
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Course Grading
• Homework: 20%
• Quizzes: 15%
• Midterm: 25%
• Final: 30%
• Attendance: 10%
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Course Objective
• Introduce basic concepts in computational catalysis
• Provide physical-based principles to the science of catalysis
• Understand the differences between computational and experimental catalysis
• Detailed examples of energy analysis and microkinetic modeling
• Illustrate how computational catalysis can help in catalyst design
Focus is on the concepts!
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General Ideas
• What is the role of a catalyst?
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General Ideas
• What is the role of a catalyst?
• Enhancing the chemical reaction
without being consumed
A+B à AB
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Catalysis is everywhere
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Catalysis and the Chemical Industry
• In the United States:
• Catalysis accounts for around 10% of GNP
• Over 1 million people work in catalysis
• Around 10% of the total energy use
• Insutry is 90% dependent on catalysis
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The Catalyst Challenges
• We do not have a catalyst for many processes
Catalyst?
CO2 Fuel
• Any other example?
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The Catalyst Challenges
• It is highly desirable that a catalyst is made cheaply and is abundant in
nature
Abundance
Atomic Number
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The Catalyst Challenges
• With population growth, energy is more precious than every
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The Catalyst Challenges
• Decentralized production
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The Catalyst Challenges
• Catalysis is the main driver for the chemical industry
• Many processes do not exist today due to lack of a catalyst
• For the major challenges, the catalyst must be effective, cheap and
earth-abundant
• Computational catalysis can enable the discovery of novel catalysts
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Next Lecture
• General concepts in catalysis
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