PARACAT — Paramagnetic Species in Catalysis Research. A Unified Approach Towards Heterogeneous, Homogeneous and Enzyme Catalysis

Results in brief

Paramagnetic Species in Catalysis Research. A Unified Approach Towards Heterogeneous, Homogeneous and Enzyme Catalysis

Catalysis is recognized as one of the key drivers for wealth-creating industry, including the sustainability of our society. In this context, the EJD-PARACAT project aims to comprehensively explore for the first time the role of open-shell species in catalysis and chemical reactivity, which are notoriously difficult to study by conventional experimental tools. The project provides advanced training and expertise to 10 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) focusing of how open-shell species participate in catalytic reactions. The objective is to enhance the availability of highly skilled researchers competent in advanced instruments and techniques, using a scientific approach and training protocol that is novel within the EU context. The basic tenet of the PARACAT training programme is that “knowledge ought to precede application”. By recognising and understanding the impact of open-shell species in chemical reactivity and catalysis, the ESRs will be equipped with the skills required to design more efficient catalysts and sustainable processes. The goal is to create a chain of knowledge whereby fundamental understanding is translated into practical applications by the synergic interaction between academic and industrial partners. The programme focuses on the multidisciplinary aspects associated with the role of paramagnetic species in key reactions of paramount importance for sustainable development, with emphasis on small molecule activation, selective oxidation of hydrocarbons and olefin polymerization, using homogeneous, heterogeneous or bio-catalysts. To do so it includes the input of (bio) chemists, (bio) physicists, industrial partners and an ethicist, delivering further emphasis on the ethics and social reflections of their research.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

PARACAT aims at educating a group of young researchers to implement methods for cutting edge research in the field of catalysis, comprehensively exploring for the first time the role of open-shell species, an innovative area at the intersections between chemistry, physics and biology. The programme puts strong emphasis on ethics and social reflections by combining the scientific expertise of (bio)chemists, (bio)physicists and industrial partners with the input of an ethicist to form a new generation of scientists capable to take up appropriate societal responsibilities as experts in their field. PARACAT is set up by a consortium formed by 5 academic beneficiaries flanked by 1 research institute, 3 industrial organizations and 2 academic institutions as partners, collaborating in the research and training activities to offer 10 early-stage-researchers the possibility of being awarded with double doctoral degrees in two different European countries. The overall PARACAT programme will address the role of paramagnetism in catalysis with a focus on a knowledge-based bottom-up approach, integrating homogeneous, heterogeneous and bio-catalysis with the objective of 1) designing new catalysts based on earth abundant and safe elements; 2) discovery of new and more sustainable reaction pathways for the activation of small molecules and selective oxidations by learning from nature; 3) enabling new routes for polymerization and de-polymerization reactions. The training programme overcomes barriers between traditional disciplines providing top level tuition on topics spanning from advanced spectroscopic methods, synthesis and property characterization, to quantum chemical modelling, and on a full set of complementary skills .The goal is therefore to build a chain of knowledge whereby fundamental understanding is translated into practical applications by the synergistic interaction between academic and industrial partners, in an ethical and social dimension.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO · TorinoCoordinatorItaly
BIOPOLIS SL · PaternaSpain
BRUKER BIOSPIN GMBH · EttlingenGermany
Basell Poliolefine Italia srl · MilanoItaly
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY · CARDIFFUnited Kingdom
FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG · ErlangenGermany
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ""DEMOKRITOS"""" · Agia ParaskeviGreece
UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA · ZaragozaSpain
UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR WIEN · WienAustria
UNIVERSITAET LEIPZIG · LeipzigGermany
UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN · AntwerpenBelgium

PARACAT · Paramagnetic Species in Catalysis Research. A Unified Approach Towards Heterogeneous, Homogeneous and Enzyme Catalysis

Results in brief

Paramagnetic Species in Catalysis Research. A Unified Approach Towards Heterogeneous, Homogeneous and Enzyme Catalysis

Project objective

Participants

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