Research

Penn State Catalysis Science & Engineering encompasses a broad range of technologies and sciences that facilitate the discovery, development, and utilization of low-energy reaction pathways to affect molecular changes.

Catalysis plays pivotal roles in many modern technologies, including:

• energy conversion and storage
• greenhouse gas emission reduction
• plastics recycling
• pollution reduction
• production of industrial and pharmaceutical products
• biotechnology
• water treatment/purification

Penn State has developed a broad, vibrant, and diverse group of faculty with expertise in research areas at the core of catalysis science and engineering, including:

• heterogeneous catalysis
• materials synthesis and characterization
• computational modeling
• electrocatalysis
• reaction kinetics and mechanisms
• spectroscopy
• reaction engineering

Our partnership with the Penn State Materials Research Institute provides faculty and student access to characterization facilities that are among the best in the world. This provides opportunities to capitalize on our pooled knowledge to develop projects and pursue research directions not available at most research universities.

Our combined expertise in catalysis and materials characterization, coupled with flexible university IP policies, provides unique opportunities for industrial partnerships. For more information on partnering with Penn State and our Materials Characterization Lab, please contact David Fecko, the MRI industry relations coordinator, at dlf5023@psu.edu or 814-865-6691.

Descriptions of ongoing research projects are available through our faculty pages.