Rethinking ‘dynamic catalysis’ optimisation: chemists may have been doing it the wrong way for years

Have chemists been optimising the wrong variable for years when it comes to dynamic catalysis? That’s the claim made by a new study out of the University of Houston.

‘A standard catalyst is “static” as it sits under fixed conditions and works at a set speed,’ explains Omar Abdelrahman at Houston. ‘A “dynamic” or “programmable” catalyst is actively shaken up, with its environment deliberately oscillated – for example, switching an applied voltage back and forth – to force it to work much faster.’