NKEK25002U Catalysis

Volume 2025/2026
Content

The course gives an introduction into heterogeneous catalysis and its relation to sustainable chemistry. The course discusses the role of catalysis now and in the future. Adsorption processes on surfaces will be treated. The fundamental concepts of catalysis are introduced based on examples from heterogeneous catalytic reactions. The students learn how to describe reaction kinetics, approximation methods for the description and evaluation of reaction rates, how to perform and analyse catalytic reactions and characterize physical properties of catalysts. The concepts of: transition state, barriers, Brøndsted-Evans-Polanyi relations and Sabatiers principle will be introduced and applied to rational design of catalyst materials.

We will visit relevant companies. 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Definition of a catalyst
  • Fundamental principles of catalytic processes
  • Mathematical description of catalytic processes


Skills:

  • Describing catalytic processes mathematically.


Competences:

  • To be able to critically asses catalytic processes

Book(s):

Fundamental Concepts in Heterogeneous Catalysis, Industrial Catalysis: A Practical Approach, Second Edition

Author(s): Jens Norskov, Felix Studt, Frank Abild-Pedersen, Thomas Bligaard

DOI: 10.1002/9781118892114

http:/​/​onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ep.fjernadgang.kb.dk/​book/​10.1002/​9781118892114

Heterogeneous Catalysis Fundamentals and Applications

Author(s): Julian R.H. Ross DOI: 10.1002/9781118892114

http:/​/​www.sciencedirect.com.ep.fjernadgang.kb.dk/​science/​book/​9780444533630

Forelæsnings slides og kopier.

It is expected that the students are familiar with the content of the courses MatIntroKem, AnvMatKem, KemiOrg, KemiU1, KemiU2, KemiBin, AnvSpek and TermoKin
A mix of lecturers and tutorials/group work. Visits to companies working in the field of catalysis.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 132
  • Practical exercises
  • 24
  • Excursions
  • 4
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Individual
Collective
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 25 minutes (no preparation time)
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

Same as ordinary exam

Criteria for exam assesment

After the course the student ought to be able to:

  • define what a catalyst is and discuss the different fields of catalysis
  • discuss basic catalytic principles
  • calculate, determine and discuss catalytic and kinetic parameter, such as an activation barrier, reaction order, rate equations, elementary reaction steps.
  • explain trends in catalytic activity
  • explain catalytic reactions at the atomic scale