Catalysis
Catalysis means that a substance speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. This substance is called a catalyst and is the basis for almost all industrial processes, from synthetic fertilizer to car exhaust.
In a chemical reaction, certain substances turn into other substances. Many such reactions proceed on their own only very slowly, or require great heat. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up such a reaction without being consumed in the process. It is present again at the end and can immediately continue working. This process is precisely what is called catalysis. It is so powerful because a small amount of catalyst can convert huge amounts of substance.
Why half of industry would grind to a halt without catalysts
According to estimates, around 80 percent of all industrially produced chemicals involve at least one catalytic step. The best-known example is the production of ammonia, the basic material for synthetic fertilizer. Without an iron catalyst, this reaction would practically not proceed at all. Experts estimate that a considerable portion of the world’s population could not be fed without this fertilizer.
Catalysis also saves energy. If a reaction takes place at 200 degrees instead of 600 degrees, fuel consumption drops significantly. This lowers costs and CO2 emissions at the same time. That is why the search for better catalysts is considered an important lever for climate protection.
The human body itself would also not be viable without catalysis. Enzymes are biological catalysts made of protein. They break down, for example, starch in saliva within seconds. Without them, the same process would take hours or days.
The detour over the lower mountain
For a reaction to start, existing bonds between atoms must break. This requires a boost of energy, the so-called activation energy. One can imagine it as a mountain ridge lying between the starting material and the product. Heat normally supplies the force needed to get over it.
A catalyst does not remove the mountain. It opens a pass, that is, a route over a lower point. Chemically speaking, this means: the catalyst briefly binds the starting materials to itself and brings them into a favorable position. The reaction then proceeds via intermediate stages that require less energy. Afterward, the catalyst releases the finished product again.
An important distinction is often misunderstood. A catalyst makes a reaction faster, but does not make possible one that was previously impossible. It does not force reactions that are not energetically downhill. It only changes the speed, not the outcome. A second misconception: catalysts do not last forever. They can become clogged or poisoned by impurities, for instance car catalytic converters through lead in gasoline.
From the exhaust pipe to the AI lab
The best-known everyday example sits under every car. The catalytic converter contains platinum, palladium, and rhodium on a honeycomb-shaped ceramic. It converts toxic carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into less harmful gases. Because the precious metals are expensive, removed catalytic converters are frequently stolen.
In economic news, catalysis mainly comes up in connection with hydrogen. To split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, electrolyzers with catalytic layers are needed. So far, these often contain rare metals such as iridium. Companies that find cheaper alternatives are considered attractive investment targets.
The AI industry has also discovered the topic. Models such as GNoME from Google DeepMind or MatterGen from Microsoft propose new material candidates, including possible catalysts. Instead of years of trial and error in the lab, the software pre-sorts millions of structures. Testing in the test tube is nevertheless still required afterward. Incidentally, the word is also used figuratively: when a stock market report speaks of a catalyst, it means an event that strongly accelerates a development.