As we all learned from our high-school chemistry teachers, a catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy. Besides being responsible for a higher activity, catalysts also direct a reaction, hereby influencing the selectivity of a chemical process. It is especially the latter property which makes catalysis the key-technology of the 21st century for making our society more sustainable. Surely, car exhaust systems as well as cheese, wine and beer-making industries are the most recognized examples of catalyst technology by non-chemists, but it remains important to recall that more than 80% of all chemical products, being it transportation fuels, plastics or medicines, have been in contact with one or more catalyst materials during their production. In view of the diminishing natural reserves on crude oil and the related concerns on global warming it will be essential to find more efficient production routes for these consumer products. Furthermore, enzymes-the catalysts of Mother Nature-are the essential ingredients to life and insight in their working principles is key to the design of new or improved medication and health treatments.
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