posted October 21, 2025
Catalysts, which reduce the amount of energy needed for a chemical reaction, are used in the development of new materials. Researchers at the Center for Programmable Energy Catalysis, which is headed by MSI PI Paul Dauenhauer (professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science), have published a paper in the journal ACS Central Science in which they describe a technique they have developed to measure electron sharing in catalysts. This method, called Isopotential Electron Titration, will assist catalytic engineers to develop new and more effective catalysts.
An article about this paper appears on the College of Science and Engineering website: Energy researchers discover part of electron that drives catalysis. The paper can be read on the journal website: Isopotential Electron Titration: Hydrogen adsorbate-metal charge transfer.
Professor Dauenhauer uses MSI resources to calculate intermediate energies in catalytic conversion of sugars and other biomass-derived compounds.