Catalysis is a key enabling technology for the development of green and sustainable production processes in the chemical industry. Because catalysis allows for chemical reactions to follow routes that require less energy and are more selective, the impact of catalysis on the overall sustainability of the chemical industry is very large. Accordingly, catalysis is a key technology in the overall sustainability targets of the EU.
Transition metal catalysts are important tools towards greener chemistry, allowing for low-waste, energy-efficient, and selective chemical reactions. Currently, the noble metals (e.g. Ru, Rh, Pd) that are most common in homogeneous catalysts suffer from high toxicity and environmental impact, in addition to their scarcity and ensuing high cost. First-row metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) are emerging as environmentally benign alternatives, but to this day rarely equal the performance of their noble counterparts.
The NoNoMeCat network aimed at providing interdisciplinary training to a generation of young researchers in the field of Non-Noble Metal homogeneous Catalysis, who will push the boundaries of the field in terms of catalyst stability, selectivity, mechanistic understanding, and scalability. These challenges are addressed in three areas of high fundamental and practical significance: i) the oxidation of hydrocarbons (WP1), ii) the formation of new C-X bonds (C-C, C-N) bonds through cross-coupling reactions (WP2), and iii) clean energy production (WP3). NoNoMeCat has enrolled 13 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) who received structured training in experimental and theoretical aspects of non-noble metal chemistry, as well as in transferable skills such as research integrity, scientific communication and public outreach. Tight integration of non-academic and industrial partners in the network exposed all ESRs to aspects of both fundamental interdisciplinary research and industrial application.
Overall the most important outcomes of the NoNoMeCat encompass: i) the high-level training and education of young researchers in the emerging field of non-noble metal catalysis (all ESRs involved will or have already received a PhD degree in this field), ii) new scientific insights in a number of catalytic reactions of key strategical importance for which non-noble metal catalysts can be used, iii) the creation of a true intersectorial network of academic and industrial researchers with a shared interest and expertise in the field of non-noble metal catalysis, and finally iv) the creation of a communal pedigree for a group of young researchers that provides them with a firm and collegial professional network for the future.
