Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)
The Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology was founded 2011. Its mission is to bridge the gap between fundamental and applied research and the development of new technologies and products in the field of catalysis and process technology of catalyzed processes. The focus of our work is the sustainable utilization of alternative feedstocks and their conversion into energy carriers intermediates. This includes the development of new catalytic systems based on a fundamental understanding of processes on a molecular level. The institute receives basic funding from the Helmholtz Association's program-oriented funding, largely in the Energy research field in the program Materials and Technologies for the Energy Transition.
The NFDI4Cat 2.0 kick off meeting took place on 22 and 23 October 2025 at the DECHEMA Haus in Frankfurt (Main). In this second funding period, TT-Prof. Dr. Moritz Wolf joins as a Participant and introduced his activities in data-driven research to the consortium. Together with the established principal investigator Prof. Dr. Olaf Deutschmann and Dr. Sofia Angeli IKFT will shape the future of catalysis-related data and research.
A large group of researchers from KIT attended the 16th European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat 2025) in Trondheim, Norway (31.08 to 05.09.2025). Professors, postdoctoral and doctoral researchers from IKFT, as well as ITCP and ITC, contributed with posters, oral presentations, and a plenary lecture, showcasing the catalysis research at KIT.
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Liana Savintseva won the ETOS Research Award. Congratulations!
Suspension aging is critical in the synthesis of Cu/Zn-based methanol catalysts, because this process of chemical transformations includes crystallization of different phases. The evolution of these phases within the precipitate is leading along the so-called transitory tipping point to the target phase zincian malachite. More information can be found in the Research Article by Lucas Warmuth and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202500284).
A recent investigation of the particle shape of cobalt-based Fischer–Tropsch catalysts using Monte Carlo simulations was featured as a front cover in the Journal of Physical Chemistry C. J. Phys. Chem. C 2025,129,13232−13243. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c02777
Fabian Neumann won a Poster Prize at the 11th International Granulation Workshop conference in Hamburg. Congratulations! The conference (2-4 July 2025) focussed on agglomeration, granulation and particle technology, which are important aspects during the transformation of (powdery) research catalysts into technical catalysts by tableting (see project Catalyst Shaping). The poster entitled "Tableting of Dry-granulated Methanol Synthesis Catalyst" presented initial results from shaping a Cu/ZnO/ZrO2 catalyst for the methanol synthesis.
Veranstaltungskalender
Exploring Surfaces, Subsurfaces, and Light-Driven Catalysis – Introducing the 'Catalytic Surfaces and Photocatalysis' Group at IKFT
This talk will highlight my scientific journey that led me to IKFT, illustrated by research on hydrogen spillover and redox dynamics in catalytic systems, investigated using surface-sensitive techniques and electron microscopy. I will then discuss how probe molecules can be used to characterize catalytic surfaces, using photon-driven CO oxidation as a case study. Finally, I will outline the scientific vision of the newly established ‘Catalytic Surfaces and Photocatalysis’ group at IKFT, including planned research directions and opportunities for collaboration.
Dr. Arik Beck
IKFT
