Kurs bilgisi

Most industrial processes are catalytic and improvement of processes usually involve discovery of faster and more effective routes involving new catalysts, catalytic reactors, and materials. This course combines reaction engineering concepts with practical catalysis and materials knowledge. Kinetics and mechanisms of catalytic reactions, activity, and selectivity concepts will be summarized for students coming from different backgrounds. Deactivation of catalysts, synthesis, and characterization methods for catalytic materials will also be covered in the scope of this course. The relationship between the catalyst structure and the activity will be highlighted. A special emphasis will be given on material properties of the catalysts, their relationship with catalytic activity, and how to examine the material properties by using different characterization techniques. Electro-catalysis, photo-catalysis, fuel cells, and materials used for these applications will also be covered. Materials used in chemical reactors and material selection and development strategies will also be discussed. Types of fuel cells, their operation modes and principles, properties of fuel cell components and materials used for different fuel cell components will also be covered. Especially, solid oxide fuel cells and materials used in their applications will be emphasized. The course has an interdisciplinary approach introducing students to new technologies in relation to real life industrial applications. Interdisciplinary projects will also be conducted with multidisciplinary teams composed of students from different departments. Each group will prepare a report for a given project and make a presentation at the end of the semester.