Catalysis
Catalysis is a key enabling technology for developing pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and smart materials. As part of the University of Münster´s commitment to sustainability, strategic appointments across several faculties have consolidated Münster´s position as a leading centre for catalysis in Europe. Key research hubs of the profile area "Catalysis" include the Organic Chemistry Institute, Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Department of Physics, and centres including the Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN), the Center for Nanotechnology (CeNTech), Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology (MEET) and the Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation (CMTC).
The profile area "Catalysis" in Münster thrives on a multilateral approach, ensuring that the latest innovations can be effectively translated to meet societal challenges. Single Atom Catalysis (Glorius, Mönig, Zeier) leverages state-of-the-art interfaculty facilities to design atomically precise materials for high efficiency and selectivity. Small Molecule Catalysis (Gilmour, Glorius, Næsborg, Studer, Strassert) positions Münster at the frontier of Organo- and Photo-catalysis, whilst Bio-catalysis (Gatsogiannis, Hippler, Jose, Kümmel, Mootz, Schmid) is a key driver of sustainability and a circular economy. Theoretical and quantum chemistry (Doltsinis, Heuer, Koch, Neugebauer) provides critical mechanistic insights and predicts improved catalyst structures.
Münster’s excellence in catalysis research is reflected both in outstanding individual achievements and in strong collaborative activities. Individual successes include numerous prestigious EU distinctions, among them ERC Starting Grants (Braunschweig, Gilmour, Glorius, Huertas), ERC Consolidator Grants (García-Mancheño, Gilmour, Zeier), ERC Advanced Grants (Erker, Glorius, Studer) and ERC Proof of Concept Grants (Gilmour). Collaborative strengths are evident in several DFG-funded initiatives as well as in the university’s extensive international network. Regular exchange programmes with universities in North America, Europe and Asia, together with partnerships with institutions such as Northwestern (USA), St Andrews (UK) and Nagoya (Japan), foster global cooperation and are exemplified, among other activities, by a joint doctoral training programme.