Catalytic Chemistry on Solid Surface

Academic unit or major

Graduate major in Chemistry

Instructor(s)

Takayuki Komatsu

Class Format

Lecture

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

5-6 Mon / 5-6 Thu

Class

-

Course Code

CHM.B433

Number of credits

200

Course offered

2021

Offered quarter

3Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

The instructor in this course will first explain the three functions of catalysts (activity, selectivity, and stability) with example reactions to give students an understanding of what a catalyst is. Next, the instructor will describe the structure, preparation, and characterization of porous materials such as zeolite, explaining their "molecular sieve", "cation exchange", "solid acid", and "catalytic" properties. As to intermetallic compounds, he will first describe their difference from usual alloys, then explain their peculiar bulk properties such as shape memory, superconductivity, and hydrogen storage. Further, the instructor will explain methods for preparing nano-size particles of intermetallic compounds, as well as the fact that they possess high activity and selectivity for various reactions.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will be able to understand the basic functions of catalysts (activity, selectivity, and stability). They will have a deeper understanding of the surface of nanoparticles by learning about the structure, preparation methods, and physical properties of zeolite and intermetallic compounds. A further goal is for students to understand that catalyses by these nano-particles are different from those by pure metal particles and have knowledge of surface structure and physical properties necessary to accelerate only a certain chemical reaction.
[Theme] The first half of this course uses zeolite as an example and students will learn subjects such as the formation mechanism of solid acids, the structure of Brønsted acid sites, cation exchange properties, and the organic reactions catalyzed by acidic catalysts. In the second half, students will learn the structure, physical properties, and synthesis of intermetallic compound nano-particles and their catalysis for hydrogenation–dehydrogenation, reduction–oxidation, and other reactions in comparison with those of pure metals.

Keywords

catalyst, zeolite, intermetallic compound, alloy, nano-particle

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

This course consists of explanations based on slides.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None

Evaluation methods and criteria

Answer the exercise about the lecture and complete a report explaining the contents of a research paper about catalysis by zeolites or intermetallic compounds. Course score will be based on the exercise and report.

Related courses

• CHM.B335 ： Chemistry of Solids

Prerequisites

None