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Inorganic Catalysts
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. Chemical reactions occur faster in the presence of a catalyst because the catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy than non-catalyzed reactions. The catalyst is not consumed in the process and can continue to act repeatedly. Therefore, only very small amounts of catalyst are required to alter the rate of a chemical reaction. We offer a range of metal catalysts in varying purities and concentrations, including homogeneous catalysts, supported/unsupported heterogeneous catalysts, and fuel cell catalysts for anodes, cathodes, and electrodes.
Metal catalysts are extensively used both in the research and development settings. Indeed, it is hard to find a complex synthetic reaction that does not, at some stage, require a metal catalyst.
Transition metals are the metal of choice for use as catalysts in organic, organometallic, and electrochemical reactions owing to their ability to:
- Exist in a variety of oxidation states
- Interchange between oxidation states
- Form complexes with organic ligands
- Act as a good source of electrons
Many key transformations in organic synthesis (e.g., cross-coupling reactions that include the Nobel Prize-winning Heck, Suzuki, and Negishi reactions) require the use of such late transition metals as palladium, platinum, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, or iridium.
We offer a wide selection of homogeneous and heterogeneous metal and precious metal catalysts for a broad range of organic synthetic reactions including metal complexes with chiral ligands for asymmetric hydrogenation, novel palladium coupling catalysts, platinum group metal (PGM)-based heterogeneous catalysts, as well as sponge nickel catalysts.
In addition to our catalog offerings, Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a range of catalysts in a variety of formats, including custom and bulk quantities.
Electrocatalysts and fuel cells
Because of environmental concerns, fuel cells have emerged as a green alternative to the conventional energy technologies used in transportation and in stationary and portable power generation. Environmentally friendly, steady, and noise-free, fuel cells are efficient when active catalysts are used in both electrodes. Electrocatalysts accelerate the kinetics of the oxidation-reduction reaction that takes place at the electrode-electrolyte interface of fuel cells, as in battery components, thus enhancing their performance and durability.
Although the use of non-precious metals (e.g., Co, Fe, Ni, Mn, etc.) as electrocatalysts is also being explored, platinum loaded on a carbon support (Pt/C) is most widely used in both research and commercial applications, owing to its higher catalytic activity and better stability than other noble metals in strongly acidic electrolytes. Next-generation electrocatalysts are now available with corrosion-resistant carbon supports for automotive fuel cells.
Precious metal compounds
Heterogeneous catalysts
Electrocatalysts
Catalytic materials are often used in R&D applications in pharmaceuticals, fuel cells, sensors, automobiles, batteries, photographic materials, specialized plating, and more.
Organic synthesis
Metal catalysts are extensively used in organic synthesis. Homogeneous catalysts are an excellent choice for highly stereospecific reactions such as asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. The Pt-catalyzed hydrogenation of unsaturated organic compounds and the cyclization of hydrocarbon chains into aromatic ring structures are examples of heterogeneous catalysis.
Pharma/biopharma industry
The versatility in terms of stereoselectivity, yield efficiency, and sustainability of platinum and palladium catalysts make them the catalysts of choice in the pharmaceutical industry, where one of the most important applications is the catalytic hydrogenation at low pressure of a wide range of functional groups. Processes which involve catalytic hydrogenation include the synthesis of vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine), dihydrostreptomycin, cortisone, and ephedrine.
Fuel cells
A fuel cell, like a battery, is a device that generates electricity by a chemical reaction. Every fuel cell has two electrodes, an electrolyte, and a catalyst usually made of platinum which speeds up the reactions that take place at the electrodes. Platinum is renowned for its effectiveness in converting hydrogen and oxygen into water and electricity. However, its high cost has limited the use of fuel cells in large-scale applications, resulting in the constant search for more affordable replacements. Next-generation catalysts with corrosion-resistant carbon supports are now available for automotive fuel cell applications.
Synthesis of bioactive compounds
Transition metal-mediated cross-coupling reactions have received great attention in recent years in connection with the synthesis of natural products and other biologically active molecules such as nucleosides, nucleotides, and oligonucleotides. Pd-catalysts are used extensively in carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation, key steps in the synthesis of many bioactive compounds.
Petrochemical industry
The petrochemical industry uses precious metal catalysts, mostly platinum on alumina, to produce high-octane gasoline as well as many organic chemicals critical in the manufacture of many industrial products. Heterogeneous catalysts are also widely used in petroleum refining processes such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking, and hydrotreating.
Environmental protection and remediation
Metal catalysts are an important component of emission control devices that reduce air pollution from exhaust gases from motor vehicles, manufacturing facilities, and power plants, converting over 90% of harmful gases (e.g., hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen) into less harmful carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. Catalysts continue to play a major role in our pursuit of a sustainable future, including in the improvement of indoor air quality and in the reduction of water pollution, organic particulates, and ozone pollution in urban areas.
Precious metal compounds
Heterogeneous catalysts
Electrocatalysts
Catalytic materials are often used in R&D applications in pharmaceuticals, fuel cells, sensors, automobiles, batteries, photographic materials, specialized plating, and more.
Organic synthesis
Metal catalysts are extensively used in organic synthesis. Homogeneous catalysts are an excellent choice for highly stereospecific reactions such as asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. The Pt-catalyzed hydrogenation of unsaturated organic compounds and the cyclization of hydrocarbon chains into aromatic ring structures are examples of heterogeneous catalysis.
Pharma/biopharma industry
The versatility in terms of stereoselectivity, yield efficiency, and sustainability of platinum and palladium catalysts make them the catalysts of choice in the pharmaceutical industry, where one of the most important applications is the catalytic hydrogenation at low pressure of a wide range of functional groups. Processes which involve catalytic hydrogenation include the synthesis of vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine), dihydrostreptomycin, cortisone, and ephedrine.
Fuel cells
A fuel cell, like a battery, is a device that generates electricity by a chemical reaction. Every fuel cell has two electrodes, an electrolyte, and a catalyst usually made of platinum which speeds up the reactions that take place at the electrodes. Platinum is renowned for its effectiveness in converting hydrogen and oxygen into water and electricity. However, its high cost has limited the use of fuel cells in large-scale applications, resulting in the constant search for more affordable replacements. Next-generation catalysts with corrosion-resistant carbon supports are now available for automotive fuel cell applications.
Synthesis of bioactive compounds
Transition metal-mediated cross-coupling reactions have received great attention in recent years in connection with the synthesis of natural products and other biologically active molecules such as nucleosides, nucleotides, and oligonucleotides. Pd-catalysts are used extensively in carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation, key steps in the synthesis of many bioactive compounds.
Petrochemical industry
The petrochemical industry uses precious metal catalysts, mostly platinum on alumina, to produce high-octane gasoline as well as many organic chemicals critical in the manufacture of many industrial products. Heterogeneous catalysts are also widely used in petroleum refining processes such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking, and hydrotreating.
Environmental protection and remediation
Metal catalysts are an important component of emission control devices that reduce air pollution from exhaust gases from motor vehicles, manufacturing facilities, and power plants, converting over 90% of harmful gases (e.g., hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen) into less harmful carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. Catalysts continue to play a major role in our pursuit of a sustainable future, including in the improvement of indoor air quality and in the reduction of water pollution, organic particulates, and ozone pollution in urban areas.