With the increasing usage of renewable energy sources, new types of processes are moving to the forefront of chemical value chains. High-performance catalysts that exhibit high stability even under demanding conditions are of great importance for large-scale industrial applications. One way of influencing the catalytic properties of heterogeneous metal catalysts is through phosphorus modification. By integrating phosphorus into the active catalyst centers, the activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts can be manipulated and optimized.
In phosphorus-modified catalyst systems, phosphorus can be present in the form of phosphates, phosphides or organic phosphorus compounds. Its integration in heterogeneous catalysts influences the chemical environment of active centers, changes the surface acidity and contributes to the structural stability of the material. In addition, phosphorus can interact electronically with catalytically active metal species and thus influence the binding properties to reactants.
As a research focus of the Schühle Research Group, phosphorus-modified catalyst systems are investigated with the aim of developing high-performance materials for the selective hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of various organic molecules. The focus lies on the targeted adaptation of catalytic properties using phosphorus in order to improve both the activity and the long-term stability of the catalysts against coking and sintering processes. Detailed analyses of structural and electronic influences of phosphorus modification are intended to clarify fundamental structure-effect relationships. The findings may contribute to the development of innovative catalyst systems for sustainable chemical processes.