In the field of environmental protection, catalysis technology is used for pollutant treatment. Three-way catalytic converters in automobile exhaust treatment can significantly reduce the emission of harmful gases. The "off-site electrocatalytic total decomposition of hydrogen sulfide to produce hydrogen and sulfur technology," pioneered by Academician Li Can's team, has been developed into the world's first 100,000 cubic meter/year pilot demonstration plant, demonstrating industrial applications in the coal chemical industry and achieving the complete conversion of hydrogen sulfide. In addition, photocatalysis, enzyme catalysis, and thermocatalysis technologies are also used for the degradation and resource recycling of waste plastics.
Catalysts play a crucial role in clean energy development, particularly in promoting the conversion, storage, and utilization of renewable energy. They can be used in reactions such as water electrolysis to produce hydrogen and electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction. Photocatalytic reactions can convert solar energy into chemical energy, achieving artificial photosynthesis. Coal-to-oil and methanol-to-olefins coal chemical technologies also rely heavily on catalysis.
Catalysis technology plays a fundamental role in materials synthesis. Metallocene catalysts can be used to produce high-end polyolefin films, automotive parts, medical devices, and other products. The invention of Ziegler-Natta catalysis technology has driven the development of polymerization reactions, making it possible to produce materials such as plastics and synthetic fibers.
