Dendrimer Templates for Supported Nanoparticle Catalysts

Catalysis has a tremendous impact on the national economy as one-third of material U.S. GNP involves a catalytic process somewhere in the production chain.¹ Catalytic technologies are well established throughout the economy, particularly in petroleum refining, emissions and pollution control (including energy production), polymers and plastics, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, and basic chemicals.² The utilization of heterogeneous catalysts in these areas of chemical industry is certain to increase as environmental and economic pressures drive the movement toward clean, selective chemical processes.² Similarly, developing new catalysts for more efficient, cost-effective processes will be especially important for growing industries involved in the potential development of a hydrogen economy.^3,4