Catalyst Development Center (CDC)

The Catalyst Development Center (CDC) at the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT) of KIT is a material acceleration platform (MAP) for catalysis research. The methodological focus is on the generation and exploitation of research data along the entire catalyst development process chain. In addition to the established use of data from material characterization and catalytic testing, additional data is to be obtained in particular during catalyst synthesis and the subsequent processing steps such as calcination, activation and shaping. Together with physical models from theoretical chemistry, this data can be used in autonomous, model- and data-driven optimization cycles, which minimizes the work and material costs and can produce the next generation catalyst technologies in the shortest possible time.

In the CDC, three main technical modules, “CAT Scale-Up”, “CAT Processing” and “CAT Screening”, are connected through an integrated “Data Control and Management” module with the participation of research groups from university and large-scale research area. These modules combine innovative material syntheses for catalysts, processing and shaping of (pre)catalysts with testing facilities for sustainable catalytic applications. The standardized research and process data management primarily aims at overcoming barriers between catalyst materials at different stages of development, from fundamental research to technical application. The scale-up aspect is always considered and scientifically addressed in order to ultimately ensure rapid transfer.