Research Profile of Leibniz Institute for Catalysis

The Leibniz Institute for Catalysis at the University of Rostock (LIKAT) is one of the largest publicly funded research institute in the field of applied catalysis in Europe. The main areas of interest of the LIKAT are homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Our expertise involves development of methodology as well as application engineering.

Program Departments

The research is organized in the Program Departments 1-3 with the corresponding Research Departments:

  1. Applied Sustainable Catalytic Processes
    Prof. Matthias Beller
  2. Innovative Methods and Technologies in Catalysis
    Prof. Angelika Brückner

  3. Special (metal)organic Syntheses and Catalyses
    Prof. Uwe Rosenthal

    »Uni in Leibniz«

  4. Junior Research Groups

ResearchTopics

The Research Departments are subdivided into several research topics. Within these, several scientists are conducting research under the guidance of a group leader.

Explorative Projects

In some Research Departments research is performed on explorative projects. In this context a project leader is supervising the exploration of new projects and ideas that are outside the scope of the original research program.

Catalysis – a Key to Sustainability

Catalysis is the science of accelerating chemical transformations. In general, simple starting materials are converted to form more complex molecules with versatile applications. These conversions enable a large range of products to be made for various industries, as well as products that can be used directly in the fields of health, environment, and nutrition. Catalysts ensure that reactions proceed with high efficiency and high yield, avoiding unwanted by-products. Importantly, they often enable production to be more economic compared to classical stoichiometric procedures.

In being produced by means of synthesis, more than 80 per cent of all chemical products come into contact with catalysts; thus catalysts are indispensable for the needs of today’s society. Consequently, they are a key factor in the sustainability and profitability of chemical production processes.