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Plastic waste is a serious matter of concern due to its disruptive impact on the environment. While disposal and reclaim strategies represent the first lines of intervention to solve this problem, upcycling options based on catalytic transformations will eventually be necessary to reconvert enormous quantities of such material.
Catalysis is essential in the automotive and transportation sectors to target the United Nations sustainable development goals for climate change and the environment. To comply with both the ambitious United Nations goals and step-by-step stringent emission regulations, innovative and economically viable catalytic systems will be a key element in meeting these challenges.
The global energy and transportation landscapes are changing rapidly, and that brings with it evolving opportunities and catalyst research needs for hydrogen and fuel cells.
For the foreseeable future, we will continue to rely on the internal combustion engine for mobility of people and goods. The ubiquitous three-way catalyst does not work below 350 °C, with appreciable O2, nor does it control soot. Low temperature catalysis, chemical trapping and filtration will grow in need, and represent research opportunities.
The transportation sector represents a vibrant area of application for researchers in the catalysis community. This Insight presents a selection of topical articles showcasing the potential of catalysis research in an area of crucial societal relevance.
PGM-free catalysts for oxygen reduction represent a long-term, high-risk research and development approach with high potential impact on the single greatest cost contributor to automotive fuel cell stacks.