Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes (LCCP)

Catalytic processes for energy and chemical applications have gained increasing strategic relevance in recent years, driven by the need to reduce environmental impact, improve energy efficiency, and diversify energy sources. Our vision is to contribute to this global challenge by advancing fundamental understanding and developing innovative catalytic solutions that enable cleaner, more sustainable technologies. For more than four decades, the Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes at the Dipartimento di Energia has been engaged in a broad range of research activities, combining experimental investigation, advanced characterization, and modelling approaches. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous technological innovation, we strive to identify pathways for next-generation energy systems, foster industrially viable processes, and support the transition toward a low-carbon future.

Building on a strong background in heterogeneous catalysis and chemical reaction engineering, the LCCP has developed a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and multiscale research approach. Our method integrates fundamental understanding, advanced experimentation, and modelling—from the atomic to the reactor scale—to support the development of efficient and sustainable catalytic processes. At the nanoscale, we focus on tailoring catalyst properties through controlled synthesis and advanced characterization. These efforts are complemented by detailed studies of surface reactivity, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics under both steady-state and transient conditions, supported by quantum-chemical modelling (DFT) to elucidate structure–activity relationships at the atomic level. Such investigations are strengthened by ex-situ, in-situ, and operando diagnostic techniques, providing a complete and dynamic picture of catalytic behavior. Our core expertise lies in the rigorous testing and evaluation of heterogeneous catalysts for thermocataltic processes, and more recently also for electrocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic processes. Through dedicated experimental setups and flexible testing platforms, we are able to assess catalytic performance under realistic conditions, probing activity, selectivity, stability, and durability across a wide range of reactions and operating environments. This experimental capability represents one of our main strengths and enables meaningful links between fundamental insights and practical applications. At the process and reactor scale, the knowledge gained at lower length scales is integrated into kinetic models and advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. These tools allow us to describe transport phenomena, optimize reactor configurations, and support the design and scale-up of catalytic processes.