Harvard’s Cynthia Friend and teammates hope to revolutionize chemical production
Imagine you’re pushing a child on a swing. She pumps her legs to gain momentum, but your push also helps her accelerate. A catalyst has a similar purpose: It can speed a chemical reaction without being consumed by it. And, since 90 percent of all commercially produced chemical products involve catalysts in their manufacture, chances are good that the swing the child sits on, the snack she eats, her plastic toys, and the insulation in her house are all made with catalysts. Chemical production, with or without catalysts, accounts for nearly 25 percent of energy use worldwide. What’s more, experts forecast that energy demand will increase this number to 45 percent by 2040. Cynthia Friend, the Theodore William Richards Professor of Chemistry, professor of materials science, and director of the Rowland Institute, wants to prevent this rise. Now, with a multimillion dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), she’s well-positioned to help...