Research Cluster for Utilization of Natural Carbon Resources

Converting natural carbon resources into chemicals through the collaborative function of solid catalysts

Satoshi SUGANUMA

Hideki KATO(Tohoku Univ.), Masaaki KITANO（Tokyo Institute of Technology）, Toshiki NOKAMI(Tottori Univ.), Junko NOMURA (Tokyo Institute of Technology), Kohsuke MORI (Osaka Univ.)

The purpose of this cluster is to design catalytic conversion of natural carbon resources to chemicals by utilizing the cooperative function of multiple active sites on solid catalysts. In order to convert natural carbon resources with various polar functional groups, catalytic reactions that can freely cleave C-O, C-N, and C-C bonds of polar functional groups are required. We have found that the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups and the C-O bond cleavage are promoted by the cooperative function of noble metal nanoparticles and low-valent oxide species. We will design catalysts with multiple active sites for reactions that are impossible with a single active site, and construct catalytic technologies for cleavage and bonding of various functional groups at will.