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A new look at catalysis

MAY 01, 1974
By making catalysis more of a science than an art, surface scientists can help solve the current high‐priority problem of transforming fossil fuels into more usable forms.
Traugott E. Fischer

Our rapidly expanding demand for fuel has exceeded the amount now available to us with existing technology. In the long run, nonexhaustible sources of energy will have to be found and exploited. Solar and geothermal energy are being explored, as are breeder reactors, but none of these sources is expected to furnish a significant amount of energy within the next 50 years. Fission reactors are now providing nuclear energy, but by the end of the century they will still contribute less than one quarter of the total energy needed (see figure 1). How shall we provide the needed energy for the next 30 to 50 years?

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References

  1. 1. G. A. Somorjai, Catalysis Rev. 7, 87 (1972); https://doi.org/CTRVBY
    K. Baron, D. W. Blakely, G. A. Somorjai, Surf. Sci. 41, 45 (1974).https://doi.org/SUSCAS

  2. 2. J. J. Burton, Catalysis Rev. (to be published).

  3. 3. M. R. Hoare, P. Pal, J. Cryst. Growth 17, 77 (1972).https://doi.org/JCRGAE

  4. 4. F. L. Williams, M. Boudart, J. Catal. (to be published).

  5. 5. J. L. Meijering, Acta Met. 14, 259 (1966).https://doi.org/AMETAR

  6. 6. F. L. Williams, Proceedings of the Third North American Meeting of the Catalysis Soc., San Francisco, 4–6 February 1974.

  7. 7. J. J. Burton, E. Hyman, D. G. Fedak, Proceedings of the Thirty‐fourth Physical Electronics Conference, Murray Hill, 25–27 February 1974.

  8. 8. J. H. Sinfelt, J. L. Carter, D. J. C. Yates, J. Catal. 24, 283 (1972).https://doi.org/JCTLA5

  9. 9. H. P. Bonzel, R. Ku, J. Chem. Phys. 59, 1641 (1973).https://doi.org/JCPSA6

More about the authors

Traugott E. Fischer, Corporate Research Laboratory, Esso Research and Engineering Company, Linden, New Jersey.

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 27, Number 5

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