Catalysis and Biocatalysis

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Apply to PD 08-1401 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.
For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)

SYNOPSIS

The Catalysis and Biocatalysis program primarily supports fundamental and applied research on:

• Kinetics and mechanisms of important catalyzed chemical reactions as they relate to the production of chemicals, fuels, and specialized materials
  
  
• Characterization of chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring at or near solid surfaces and interfaces
  
  
• Electrocatalytic processes having engineering significance or commercial potential
  
  
• Sustainability, environmental catalysis, and basic research related to green chemistry or utilization of biorenewable resources
  
  
• Kinetic modeling and theory of heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biocatalysis
  
  
• Fundamental aspects of reactive deposition and processing for thin film materials
  
  
• Interactions between chemical reactions and transport processes in reactive systems, and the use of this information in the design or control of complex chemical reactors

This program promotes multidisciplinary research in:

• Chemical kinetics of heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biocatalysis
  
  
• Synthesis and processing of chemically functional materials
  
  
• Interfacial, electrochemical, and photochemical reaction processes
  
  
• Theory and modeling of reaction processes at surfaces
  
  
• Synthesis and characterization of catalysts that function at the nanoscale

Typical research topics include:

• Synthesis and characterization of novel catalytic structures from the atomic through the nanoscale for chemical conversions
  
  
• Mechanisms and kinetics of reactions at solid surfaces and at interfaces (gas-solid, liquid-solid including aqueous-solid)
  
  
• Ab initio and semiempirical kinetic theory and dynamic simulation of complex reactions
  
  
• Utilization of catalytic materials in sensors, electronic devices, coatings; incorporation of components from the nano to micron scale
  
  
• Catalytic reaction engineering of chemical, photo-, electro-, and bio-catalytic processes
  
  
• Accelerated development of chemical processes and materials: combinatorial synthesis and data mining coupled to experimentation and modeling
  
  
• Environmentally beneficial chemical process alternatives; catalytic conversion of biorenewables
  
  
• Energy and natural resource efficiency in chemical processing
  
  
• Utilization of new catalysts for producing nanomaterials
  
  
• Ultra selective reactions and catalysts for fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemical products

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years.  The average annual award size for the program is $100,000.  Please check the NSF Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division (CBET) Home Page for the two annual submission windows for unsolicited proposals.  Small equipment proposals up to $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows.  Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review.

The duration of CAREER awards is five years.  The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year.  Please see the following URL for more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05027/nsf05027.jsp

Proposals for Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER), Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission.

Please refer to the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), January 2008, (NSF 08-1) when you prepare your proposal.  Chapter II, especially, will assist you.  The GPG is available for download at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg

THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF

Chemical, Biochemical, and Biotechnology Systems

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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