The future of green energy and chemicals: Rational design of catalysis routes

Over the past 100 years, technological reforms in energy and chemicals have promoted the economic and social development. Due to the depletion of natural resources and the environment and climate changes, the future development of society will inevitably show the trend of green, low-carbon, and circular economy, offering an opportunity for catalysis technology to continue to play a leading role. This Perspective focuses on the novel processes of efficient thermal catalysis and electrocatalysis, as well as the disruptive innovation of photocatalysis, the key to which lies in creating functional catalysis routes to maximize the retention of functional groups. Furthermore, rational design of catalysis routes and systems for energy molecules, alkenes, and aromatics should lead to 11 revolutionary breakthroughs in catalytic science and technology from resource driven to ecology driven.