Chemical Catalysis | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Chemical Catalysis Program (PD 09 6884)

1) What is the goal of the NSF Chemical Catalysis program?

The program supports grant proposals that build a fundamental, molecular-level understanding of catalytic chemistry. The emphasis is on basic research that explains how catalytic processes work, including mechanisms, structure-reactivity relationships, and the principles that govern how catalysts facilitate, direct, and accelerate chemical transformations.

2) What types of research approaches are encouraged?

Both experimental and theoretical approaches are welcome. The announcement specifically notes that proposals may combine methods such as synthesis, characterization, kinetics, spectroscopy, computation, and mechanistic analysis to uncover how catalytic systems operate.

3) Is the program focused on basic research or applied development?

The program is focused on basic research. It aims to advance understanding of catalytic chemistry at a fundamental level rather than supporting later-stage development or industrial deployment.

4) What scientific themes and topics are a strong fit?

A central theme is the design and creation of new catalytic species and catalytic platforms across multiple length scales. This includes molecular catalysts, supramolecular catalyst assemblies, and catalysts structured at the nanometer scale. The program also supports studies of catalytic dynamics in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems.

5) Does the program support research on homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly supports research on catalytic dynamics in both homogeneous systems (same phase as reactants) and heterogeneous systems (different phase, often solid catalysts with gaseous or liquid reactants).

6) What example topic areas are explicitly mentioned in the announcement?

Examples called out include polymerization catalysis, single-site catalysis, and biologically inspired catalysis. The announcement also highlights the use of modeling, theory, and simulation to understand catalytic behavior and to predict new catalyst designs or pathways.

7) Are modeling, theory, and simulation proposals appropriate for this program?

Yes. The program explicitly welcomes modeling, theory, and simulation as tools to understand catalytic behavior and to predict new catalyst designs or mechanistic pathways, including work that complements or integrates with experimental studies.

8) Does NSF express interest in energy- and environment-related catalytic transformations?

Yes. The program highlights strong interest in catalysis connected to energy and environmentally important transformations, as long as the work remains fundamentally focused on understanding core chemical steps and controlling intermediates, and establishing general rules that govern efficiency or selectivity.

9) What energy-related catalysis areas are specifically named?

Named examples include carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion, electrocatalysis (including reactions relevant to water splitting and fuel cells), and photocatalysis (including chemistry relevant to solar energy conversion).

10) How is sustainability reflected in the program?

Sustainability is emphasized throughout the announcement, and proposals addressing national sustainability needs are described as particularly encouraged. The program points investigators to the SusChEM (Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials) emphasis area.

11) Does the announcement suggest a specific proposal title format for sustainability-focused work?

Yes. For proposals with significant sustainable chemistry content, NSF suggests using a title format such as "SusChEM: Name of Your Proposal" to align with the SusChEM emphasis.

12) What are examples of sustainability-oriented catalysis topics that fit this program?

Examples include developing catalysts that replace rare, expensive, or toxic elements with earth-abundant, lower-cost, and more benign alternatives; inventing chemistries that enable economical recycling or recovery of resources such as phosphorus or rare earth elements; creating catalytic routes that convert non-petroleum sources of organic matter into useful chemical feedstocks; and designing greener reactions and processes that reduce energy demand, fresh water use, and reliance on organic solvents.

13) Does the program fund scale-up or industrial deployment work?

No. The announcement draws clear boundaries and states that the program does not fund applied catalysis work centered on scale-up, process engineering, transport phenomena, long-term operational stability, or other primarily engineering and manufacturing concerns.

14) Are proposals focused on process engineering or manufacturing considered a fit?

No. Proposals primarily focused on engineering/manufacturing concerns (such as process engineering and transport phenomena) are explicitly described as not supported by this program.

15) Does the program support biocatalysis?

The program does not support biocatalysis projects that are purely about biological enzymes or cellular systems (i.e., projects that are mainly biology rather than catalytic chemistry). The announcement does mention "biologically inspired catalysis" as an example topic area, which indicates interest in catalysis informed by biology, so long as the work remains centered on catalytic chemistry rather than purely biological systems.

16) If my project aims to synthesize complex natural products using known catalysts, is this the right program?

No. Proposals whose immediate goal is to synthesize complex natural products using already established catalysts are directed to NSF's Chemical Synthesis program rather than this Chemical Catalysis program.

17) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PD 09 6884.

18) What type of grant opportunity is this administratively?

It is described as an NSF discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

19) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The announcement lists CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).

20) Is cost sharing required?

No. The opportunity indicates that cost sharing is not required.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

The listing states eligibility as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text of the announcement.

22) How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity historically anticipated around 50 awards.

23) What is the status of this opportunity and what does the posting history indicate?

The posting history notes multiple submission windows over the years and indicates an archived status as of October 30, 2019, with the last listed closing window ending September 30, 2015.

24) Where should applicants go for access issues related to NSF Grants.gov?

For access issues, the announcement points applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.