The MPI CEC recently hosted the international workshop “Adaptive Catalytic Systems”, gathering leading scientists from around the world to explore how catalysts can be designed to respond and adapt to changing environments. Held on 3-4 November 2025, the two-day event featured five thematic sessions, a round table, and a world café, offering a vibrant mix of focused presentations and open discussions about the future of adaptive catalysis.
The first day began with Session 1: Photons, dedicated to light-driven catalysis. Tang Junwang (John) opened the session with insights into photon–phonon co-driven catalysis, illustrating how light and vibrational energy can work together to enhance catalytic performance. C.J. Li followed with an innovative two-in-one adaptive photo-ligand capable of supporting a wide range of photocatalytic reactions. Further talks by Marc R. Knecht on photoswitchable bio-inspired nanocatalysts, Jacinto Sá on plasmons transforming metal ores into active catalysts, and Volodymyr Sashuk on photoswitchable catalysis through organic monolayer confinement demonstrated the creative potential of light as a driver for adaptive catalytic systems.
Session 2: Magnetic Induction and Smart Materials explored how magnetic fields and structural flexibility can be harnessed to control catalytic reactions. Bruno Chaudret demonstrated how magnetic induction can activate catalysts in both solution and heterogeneous systems. Alexis Bordet built on this concept, showing the transition from optimized to adaptive systems using magnetically induced catalysis. Javier García-Martínez presented how engineering disorder enables smart catalytic behavior, while Javier Ruiz Martínez discussed tunable active sites in zeolites and their reversible transformations. Together, these talks highlighted new routes toward responsive and controllable catalytic processes.
The second day opened with Session 3: Photons and Electrons, where speakers bridged the gap between photonic and electronic control. Rafal Klajn discussed how light-induced confinement can enhance catalytic selectivity, while Sebastian Beil explored current density as a tunable parameter in electrosynthesis across several orders of magnitude. Oliver Reiser presented adaptive photoredox catalysis with heteroleptic copper complexes, and Qi Dong (Tony) introduced electrothermal strategies for programmable reactions. Together, these contributions showcased the integration of light and electronic energy as dual levers for adaptive catalysis.
In Session 4: Plasma Activation, the focus turned to the use of plasma as a tool for chemical transformation. Simon Woodward presented a “water switch” approach for HCN production, while Chunshan Song and Xin Tu demonstrated the strong synergy between non-thermal plasma and catalysis in CO₂ conversion, SO₂ reduction, and Power-to-X applications. Martin Muhler concluded the session with insights into plasma-assisted catalysis for the conversion of volatile organic compounds, underlining plasma’s growing role in sustainable chemical processes.
The workshop concluded with Session 5: Thermoresponsive and Molecular Switches, focusing on catalysts that adapt to temperature and other stimuli. Thomas Seidensticker presented next-generation thermoadaptive systems in homogeneous catalysis, while Eduardo Peris introduced multi-stimuli-responsive catalysts based on naphthalene-diimides and NHCs. Markus Weck discussed reaction engineering in cascade catalysis using molecular switches, Gianvito Vilé explored adaptive single-atom catalysis for tuning reaction pathways, and Leonard J. Prins examined catalyst adaptation under non-equilibrium conditions. Together, these talks revealed how molecular design can enable reconfigurable catalytic systems.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the round table and world café offered spaces for open dialogue and collaboration. Researchers exchanged ideas on how to make catalysts more intelligent, resilient, and responsive, and systems capable not only of accelerating reactions but also of adjusting autonomously to their surroundings.
The round table discussion was opened by an impulse from Nobel laureate Ben List who highlighted the power of confinement in organocatalysis to control the universal principle of acid catalysis. His lively engagement in the discussion provided inspiration and encouragement to develop the concept of adaptivity into an inclusive and open design framework.
The “Adaptive Catalytic Systems” workshop showcased the latest advances in this rapidly evolving field and emphasized the value of collaboration across disciplines and institutions. The workshop was held as part of our activities within the International Green Chemistry Consortium coordinated by our partners at Yale University and generously supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore foundation. The insights and connections forged during these two days promise to shape the next generation of catalysts for sustainable energy conversion and beyond.