Structure–Performance Relationships in Inorganic Catalysts for Biomass Conversion

The development of advanced inorganic catalysts is essential for enabling the sustainable conversion of renewable biomass into fuels and high-value chemicals. This lecture will discuss how catalyst structure governs catalytic performance, highlighting recent advances in the rational design of hierarchical zeolites and biochar-based catalysts for biomass valorization. Particular emphasis will be placed on the influence of porosity, acidity, active-site distribution, and surface chemistry on activity, selectivity, and catalyst stability. Representative case studies involving the upgrading of biomass-derived platform molecules through carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions and other catalytic transformations will be presented. The lecture will demonstrate how understanding structure–performance relationships provides fundamental insights for designing next-generation catalytic materials, contributing to more efficient biorefinery processes and the development of sustainable fuels and chemicals within a circular carbon economy.