REACT - About Us

The Reactor Engineering and Catalyst Testing (REACT) core facility at Northwestern University is dedicated to aiding students in the advancement of understanding the catalytic function of materials. Our range of instrumentation provides the necessary tools for testing materials' catalytic properties and obtaining insight into reaction mechanisms. More importantly, we provide crucial training on skills needed to carry out catalysis science such that it is innovative, reproducible, safe, and relevant to societal and industrial needs. Through our instrumentation, our formal and informal educational efforts, and our knowledge of best practices and standards, we serve as a centralized facility where chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science students learn necessary skills for successful careers in academia and the chemical industry. We don’t merely train students to use equipment; we teach students how to collect data that answers their research questions.

Housed in the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science which is part of the Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, REACT’s instrumentation is divided into three separate lab spaces: the reactor lab, the in-situ spectroscopy lab, and the ALD lab. Each lab is supervised by a Ph.D. scientist, who is responsible for training new users on instruments, troubleshooting and maintaining equipment, and maintaining the safety culture of the lab. Currently, REACT houses fourteen catalyst testing and characterization instruments. Additionally, staff are available to help students tailor experimental set-ups to run unique, user defined measurements.

In addition to staff assistance with custom user-run measurements, REACT staff is also available to run experiments on behalf of users, using our drop-off/mail-in service [link]. If you’re unable to come to REACT yourself, or if you’d rather focus your efforts on work in your own lab, we are here to help!