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The optimized reaction conditions for a catalytic reaction vary with catalyst, making comparison challenging. Here, a general approach to identify the best catalyst is described, which relies on the comparison of normalized key performance indicators. Two case studies — for acetylene hydrochlorination and methane oxidation — exemplify the method.
Modern data science can help to address challenges in experimental chemistry. This Expert Recommendation describes examples of how data science is changing the way we conduct experiments and outlines opportunities for further integration of data science and experimental chemistry to advance these fields.