Data mining in catalysis: Separating knowledge from garbage

The subject of ‘data mining’, also known as ‘knowledge discovery’, has exciting applications in catalysis research. In this paper, I outline the basics of data mining, with examples from different areas of catalysis. The focus is on the concepts, rather than on specific algorithms. I highlight the subject of descriptor modelling methods for rational catalyst design, and summarise some simple validation approaches that can help us separate knowledge from garbage.