This study intends to illustrate the application of transient kinetics in combinatorial research. Thus, it is shown through various case studies how high-throughput transient kinetics may both accelerate the search for new catalytic materials and bring fundamental insights in reaction mechanisms. As a first case study, the cracking reactions of the C-6 isomers (n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, and 2,3-dimethylbutane) over a fluidised catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst at temperatures between 300 and 650 degreesC have been studied in a temporal-analysis-of-product (TAP) reactor. A mathematical model taking into account the extra- and intracrystalline transport phenomena was used to determine the diffusion, sorption, and kinetic parameters for the hydrocarbons studied. Sorption and diffusion decrease with increasing branching in agreement with literature data. Except product distribution, the activation energies for the overall cracking of the C-6 isomers are similar for all isomers. As a second case study, a "paralleled" TAP reactor with a multisample holder is shown to be an efficient tool for acquiring adsorption/desorption parameters for a series of zeolites, tested to evaluate their potential as catalyst supports in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. Finally, the applied combinatorial study was found also suitable for discovering new materials precursors of dense oxygen-conducting membranes. From high-throughput transient TAP and TPD experiments, it was possible to derive a strategy directing the rapid combinatorial evolution within the available parameter space. It was shown that high-quality information is accessible from these data, providing all parameters necessary for a well fitting description with a kinetic model. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.