If a catalyst affects the forward and the reverse reactions differently - e..g. accelerates one more than the other - then the second law of thermodynamics is violated. Here the catalyst speeds up the forward but SUPPRESSES the reverse reaction:
https://images.nature.com/m685/natur...mms3500-f1.jpg
Unidirectional suppression of hydrogen oxidation on oxidized platinum clusters
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms3500
A similar violation:
"In 2000, a simple, foundational thermodynamic paradox was proposed: a sealed blackbody cavity contains a diatomic gas and a radiometer whose apposing vane surfaces dissociate and recombine the gas to different degrees (A_2 ⇌ 2A). As a result of differing desorption rates for A and A_2 , there arise between the vane faces permanent pressure and temperature differences, either of which can be harnessed to perform work, in apparent conflict with the second law of thermodynamics. Here we report on the first experimental realization of this paradox, involving the dissociation of low-pressure hydrogen gas on high-temperature refractory metals (tungsten and rhenium) under blackbody cavity conditions. The results, corroborated by other laboratory studies and supported by theory, confirm the paradoxical temperature difference and point to physics beyond the traditional understanding of the second law."
https://link.springer.com/article/10...701-014-9781-5
Pentcho Valev