How should I write research description essay in my PhD application? I am currently trying to apply for a PhD position in a university. For the completion of application I have to write two essays:


Statement of motivation
Description of research area (with vacant PhD position)


I have written my statement of motivation but I am unable to write a description of research area. In the application there are different research themes which have a vacant PhD position; we have to chose one research area from these themes. I am interested in one research area: its title is catalytic study of X-material . I have never worked in this research topic or material. So I am in a dilemma on what to write in my description of research area.

Should I write about the property of X-material, current research or should I make a research proposal for that research area (catalytic study of X-material)?
Normally, to be registered successfully for PhD project you have to write an abstract (10-20 pages) (and make a presentation). This should cover roughly and shortly:


state of the art 
state of knowledge
open questions
the very specialized niche of your work and what the motivation is(better understanding, prototype, measurement accuracy improvement...)
how you are going to achieve this (probably), i.e. a reasonable working and time plan


As you are still applying for a PhD position, it has to be much shorter, so show to the committee that you can identify above points analyzing literature and summarize them in 2-3 pages. 

To make things more easy, google similar current published PhD thesis related to this topic and read the preface (above points will often be summarized there within 2-3 pages). Don't write an essay, if the committee asks you to write 3 pages of decription of research area, write exactly 3 pages ;) 

PS: Oh forgot, why are you are motivated for this topic you don't know again? Maybe after writing the description of research you should polish up the statement of motivation also a bit based on that ;)