Synthesis and Characterization, Kinetic Studies, and Density Functional Theory
Heterogeneous Catalysts are key to mitigating climate change, forging a renewable energy and chemicals industry, and providing a high quality of life throughout the globe without sacrificing our environment. At UF, we study catalysis through a combination of synthesis, characterization, and kinetic studies (Hagelin-Weaver and Hibbitts), surface science studies of interfacial chemistry (Weaver), and density functional theory calculations to give insights into atomistic behavior (Hibbitts).
Faculty
WE WORK ON HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST DEVELOPMENT in my laboratory and our ultimate goal is to obtain a fundamental understanding of these catalysts at the atomic level. Our approach is to synthesize well-defined heterogeneous catalysts using nanoparticle oxides with various shapes and sizes as supports and carefully control the deposition of active metal onto these supports using atomic layer deposition (ALD), or other more conventional catalyst synthesis methods, such as precipitation-deposition or incipient wetness impregnation.…
OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON ADVANCING THE MOLECULAR-LEVEL understanding of surface chemical reactions that are important in applications of heterogeneous catalysis. My students and I investigate chemical reactions on solid surfaces using a wide array of analysis methods based on ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) surface chemistry and physics, including methods that provide information about surface reaction kinetics, adsorbed intermediates, atomic scale surface structure and the chemical states of adsorbed molecules and atoms of the solid.…