Synthesis and Characterization, Kinetic Studies, and Density Functional Theory
Our faculty investigate chemical reactions at surfaces and interfaces to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. Research combines catalyst synthesis and characterization, reaction kinetics, surface science, and molecular-level analysis to connect surface structure and composition with chemical reactivity. These insights guide the design of more selective and efficient catalytic materials and processes for energy, chemical production, and environmental applications.
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.…