Project Description

Catalytic chemistry occurs at the surface of metal and oxide nano-materials. Technologically important catalysts often have several atoms, which are important for tuning the performance. Additionally, the surface composition and structure can differ from the average composition, which can also change under reaction conditions. Recent studies highlighted material complexities and characterization challenges in both the surface structure of catalysts in the chemical synthesis and the evolution of various interphases under catalytic conditions. The development of surface sensitive characterizations, especially under reaction conditions, would open new frontiers toward catalysts design and performance optimization.
To address these scientific gaps, we propose a collaborative research centered on monitoring the interfacial evolution of catalysts from the chemical synthesis to the realistic catalysis processes through the combined materials chemistry, and catalytic measurement, in conjunction with the operando synchrotron-based surface-sensitive X-ray scattering and spectroscopic studies. We aimed to gain the fundamental understanding on interfacial evolution of functional catalysts in the controlled synthesis and realistic catalytic conditions that are relevant to the surface reactivity and structural stability towards efficient productions of chemicals and fuels.

Start Date

September 2020

Postdoc Qualifications 

Extensive experience in the synthesis of oxide and metal nano-materials for electro-chemistry and heterogeneous catalysts. Utilization of synchrotron radiation methods, especially hard and soft X-ray absorption, diffraction, pair distribution, neutron scatting, etc. Experience in the testing and evaluation of catalytic nano-materials.

Co-advisors 

Jeffrey T Miller
mill1194@purdue.edu
Davidson School of Chemical Engineering

Christina Li
christinawli@purdue.edu
Department of Chemistry

References 

Li, C. W., J. Ciston and M. W. Kanan; "Electroreduction of carbon monoxide to liquid fuel on oxide-derived nanocrystalline copper." Nature, 2014, 508, 504-507

Lu J., Fu B., Kung MC, Xiao G, Elam, Kung HH, Stair P.; "Coking-and sintering-resistant palladium catalysts achieved through atomic layer deposition", Science 2012, 33, 1205-1208

Wu, Z., B. C. Bukowski, Z. Li, C. Milligan, L. Zhou, T. Ma, Y. Wu, Y. Ren, F. H. Ribeiro, W. N. Delgass, J. Greeley, G. Zhang and J. T. Miller; "Changes in Catalytic and Adsorptive Properties of 2 nm Pt3Mn Nanoparticles by Subsurface Atoms." Journal of the American Chemical Society 2018, 140, 14870-14877.

L.G. Cesar, C. Yang, Z. Lu, Y. Ren, G. Zhang, J.T. Miller, “Identification of a Pt3Co Surface Intermetallic Alloy in Pt-Co Propane Dehydrogenation Catalysts,” ACS Catal., 9, 5231-5244 (2019)

N.J. LiBretto, C. Yang, Y. Ren, G. Zhang, J.T. Miller, “Identification of Surface Structures in Pt3Cr Intermetallic Nano-catalysts,” Chem. Mat., 31 (5), pp 1597–1609 (2019).