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Structure and Catalytic Activity of Supported Early Transition Metal Oxide Clusters (Kay's BES/Chemical Physics-Catalysis WBS0502 of Peden's BES-Chemical Transformations at Complex Interfaces, PNNL Scope #47319)


EMSL Project ID
22091

Abstract

Current commercial heterogeneous catalysts are structurally and chemically complex and measurements on them can seldom be interpreted with atomic-level precision. This is especially so for supported transition metal oxide (TMO) catalysts, materials that find applications in a wide-array of industrially important hydrocarbon transformations. In our proposed research we focus on the preparation and detailed atomic/molecular level understanding of chemical reactivity of TMO clusters supported on other single crystal oxides surfaces. In our prior research we have successfully produced monodispersed (WO3)3 clusters on TiO2(110), characterized their structure using scanning tunneling microscopy, and have begun to explore their catalytic activity using molecular beams and temperature programmed desorption. Our future work will focus on: (1) Oxidation of alcohols on this model (WO3)3 / TiO2 110) System; (2) Preparation and Characterization of analogous Mo Based Model TMO System; and (3) The Effect of Support Oxide on TMO Structure and Reactivity.
The primary focus of the proposed work is on advancing the understanding of molecular and nano-scale systems and inventing novel approaches and experimental methods to resolve the complexities inherently limiting the understanding of heterogeneous catalytic systems. Such detailed molecular-level studies are germane to DOE programs in catalysis, environmental restoration, waste processing, and contaminant fate and transport and are also relevant to improved energy technologies, and understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy use. These goals are consistent with the "Science of Interfacial Phenomena" EMSL science theme area which is seeking user proposals that "contribute to the atomic- and molecular-level understanding and control of the dynamic, reactive, and transport properties of interfaces having possible environmental and energy implications."

Project Details

Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2006-10-01
End Date
2007-10-01
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Zdenek Dohnalek
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Team Members

Jinlong Gong
Institution
University of Texas at Austin

Yu Kwon Kim
Institution
Ajou University

Shao-chun Li
Institution
Tulane University

Zhenrong Zhang
Institution
Baylor University

John White
Institution
University of Texas at Austin

Bruce Kay
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

R. Smith
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Zheming Wang
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Related Publications

Zhang Z, O Bondarchuk, BD Kay, JM White, and Z Dohnalek. 2007. "Direct Visualization of 2-Butanol Adsorption and Dissociation on TiO2(110)." Journal of Physical Chemistry C 111(7):3021-3027. doi:10.1021/jp067461c.