Catalysis on the Nanoscale: Preparation, Characterization and Reactivity of Metal-Based Nanostructures

The purpose of this program is to explore and manipulate the size, morphology and chemical environment of metal-containing nanoparticles with the goal of optimizing their reactivity with respect to elementary reactions that are of widespread interest in heterogeneous catalysis.

The materials focus is on nanoscaled molecular catalysts incorporating the early transition metals, such as Mo carbides, sulfides and nitrides, which have promising catalytic properties and may offer significant advantages over more commonly used noble metals. The main thrusts of the research program involve (1) the development new methodologies for the preparation of well-defined nanoparticles or nanoarrays; (2) reactivity studies as a function of size, morphology and chemical environment; (3) the development and application of new theoretical methods for understanding and predicting the structure and reactivity of metal-containing nanoparticles. Current methods being explored for nanoparticle preparation include templating on strained metal surfaces, deposition of size-selected clusters and impregnation into nanoporous materials.

Materials characterization and reactivity studies make extensive use of NSLS beam line facilities for measurements of high-resolution core-level photoemission, far-IR vibrational spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction (time-resolved) and near-edge x-ray adsorption spectroscopy under high-pressure reaction conditions.

This project also emphasizes theory development for describing the structure and electronic properties of molecular nanomaterials and adapting quantal methodologies for exploring elementary surface reactions

The Catalysis on the Nanoscale: Preparation, Characterization and Reactivity of Metal-Based Nanostructures Program is supported by the Catalysis and Chemical Transformations Program of the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the Office of Science under contract No. DE-AC02-98CH10886 with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Follow this link to learn more about the Catalysis on the Nanoscale: Preparation, Characterization and Reactivity of Metal-Based Nanostructures Program

Last Modified: January 31, 2008

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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